The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (FMI, Forsvarsministeriets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse) has procured a number of mechanical mine-clearance vehicles for the Danish Armed Forces' heavy brigade. The vehicles are remote-controlled robots and will be delivered to the Engineer Regiment (Ingeniørregimentet).
According to FMI, the contract has been signed with the supplier CEFA. The vehicles replace earlier mine flails that were mounted on existing vehicles. The new vehicles are operated from a control station, meaning that soldiers do not need to be in the immediate vicinity of the mine-clearance work.
"We are carrying out a historic build-up of our defence, and it is absolutely essential that our soldiers have the right equipment for their tasks. With these mine-clearance vehicles, we continue the development of the heavy brigade and protect our soldiers in the best possible way when they are deployed for Denmark and NATO," says Danish Defence Minister Jeppe Bruus.
The mine-clearance system includes a marking system that enables clear identification of cleared areas using colour. The system clears areas approximately 2 metres wide and is delivered with mine-clearance chains. A number of additional tools can also be mounted on the system.
Accessories and tools are delivered in a specially adapted storage container that enables charging of remote controls and battery packs used for integration with Patria vehicles.
"Mine-clearance systems play an important role on the battlefield and are one of the Engineer Regiment's mobility support tools. Given the technological development in the field of defence materiel, it is very satisfying that we have now procured a modern, remote-controlled system capable of carrying out the task in combination with other new equipment we have acquired," says Colonel Thomas Øgendahl Knudsen, Head of the Land Division at FMI.