MRAP ILS work awarded

Force Protection Industries, Inc., Ladson, S.C., is being awarded two contract modifications to purchase Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) Sustainment Parts and support.

One contract mod ($28,456,471) is for Welders. The second ($15,220,882) is for Field Service Representatives.

Work will be done in Ladson and in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom area’s of responsibilities. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

Source: DoD Photo: Force Protection

UAE get Swiss mine clearance machines

The Land Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a multi-million euro contract with BAL Bauer Industries Ltd. for the procurement of large-scale mine clearance machines “MineWolf”. The purchase follows extensive trials of the MineWolf in harsh desert conditions in the Gulf region in 2006, and includes special modifications for lifting mine fragments buried in sandy terrain to the surface.

BAL Bauer Industries Ltd., who acts as General Contractor for this contract, and MineWolf Systems were selected based on their superior technology, extensive regional experience and military know-how. The systems were delivered at the beginning of 2008 six month after contract signing and the training of the UAE personnel is being carried out at the present time.

It is the first army in the Middle East to procure the MineWolf.

The MineWolf is a tracked mine clearance machine implementing an interchangeable tiller or flail system. It has been proven effective against anti-personnel (AP) and heavy anti-tank (AT) mines in many mine-affected countries including Sudan, Jordan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia (humanitarian projects). The system is capable of clearing up to 30,000 square metres per day.

Source and Photo: MineWolf

Editor's Note: Mine Wolf has opened an office in Afghanistan. Additional Mine Wolf info here.

New UK de-mining kit

Ultra Electronics Command and Control Systems (Ultra CCS) worked closely with Director Equipment Capability (Ground Manoeuvre) to bring a new counter-mine capability to theatre a year early.

"The dismounted counter-mine capability provides Royal Engineer combat engineers, infantry assault pioneers, Royal Armoured Corps assault troopers and Royal Marine assault engineers with the ability to detect minimum metal mines in very challenging soil conditions.

It has been so successful that doctrine has been changed to lead with the new detector, as opposed to the 'prodder', which greatly improves the rate of advance.

The kit is made up of the impressive Vallon detector, improved marking equipment and enhancements to the level of protection for the operator in the event of a mine explosion. There is also a package of training which includes kits for users to keep up skill levels while in their unit."

Source: MoD

From one pocket ...

The Guardian has just told this story of creative accounting, or movable priorities.

"Money set aside to clear landmines and remove arms from conflict zones is to be raided to pay a private defence contractor to keep Tornado jets flying in Iraq, according to a confidential memo seen by the Guardian. The Ministry of Defence plans to pay BAE Systems from the multimillion-pound Conflict Prevention Fund - which covers projects such as destroying weapons in Bosnia and landmines in Mozambique - to subsidise the £5m-£10m cost of servicing each of the six planes."

Read the full story here.

Photo: Arpingstone

NGOs to receive new mine detectors

Thanks to Ares, a recent article in Financial Times Deutschland indicates that the American Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System will be available to NGOs in Afghanistan.

The HSTMIDS looks like a standard metal detector but takes multisensor approach with stand-off alerting to mines out to 10 meters.

Sources: As cited
Photo: US Army