News Issue 1 – 2009

Inside this issue: MineWolf in Iraq – Effective in MineWolf in Iraq – effective harsh environment in harsh environment 1 Northern Iraq (Kurdistan) – Rumital d.o.o Another planned MineWolf activity is with MineWolf sold to MTI for purchased a Mini MineWolf in 2008 for use RONCO in Southern Iraq (Basra – Kuwait Afghanistan operations 1 in their operations along the Iraq/Iran bor- region) to support ‘IMCO’, Iraq’s only natio- der in the Kalar region of South Eastern nal demining organization. Training will soon NPA deployed MineWolf Kurdistan. This area is heavily contami- commence there on the Mini MineWolf with to Rwanda 2 nated with explosive remnants of war, as a camera system fitted. This will provide a well as landmines of all varieties, including ground preparation tool for oilfield clearance Chile to start mechanical bounding fragmentation anti-personnel and lay the groundwork for bigger mechani- mine clearance operations 2 mines (V-69). cal operations in the future. Work with the Mini MineWolf started late MineWolf Bagger success- March 2009 and the machine is run by fully introduced in Sudan 3 Rumital’s own personnel with MineWolf Systems offering technical support when NPA Sudan program required. Rumital have both the flail and til- received Mini MineWolf 3 ler attachments and to date have processed ca. 200,000 square metres and destroyed US DoD conduct test series over 50 mines. The machine is working in on “Mini MineWolf” 4 arguably the harshest conditions for mecha- nical demining ever experienced by MineWolf New attachments for Systems, in terms of heat and severe dust. Mini MineWolf dealing with severe dust in Northern Iraq MineWolf solutions 5

MineWolf Systems presented its range of products during MineWolf sold to MTI for Afghanistan IDEX 2009 5 operations MineWolf Systems opens office in South East Asia 6 Minetech International (MTI) purchased a To assist MTI in managing the machine large MineWolf mine clearance machine for themselves, two MineWolf Technical Advi- their operations in Afghanistan in late 2008. sors deployed to Bhagrami (Kabul) in January The package included a full workshop, a 2009 to conduct a 3-week training course Steyr truck and Goldhofer low bed trailer. for four MTI mechanics. This equipment had previously been used for mine clearance operations by Norwe- gian People’s Aid in Jordan.

MineWolf with support equipment in Afghanistan

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NPA deployed MineWolf to Rwanda to clear last remaining minefield

In 2008, NPA was requested by the Rwanda By the end of November 2008, the National National Demining Office (NDO) to support Demining Office (NDO), with support from its mine clearance efforts on the Kanombe NPA, had finished clearing the minefield and minefield near Kigali in order to assist the the MineWolf was redeployed to Southern MineWolf operating in Rwanda NDO in meeting its Ottawa Convention ob- Sudan. ligations. Due to the heavy vegetation in The project received funding and support that area, NPA chose to deploy their Sudan- from the German Federal Foreign Office based MineWolf to Rwanda. and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign The task was to clear 500,000 square metres Affairs. of contaminated land just outside the capital.

Chile to start mechanical mine clearance operations

In 2008 the Government of Chile signed a tegrated with demining units of the Chilean contract with MineWolf Systems to supply Army, who operate and maintain the machi- two MineWolf mine clearance machines to nes to their peak performance. Continued further enhance Chile’s efforts in complying use of these two machines will undoubtedly with the Ottawa Convention. assist in the clearance of Chile’s minefields MineWolf cabin being assembled Following an extensive training module in by 2016. San Antonio, the machines were prepared During a recent operational support mission, for operational deployment at the beginning a Mine Action Specialist from the Geneva of 2009. By March, one MineWolf unit (with International Centre for Humanitarian Demi- workshop included) was set up at the Tambo ning (GICHD) observed the work that the two Quemado minefield on the Chilean/Bolivian machines are undertaking in very dusty con- border and the other at Salitrera Chacabuco ditions and at high altitude. near Calama. In the first half of April, both machines were formally accredited nationally for mechanical mine clearance operations. Since then both machines have been operating constantly in their respective minefields substantially redu- cing the requirement for manual clearance. Both machines face completely different terrain, with Tambo Quemado having stony ground 5,000m above sea level in the foot- hills of the Parinacota Volcano, whilst Sali- trera Chacabuco offers the salt crusts of the Atacama Desert. The machines are fully in- MineWolf operating along the Chilean/Bolivian border

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MineWolf Bagger successfully introduced in Sudan

NPA Mine Action Sudan is looking back at The Bagger has worked on various tasks as- the successful introduction of the MineWolf sisting the manual teams with clearance of Bagger (armoured excavator with tiller attach- low risk areas in Morobo. It has also worked ment) which they obtained in mid 2008. in Kenya, to clear areas that were not acces- The MineWolf Bagger is a highly versatile sible for other machines. MineWolf Bagger in roadside machine and is best suited to clearing areas The Bagger was very successful when it as- clearance where manual demining proves to be very sisted MineTech at Yobu Stream outside Yei, tedious or impossible; such as trenches and when supporting the UNMAO contractor in dams, heavy and dense vegetation, craters processing areas that were not accessible with and areas where other machines cannot any of the other machines in South Sudan. manoeuvre. The NPA Bagger was used on a variety of tasks in different areas of Southern Sudan. One example was its deployment to Loka in Lainya County as a follow-up to an Anti-Tank mine incident and later assisted with proces- sing ground at Lutaia. It was then deployed to the Juba – Kajo Keji project, initially verify- ing the absence of mines close to Juba. Following this, it was moved to Kajo Keji where it assisted the UN and the Mines Advisory Group with vegetation cutting in a minefield on the Juba – Kajo Keji road. MineWolf Bagger clearing in swamp area

