Evaluation of Aardvark Mk IV Flail - gichd

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Executive Summary vi Aardvark Mine Clear Ltd have been designing and producing mechanical mine clearance equipment for the last 17 years, supplying 25 different countries. The latest version of the Aardvark Flail, the Mark IV, came to the trial with an extensive depth of knowledge and experience behind its design. The testing and evaluation of the upgraded Mk IV Aardvark was carried out by DERA on behalf of DFID (The Department For International Development). The tests were carried out at DERA’s Bagshot test track in the U.K. and were designed to test the potential of the new version of the Aardvark flail to clear antitank mines from roads, tracks and cross-country. Testing was done under the headings of Transportability, Mobility and Performance. No Survivability tests (Live Ordnance Encounter) were carried out since the Royal Netherlands Army Ammunition Branch had already carried out survival tests¹ on the Mk IV Aardvark. During the trial the Aardvark Mk IV proved to be a well thought out and engineered machine. It proved to be very manoeuvrable for a vehicle of its size. It has the ability to be stripped down to make it air-portable and it fits onto the back of a large low-loader truck making it easily transportable. Aardvark Mk IV showed a great ability as both a brush and vegetation clearer and a mine clearance device with the capability to reduce medium to heavy density foliage to fine mulch. In the limited tests carried out, the Mk IV cleared all the surrogate model mines in its path. This piece of equipment would be a valuable asset when used in the right environment and under appropriate circumstances. One characteristic of flails such as Aardvark is the amount of dust and debris that is thrown out during the clearance operation, this debris could contain disrupted mine parts and deactivated mines. DERA/LWS/LSAA/TRD000603/1.2
List of contents Authorisation iii Record of changes iv Abstract v Executive Summary vi List of contents vii List of Tables ix List of Figures x 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Contractual Matters 1 1.2 Background 1 1.3 Mine Threat 1 2 Aim 2 3 Scope 2 4 Improvements 4 4.1 Additional Alterations: 5 5 Trials Methodology 6 5.1 General 6 5.2 Sites 6 5.3 Procedures 6 6 Test Procedures and Results 7 6.1 General 7 6.2 Results 7 6.3 Transportability 8 6.4 Handling & Mobility 14 6.5 Performance 34 7 Conclusions 70 8 Recommendations 71 DERA/LWS/LSAA/TRD000603/1.2 vii
Page 1 and 2: Evaluation of Aardvark Mk IV Flail
Page 3 and 4: Authorisation Prepared by Mr C A Le
Page 5: Abstract Aardvark Clearmine Ltd hav
Page 9 and 10: List of Tables Table 4-1; Improveme
Page 11 and 12: Figure 6-45; Aardvark just passed R
Page 13 and 14: 1 Introduction 1.1 Contractual Matt
Page 15 and 16: Rear Front Figure 3-1; Aardvark Mar
Page 17 and 18: 4.1 Additional Alterations: 4.1.1 T
Page 19 and 20: 6 Test Procedures and Results 6.1 G
Page 21 and 22: Figure 6-2; Measuring the height of
Page 23 and 24: Figure 6-3; Using load cells to wei
Page 25 and 26: Figure 6-4; Measuring the Approach
Page 27 and 28: Figure 6-6; Turning Circle DERA/LWS
Page 29 and 30: Figure 6-7; Aardvark climbing Birch
Page 31 and 32: Figure 6-9; Speed = 67m/hr, Depth =
Page 33 and 34: Figure 6-13; After flailing at 300m
Page 35 and 36: Figure 6-17; Measuring Level used D
Page 37 and 38: Figure 6-18; Aardvark entering the
Page 39 and 40: Figure 6-20; Foliage and terrain en
Page 41 and 42: This page is intentionally blank DE
Page 43 and 44: Figure 6-24; Test run before cleara
Page 47 and 48: Destroyed Mine Case Figure 6-28; La
Page 49 and 50: GIAT buried in spoil Figure 6-32; P
Page 51 and 52: Destroyed Mine Case Figure 6-34; La
Page 55 and 56: Figure 6-39; Layout of 3 Figure 6-4
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This page is intentionally blank DE
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Figure 6-44; Layout of Run 4 Figure
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Run stopped before these mines Figu
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Figure 6-60; TMRP-6 and TMA-2 Figur
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een destroyed or detonated. . The G
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Figure 6-66; TMA-3 outside flail wi
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6.5.9 Inert Minefield Encounter (A7
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Figure 6-70; Run 9 after flailing F
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6.5.10 Running Costs and Ease of Ma
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8 Recommendations 8.1 The driver’
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A MK III AND MK IV RELATED PERFORMA
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Interval Servicing Task DERA/LWS/LS
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Distribution list Ms A Doherty DFID
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