The armored vehicle weighing nearly 45 tons uses a plow blade to clear landmines scattered along the road.
At the DSEI international defense exhibition held in London, England, in early September, the German defense company FFG showcased a tank-like vehicle currently in operation in Ukraine. The Mine Clearing Tank (MCT) is an armored tracked vehicle, based on the chassis of the WISENT 1 engineer vehicle, specifically designed to clear minefields and protect soldiers, according to Popular Science.
MCT WISENT 1 conducting mine clearance. (Photo: Pearson Engineering).
The MCT WISENT 1 weighs 44.5 tons, which includes heavy armor, soldier protection equipment, and a powerful engine to lift and move the mine-clearing plow. The plow itself weighs 3.5 tons and is wider than the vehicle.
During mine clearance operations, landmines are excavated from the ground and pushed aside along the path using a shield, then neutralized by an explosives disposal team. If a mine detonates, only the mine clearance device is damaged. If a mine rolls underneath the vehicle and explodes, soldiers are protected from serious injury. One of the soldier protection features is a mine-resistant seat designed to redirect the energy from the explosion away from the occupants.
Landmines are specialized weapons designed to make pathways difficult, if not impossible, to traverse. What makes mines effective is that many mine clearance techniques are slow, tedious, time-consuming, and often carried out by soldiers using handheld tools. Mine clearance vehicles like the MCT WISENT 1 can traverse minefields, destroying explosives more professionally and quickly. By ensuring all mines are swept aside, soldiers can march safely along their route.