NPA Sudan programme to receive a Mini MineWolf

In January 2009, the government of Japan The Mini MineWolf complements NPA’s port- donated a Mini MineWolf to Norwegian folio of mine clearance machines. NPA has People’s Aid Mine Action Sudan programme. already been using a MineWolf since 2005 This mine-protected vehicle, which is light and received a MineWolf Bagger in 2008. Mini MineWolf with flail attachment and easy to transport, will enable NPA to accelerate its activities to clear high priority communities in Southern Sudan. As a result, the release of land, the establishment of re- settlement programmes, and the safe move- ment of the local population, aid agencies and peacekeepers will see significant prog- ress.

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US DoD conduct successful test series on “Mini MineWolf”

In late 2008 a Mini MineWolf was procured by the US DoD’s Humanitarian Demining R&D program based at Fort Belvoir. In ac- cordance with the contractual obligations, MineWolf Systems trained a team of me- Mini MineWolf with camera system chanical engineers and supported an exten- sive test series in June 2009. The aim of the test series was to confirm the specifications of the Mini MineWolf, and ensure that the machine is capable of deal- ing with operational conditions encountered Inert AP mine laid at 20 cm depth in mine affected areas. The MMW successfully completed the test- ing programme clearing live, unfused mines at various depths. This testing cumulated in a live detonation of a TM62 A/T mine under the tiller.

Mini MineWolf clearing heavy vegetation

The testing programme was conducted over a 3 week period at a US Army East Coast test facility. Involving personnel from NVESD and MineWolf Systems, the main focus was on Inert AP mine smashed into pieces performance and survivability. After a period of refresher training for the NVESD personnel, The Mini MineWolf is to undergo Operational the testing programme was conducted. Field Trials in Tajikistan during 2010. The performance tests were based on the clearance productivity and effectiveness of the tiller system to a depth of 25cm on flat/ inclined areas and heavy vegetation, and the operation of a camera system. The Mini MineWolf effectively conducted a clearance of a training minefield containing simulated mines, and proved its ability to operate in heavily vegetated areas.

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New attachments for MineWolf solutions

As a response to operational requirements Sifter bucket: to remove and transport MineWolf Systems has developed a range of items of ordnance new attachments to be fitted to any of the Dozer shield: to grade areas of land as MineWolf machines. well as clear the ground of snow or other In addition to the tiller and flail attachments, obstacles Mini MineWolf with dozer shield the following applications can now be inclu- ded in the MineWolf toolbox: All attachments are linked to the base ve- hicle via a quick release plate which allows Forklift: to load and unload the other exchange of the attachments in a very short attachments and equipment from a trailer or time. a truck MineWolf Systems constantly strives to offer Bucket: to be used as a standard front end mechanical solutions to customers dealing loader with explosives. More innovations are to follow in the months to come.

MineWolf and Mini MineWolf with range of attachments

MineWolf Systems presented its range of products during IDEX 2009

Abu Dhabi hosted IDEX 2009, one of the MineWolf Systems presented its Mini largest defence exhibitions in the world, MineWolf mine clearance system equipped from February 22nd to 26th. The venue is with a remote controlled camera system under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa and a tiller attachment. The company, with Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE its range of mine clearance systems, experi- MineWolf Systems at IDEX 2009 and Supreme Commander of the UAE enced widespread support and praise for its Armed Forces and was attended by an solutions from a number of high level deci- impressive number of official delegations sion makers. from all around the world. MineWolf Systems will exhibit again during DSEi in London from September 8th – 11th, 2009.

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MineWolf Systems opens office in South East Asia

In an effort to support customers in mine Sudan. In his last role he was Chief of Op- affected regions all over the world, MineWolf erations (South) for the United Nations Mine Systems is pleased to announce the open- Action Office in Sudan, acting as the main ing of a new representation office in South focal point for all operational activities regard- East Asia. The company intends to put more ing mine action. focus on countries in that region that have For all enquiries regarding South East Asia, Paul Eldred, Project Manager SE Asia been struggling with the landmine threat for Paul can be contacted via email on p.eldred@ a long time, such as Sri Lanka, Cambodia, minewolf.com. Thailand and Taiwan. The office will be headed by newly appoin- ted Paul Eldred. Paul has an extensive back- ground in mine action, explosive ordnance disposal and military engineering. He has worked in various positions in mine af- fected countries such as Kosovo, Iraq and

Global Headquarters, International Sales & Operations Office MineWolf Systems AG Seedammstrasse 3 8808 Pfäffikon SZ Switzerland

Phone +41 (0) 555 111 500 Fax +41 (0) 555 111 599

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Phone +49 (0) 7771 914 36 10 Fax +49 (0) 7771 914 36 22 [email protected] www.minewolf.com

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