Army testing the Weevil – the remote-controlled system dealing with landmines
The British Army has been testing a new remote-controlled mine plough to help defend soldiers against any possible threats.
Weevil was created by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dtsl) and Pearson Engineering.
A mine plough cuts through minefields to make a safe passage for troops to move faster and more securely to enemy positions.
"It won't be a moment too soon when we no longer have to send our people directly into harm's way to clear minefields," said Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard.
"It demonstrates British innovation by British organisations to protect British troops."
Weevil can clear minefields quicker and safer than present capabilities, therefore decreasing the risk to soldiers on the frontline.
The British Army currently utilises the Trojan armoured vehicle, which requires three people to operate it in hazardous areas.
The new system currently uses the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which is fitted with a full-width mine plough, an advanced remote-control system and vehicle-mounted cameras.
These changes mean the vehicle can be operated by a single person from several miles away.
The British Army will continue to trial the robotic system to gain more insights and inform future mine-clearing capabilities.
The prevalence of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines in modern conflict has led to slower troop movements, as demonstrated by the Ukraine war.
Major Andrew Maggs, Dstl military adviser, who pioneered Weevil, said: "Weevil is the perfect combination of tried and tested technology and modern advancements.
"By enhancing existing vehicles with new capabilities, we're able to maximise their potential and give our troops a much-needed advantage, particularly in missions where time and safety are critical."
Dtsl and Pearson Engineering have successfully tested the prototype in Newcastle on a dummy minefield.
The concept has now been moved to the British Army, which is trying to optimise and modernise the mine plough.
"We are proud to contribute to such game-changing capability. It brings together decades of development by Pearson Engineering, delivering the very best of minefield breaching technology proven around the world, and contemporary developments in teleoperation," said Pearson boss Ian Bell.
"Working with the UK Ministry of Defence is an incredibly important part of our business, ensuring our troops get the latest in combat engineering capability and that we can effectively defend our nation and allies."
Pearson Engineering recently struck a deal with the Polish armed forces to supply mine ploughs and combat dozer blades to go onto their new Abrams main battle tanks.
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