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Since March 2023, Ukraine has been receiving WiSENT 1 mine clearing tanks from FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft on behalf of the federal government. According to the BMVg's most recent “List of Military Support Services”, eight have already been delivered and a further 34 are on the list as “in preparation”. FFG made the Mine Clearing Tank (MCT) available to the specialist audience at the DSEI 2023.

The WiSENT 1 is a converted and modernized Bergepanzer 2 with a Leopard 1 chassis. The protection has been increased for use as an MCT. Additional mine protection was installed on the ground. The crew sits in their working positions on anti-mine seats, which prevent the transfer of explosion energy to the occupants. The protection of the crew cabin was reinforced at the sides as well as at the top. There, modern bomblet protection protects against the latest generation of bomblets.

In order to be able to carry the mine clearing device, which weighs approximately 3.5 tons, the suspension on the two front roller stations on the left and right was equipped with additional hydropneumatic spring-damper elements, which can be used primarily to level the tank (trimming). The proven MTU diesel with an output of 610 kW serves as the drive.

The demining equipment comes from Pearson Engineering. It is attached to the clearing bucket cylinders using an adapter plate and consists of the mine clearing blade, which is slightly more than the width of the vehicle, and the three characteristic carriages that are pushed in front of the mine clearing blade. The carriages glide over the ground and ensure that the mine clearing plow maintains the set clearing depth. During the clearing operation, the mines are lifted out of the ground and diverted via the mine clearing shield to both sides of the lane, where they are later neutralized by EOD forces. If mines explode, “only” the mine clearance equipment will be damaged. If mines slip through and detonate under the vehicle, the crew is protected from serious injuries.

Bisher sind Verletzungen von Besatzungsmitgliedern als Folge von Minendetonationen nicht bekannt geworden.

At the DSEI 2023 you could take a look from the front over the depth sensor sleds at the mine clearing plow and the tank. (Photo: Heiming)

The crew controls mine clearing from the protected crew cabin. The controls of the mine clearing plow are combined with the controls of the plow blade. Front and rear cameras support the crew in driving the mine clearing plow and the vehicle. The adapter plate remains above the floor when clearing. It can be used for rough adjustment of the mine clearing system using the clearing bucket cylinders.

Before or after the clearing operation, the clearing equipment is raised with the dozer so that a change of location with the floating clearing equipment is possible. The clearing equipment is dismantled for longer journeys.

The Russian armed forces have mined large areas of the territories they occupy. This endangers not only the Ukrainian armed forces, but also the civilian population. Large-scale demining is therefore urgently needed. In addition to the WiSENT 1 MCT, the BMVg's list includes numerous other mine clearing devices, both "delivered" and "in preparation".

Gerhard Heiming