NEWS

Previous issue Issue 1 - 2008

A Busy 1st Quarter in for MineWolf Systems; Inside this issue: Operations in 3 Locations A Busy 1st Quarter in January-March 2008 has been a very busy Sudan for MineWolf and productive period for the MineWolf Team Systems 1-2 and our 3 humanitarian demining partners in Southern Sudan. Operations continued with MineWolf Systems Norwegian People´s Aid (NPA) at “mile 38”, Opens Office in 2 hours South of Juba. Afghanistan 2

Danish Demining

Group Mini MineWolf Shipped to Afghanistan 3

UN Purchases Mini MineWolf Partners and Operations MineWolf for Deployment to NPA team busily engaged in changing chisels as a part in Southern Sudan Southern of the daily maintenance of the MineWolf The MineWolf Systems / UN team was

3 The NPA team, equipped with manual deployed to the village of Gulumbi, an hour’s deminers and a MineWolf has been in this drive North of the Sudan/Uganda border German Army area and adjacent areas of Bungu and mile near Yei. The village is dependent on Publishes Official 40 for the past 12 months clearing a large agriculture and was occupied during the War Results of Mini belt of both AP and AT mines in an area that and surrounded by minefields, severely MineWolf AP/AT Mine saw heavy fighting during the War. Due to curtailing economic activity. Currently Trials 4 forward planning and insight from NPA this MineWolf Systems is conducting integrated task is now nearing completion, with over demining operations with a MineWolf New Fire Suppression 350,000 m2 processed by the MineWolf since mechanical team together with a manual System Available for the start of 2008. team from ArmorGroup. The team to date at the MineWolf Gulumbi have processed over 220,000 m2 5 and destroyed 10 AP mines.

Mechanical Training Course Held at MineWolf System’s New Manufacturing, Logistics and Training Centre 5

UNMAO MineWolf with tiller and flail attachments being Newsletter archive unloaded at the village of Gulumbi MineTech Mini MineWolf airlifted from Luxembourg, On February 1, a new task was begun by destination El Obied, Sudan MineWolf Systems under a direct contract with the United Nations Office A third major operation in Sudan began with in Sudan (UNMAO). the purchase of a Mini MineWolf by ISO9001:2000 Certified MineTech International (MTI) and it´s deployment to Malakaal. Page 1 of 5

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Continued from page 1 Malakaal is situated on the banks of the Nile and has a The deployment of the MTI Mini MineWolf from Europe short operational season because for much of the year it is to Sudan was a challenging journey of over five too wet and boggy to conduct mechanical operations. thousands kilometers; the machine was flown, trucked When it is dry the black cotton soil in the area turns as hard and barged to its final location in Malakaal. as concrete. The Mini MineWolf was chosen for its ability to achieve the required clearance depth in such conditions.

Home at last: with skill and improvisation the Mini MineWolf is carefully maneuvered over the final 10 meter gap between the barge and dry land at its final destination in Malakaal.

Even with the challenging conditions present in Southern Sudan, due to the expertise, flexibility and can-do attitude of our partners and the MineWolf Systems team MineTech Mini MineWolf unloaded at El Obied, Sudan after travelling on the ground these challenges have been overcome over 5000 kilometers from Europe by air and excellent results are being achieved.

MineWolf Systems Opens Office in Afghanistan

To provide local support and provide service infrastructure Paul´s background of management of mechanical for our demining operations and customers in Afghanistan, ground preparation equipment, manual demining and MineWolf Systems has appointed Paul Simmons as Battle Area Clearance gives MineWolf Systems Country Manager based in Kabul. competent representation in Afghanistan. We welcome Paul to the MineWolf team. Paul, a UK citizen, has over 24 years military and 6 years Through expansion commercial munitions into Afghanistan, clearance expertise. Paul MineWolf Systems is has held senior positions for now able to provide mine clearance projects onsite technical and based in Bosnia, logistical support for Afghanistan, Denmark and existing and new Libya and is a trained Class customers requiring 1 Combat Engineer. He has mechanical ground Paul Simmons extensive experience in Mine preparation, clearance, The new MineWolf office is now Action, holding positions from Field Manager to Programme and other turnkey ready to support turnkey projects in Afghanistan Manager. projects.

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Danish Demining Group Mini MineWolf Shipped to Afghanistan

To enhance their mechanical demining capabilities, Danish The mobile workshop provides all tools for routine Demining Group (DDG) has shipped a Mini MineWolf with maintenance of the Mini MineWolf as well as heavy tiller, flail, integrated workshop, truck and trailer via sea repairs in the field. The unit and support vehicles can transport on 7 Feb. 2008 to Afghanistan. The Machine is be quickly deployed to remote locations all over destined for DDG´s Humanitarian Demining Projects in Afghanistan. Cooperation with Mine Action Program Afghanistan. About DDG Danish Demining Group (DDG) was established in 1997 as an independent organisation. It has since merged with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). The vision of Danish Demining Group is to be the preferred strategic and operational partner working to reduce the humanitarian and socio-economic threats caused by DDG´s Mini MineWolf and Support Equipment leaving MineWolf System´s landmines and Explosive Remnants of War. Production Facility in Stockach, Germany for Kabul

UN Purchases Mini MineWolf for Deployment to Southern Lebanon

The UN Mine Action Programme in South Lebanon secured funding through the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deploy a Mini MineWolf into Lebanon. The machine and its full support package will be sent to Lebanon to be used by the Mine Action Coordination Centre South Lebanon (MACCSL) in direct support of minefield clearance operations.

