Rcp. Demining complex of the army of Germany
The effectiveness of mines allows them to remain one of the most important defensive weapons systems. And highly controversial in virtue of danger for both military and civilians.
Therefore, the fight against mines remains one of the most important tasks of engineering support of military operations of troops. For this purpose, various means are used, including various demining complexes.
One of these complexes is the German RCP complex.
RCP Demining Complex (in translation - route cleanup package) was developed by the company "Rheinmetall" and began to enter into service with the engineer-sapper units of the Bundeswehr in October 2011.
At the same time, it is necessary to say that the Bundeswehr initially wanted to purchase an American route cleaning system to disarm explosives, but later decided to develop its own. As a result, the Federal Agency for Defense Technologies and Procurement of Germany has signed a contract with Rheinmetall to supply innovative technologies for the protection of forces to the Bundeswehr, which will provide even greater security for the German forces deployed in Afghanistan. The total volume of the two contracts that were concluded in response to the urgent operational requirements of the Bundeswehr is about 24 million euros.
RCP complex during testing
The RCP demining complex is designed for clearing the column tracks from mines, land mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) accompanied by military columns. Several such complexes are in service with the German contingent of the international security assistance forces in Afghanistan. RCP is also used in the posting of military transport columns in the conditions of possible opposition to ambushes. To this end, the federal agency for the development and procurement of weapons and military equipment purchased seven more demining complexes from Rheinmetall, which are called “KAI” (from German clearance and identification of ammunition).
Each RCP complex consists of four mobile platforms: a remotely controlled vehicle (DUM) for detecting RCDV explosive devices based on the Wizel-1 AFM, a CCV control vehicle based on Fuchs armored personnel carrier, a Mini-Minevolf remote-controlled demining machine and a multi-purpose vehicle company "Man".
The complex works as follows. In the course of a demining operation using RCDV equipment, there are places where mines, IEDs or unidentified objects that are of potential danger are found. Then, the Mini-Minevolf demining machine, equipped with a soil mill and a blade mine trawl, provides for clearing marked places from mines of all types, including anti-personnel and anti-tank ones. The machines are controlled by the operator from the CCV control machine, equipped with two systems, one of which is designed to monitor the operation of RCDV and Mini-Minevolf, and the other - to process data from RCDV sensors.
CCV Control Machine was created on the basis of the Fuchs BTR and is designed to monitor and control the RCDV explosive devices and the Mine-Minifolf's explosive devices for mine clearance during land clearing operations from mines, land mines and IEDs.
The "Fuchs-1А8" BTR with a set of special equipment to prevent the crew from hitting the explosions was created over the year by the urgent order of the Bundeswehr, taking into account the operating experience of similar vehicles in the US armed forces in Iraq and the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan.
Compared to the old machines, the new generation in the 1А8 version contains a number of improvements, including increased payload, more reliable suspension, improved brakes and a larger useful internal volume, which is provided by an elevated roof profile.
The following changes were made to the design of Fuchs-1А8: reinforced bottom, side projections, chassis with reservation of especially important components, as well as reinforced door and hatches designs. New ergonomic seats are installed in such a way as to reduce the effect of damaging factors when mines are exploded under the bottom and wheel arches.
To improve cross-country terrain, the car is equipped with a centralized tire inflation system, which allows the driver to adjust the pressure in them depending on the terrain conditions and road conditions.
The main tactical and technical characteristics of the machine "Fuchs-1А8": the maximum speed on the highway 105 km / h; 320 engine power l. with; range of fuel for 800 km; combat weight 17,3 t; length 6,83 m, width 2,98 m, height 2,3 m; wheel formula 6x6.
The CCV control machine includes, as mentioned above, the RCDV control systems and the Mini Minevolf demining machine, as well as the processing of data from the RCDV sensors.
Remotely Controlled RCDV Explosive Search Machine equipped with two mine search systems: with a metal detector and soil radar. The use of these systems allows to determine with high accuracy the location and depth of a mine or an explosive device. RCDV was developed based on the Wiesel-1 BBM. Armament was removed from the vehicle, and the upper part of the hull was modified and equipped with a new dual-mode sensor, a subsurface radar (SPR) in combination with a metal detector (MD) to detect mines and VCA.
In operation, Wiesel-1 travels at a maximum speed of 6 km / h with SPR / MD deployed in a vertical position, covering the width of 2,4 m, which can be expanded to 4 m by installing an additional antenna. This mine search system is located at the rear of the RCDV, as a result of which it moves in reverse during the search for mines and explosive objects. As irrelevant or during transportation, the SPR / MD are removed on the roof.
The machine is controlled by a driver or operator remotely, using a remote control from the CCV housing.
Maximum speed of RCDV on the highway 85 km / h; 90 engine power l. with; range of fuel for 200 km; combat weight 2,75 t; length (without min search systems) 3,6 m, width 1,82 m, height 1,85 m.
Remotely controlled demining machine "Mini-Minevolf" it is intended for clearing of the district from the found mines of various type. This DUM is equipped with a blade mine sweep and a milling cutter capable of cutting through the ground to a depth of 25 cm. Depending on the mission requirements, the 10-ton car can also be equipped with various tools, including a crane, rotary cultivator or dozer blade. The integrated video system allows operators in the crew to constantly receive information about the situation on the spot.
The multi-purpose off-road truck “MAN multi FSA” is designed to transport the Mini-Minevolf car to the work site and back to the place of permanent deployment (maintenance). The carrying capacity of the car 16 t (wheel formula 8х8), it is equipped with a six-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 440 l. with.
At the end of 2012, Rheinmetall, at the request of the Bundeswehr, developed a new bomb disposal neutralizer and successfully integrated it into an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal - disposal of ammunition) armored vehicle of Fox. The machine with the new manipulator received the designation "KAI" (in translation - clearance and identification of ammunition).
KAI is intended for use when escorting military transport columns as an autonomous EOD detection system, for reconnaissance of places to which the route control system cannot reach. The most prominent feature of KAI is a high-precision multi-jointed manipulator with a range of more than 10 meters (according to various data, up to 14 m) and a load capacity of 400 kg. This allows personnel to investigate and identify unexploded ordnance and booby traps from a safe distance.
The arm of the manipulator can be equipped with two different tools. The first is a dual sensor, the 80-cm version of the RCSys sensor (i.e., subsurface radar). This allows you to inspect suspicious places and helps the operator determine if an IED was laid there, including in hard-to-reach places, such as drainage pipes, or behind walls, to check for the presence of explosive devices. In addition, a special rescue platform can be attached to the arm of the manipulator to evacuate personnel from the danger zone.
At the end of the 2012, the Bundeswehr ordered seven such vehicles. They were delivered between October 2015 and the end of 2016. The cost of the order was about 37 million euros.
Thus, the command of the Armed Forces of Germany continues to implement the program of adopting new types of weapons and military equipment. The RCP demining complex, which has been thoroughly tested in combat conditions, is being supplied to the armaments of the units and is actively used by German military experts in Afghanistan to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment during the movement of military convoys. However, the exact number of complexes delivered to the troops is unknown, and the effectiveness of their use in Afghanistan remains unknown.
Sources:
1. German Route Clearance Package (GRCP) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bundeswehrfoto/22981564771.
2. Site http://www.panzerbaer.de/helper/bw_grcp_minewolf-a.htm.
3. Rheinmetall "Route Clearance System" (RCSys) is a high-tech system of systems, https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/rheinmetall_defence.
4. Zabezhnoe military review. No.4. 2012
5. Multifaceted systems for modern combat engineers. Wehrtechnischer Report, 2 / 2015 release.
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