Mine Guzzler

The machine was developed by BAE Systems Bofors AB in Sweden between 1995 and 2005. The optimized demining vehicle has been redesigned and is based completely on commercial components for ease of maintenance, repair and high accessibility of spare parts. The new owner is Rybro International Limited, who continues to work in cooperation with BAE Systems Bofors AB.

The Mine Guzzler demining machine:

• is able to detonate or destroy AP and AT landmines;

• is a non-flail type technology;

• is survivable or field repairable from a 10 kg TNT equivalent mine blast;

• is ground engaging to a depth of no less than 50 centimeters;

• is transportable, reliable, maintainable, and logistically supportable in third world mine affected countries; and

• has an operators cab which provides sufficient protection for survivability of the occupants against the indirect effects of a 7kg of TNT equivalent explosives as well as being operated by a remote control.

The Mine Guzzler is based on a double track arrangement of Caterpillar. A demining tiller is located on hydraulic supports at the front of the vehicle and powered by a 640 kw engine with hydrostatic drive. The complete vehicle is fully protected against fragments from detonation of mines and UXO. Any plates that become damaged can be easily replaced in the field by oxyacetylene cutting and welding. Each vehicle can be equipped with a spare roller to enable the demining work to continue while a tiller is undergoing repair. A complete tiller change can be effected in less than 30 minutes using the hydraulic supports to lift the tiller for access or to load/unload the roller onto a transport vehicle.

Heavy Tiller system capable of clearing both AT as well as AP mines.

The vehicle drives forward into the suspect area by revolving the tiller unit. It rotates clockwise with a speed up to 190 rpm. The demining tiller, which can be angled to follow ground undulations, is adjustable for depth and automatically maintains the depth set. The tiller comprises a series of circular plates fitted with tungsten carbide teeth around their outer perimeter, which either causes the mines (anti-personnel and anti-tank) to detonate or breaks them into small pieces. The Mine Guzzler can clear anti-personnel and anti-tank mines to a depth of 50 cm and over an effective width of 3 m. Maximum demining speed is 4km/h depending on ground conditions.