Typical conditions of “Blue Line” mine fields: rocky, hilly terrain contaminated with AP/AT mines and cluster munitions

Along with the existing mechanical clearance assets already in the country, the Mini MineWolf will bring an added bonus to operations with its strong and proven Blue Line” minefield belt between Lebanon and Israel tiller and flail system, thus creating a more diverse and

capable operational capacity to help rid this region of In addition to AP and AT mines, the MACCSL the scourge of landmines. programme has a high amount of UXO/cluster

munitions to deal with.

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German Army Publishes Official Results of Mini MineWolf AP/AT Mine Trials

The German Army’s Technical Center for Weapons and Ammunition based in Meppen, Germany (WTD-91) has published their final results of trials with the 8.1 metric ton remote-controlled “Mini MineWolf” against simulated AP and live AT mines with explosive yield up to 13.5 kg TNT. Both the tiller and flail working tools were tested for effectiveness in clearing AP mines and survivability against 7 different AT mine types, including stacked mines.

The results of the trial were excellent, with the Mini MineWolf demonstrating survivability of both tiller and flail Mini MineWolf destroy a DM 21 anti tank mine during German Army trials working tools against heavy AT mine detonations. It also achieved impressive results close to 100% with both flail They are able to detect and report damage inflicted by and tiller attachments against simulated AP mines. All the machine to a remote computer via a wireless link. damage was repairable in the field with the prime mover The purpose of the trial was to determine the capability suffering no damage, underscoring the economic viability of the Mini MineWolf to clear (i.e. detonate or destroy) of mechanical demining in high-threat environments. mines at different depths in different types of soil:

gravel, sand and topsoil, as well as to survive large AT According to Colonel Radlmeier, Chief Development blasts with minimal damage, repairable in the field. Division of the German Army Engineering School. ”The ability to provide safe clearance capabilities in areas contaminated with explosive remnants of war is becoming increasingly significant to the future tasks of the German Army's Corp of Engineers. To improve the protection of soldiers in conflict scenarios we need a reliable, quickly deployable mechanical mine clearance tool. The Mini MineWolf is, based on real-world tests and its convincing results, a very interesting option to fill this gap." AT Mines Used in the Survivability Tests of the Mini MineWolf AP mines were simulated using computer-controlled “WORM” mines (Wirelessly Operated Reproduction Mine) For a copy of the official trial results published by the developed by the Canadian Centre for Mine Action German Army, please contact MineWolf Systems at Technologies (CCMAT). [email protected]

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New Fire Suppression System Available for the MineWolf

To provide an added level of protection for the MineWolf Once triggered, when working in hot and arid conditions, an internally an audible alarm integrated fire suppression system option is now is activated and a available. six second delay is initiated, The system allowing enough consists of five time for operator internally mounted override. The sensors which system then continually monitor floods the engine Test of the MineWolf fire the temperature of compartment with suppression system the engine a fire suppressant aerosol spray, ventilating fans are shut compartment. down, and engine speed is reduced. The system may Temperature sensors installed within the also be manually activated. MineWolf engine compartment An alarm is triggered when at The system is built to be vibration and shock resistant, and operates in temperatures from -25 to 90˚C. least one sensor is exposed to temperatures of 180˚C or higher.

Mechanical Training Course Held at MineWolf System’s New Manufacturing, Logistics and Training Centre Three participants from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) The purpose of and Danish Demining Group (DDG) successfully the course was completed mechanical training at the newly opened to train the MineWolf Systems global manufacturing, logistics and mechanics to training centre in Stockach, Germany. maintain the Mini MineWolf during NPA currently humanitarian operates two Mini demining MineWolf Systems new global centre for MineWolfs in operations in the manufacturing, logistics and training in Bosnia- field. Topics Stockach, Germany Herzegovina, and included training DDG has recently on hydraulics, electronics, service, repair, acquired a unit troubleshooting and practical repair exercises. with full support hardware for The MineWolf Systems instructor, Stein Even Olsen, is NPA and DDG Mechanics receive Mini deployment to a Senior Technical Advisor experienced with both MineWolf certification Afghanistan. The MineWolf and Mini MineWolf operations in Sudan, newly-opened site serves as MineWolf Systems’ , Bosnia and . Upon successful manufacturing, Logistics and training centre for the completion of a practical and theoretical exam, all 3 MineWolf, Mini MineWolf, MineWolf Bagger and support attendees were presented with official certification. vehicles and hardware. Congratulations to all!

MineWolf Systems AG Seedammstrasse 3 Phone +41 (0) 555 111 515 Email [email protected]

CH – 8808 Pfäffikon, Switzerland Fax +41 (0) 555 111 599 Internet www.minewolf.com Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Click here to unsubscribe. Page 5 of 5