Tel No: 00 44 (0)1464 820122 E-mail: aardmine@netcomuk.co.uk Fax No: 00 44 (0)1464 820985
The total safety of the crew in an Aardvark landmine clearance machine is of paramount importance. Since the introduction of Aardvark landmine clearance machines in 1982 no crew member has been injured or killed, and with the air conditioned crew cab at one end of the unit and the mechanical flail at the other, the maximum safety distance between mine and man is achieved.
The cab is a fully armoured structure equipped with 56 mm armoured glass windows which are additionally protected by an internal polycarbonate liner and steel grill on the outside. The cab floor has an armour plated double skin with the lower underside having an angled profile, specifically designed to provide maximum deflection of blast forces.
The engine, gear box, differential, final drive, PTO and hydraulics, are all housed in a fully protected compartment incorporating an armoured belly plate with strengthened chassis assembly. The belly plate has a similar angled profile as the cab thereby minimising the effect of blast forces. The fuel tank is situated above the hydraulics.
The machine has undergone a number of operational, environmental and destruction trials all of which have proved its suitability for the job.
In March 2000 the Dutch Army conducted a vulnerability study and live landmine trials against an Aardvark JSFU machine and its operating personnel. A series of 26C1 anti-tank mines were placed under the tracks, under the wheels, and directly under the cab, and a DM31 bounding fragmentation mine set off 5 metres away from the side of the vehicle. The damage to the tracks and wheels was as expected, but no damage was done to the operators cab or engine compartment, and no pieces of shrapnel or fragments from the bounding mine penetrated the steel plating of the cab or engine, or the armoured glass of the cab. No other mechanical landmine clearance vehicle has been subjected to this level of testing.
The test report stated:
The test report stated:
“ It can be concluded that the driver is sufficiently protected against AT blast mine detonations with a maximum mass of 9kg under the flail system, as well as under the vehicle.”
In February 2001 the British Defence and Research Agency (DERA) carried out a series of operational trials on a MK4 JSFU in different ground and vegetation conditions. The trials report stated:
“Aardvark performed well clearing mines on the flat and on slopes. The overall percentage clearance rate was in line with the UN expected standard of clearance.”
Safety & Trials