| Project Nr.: | 3.2.24 |
| Title: | Test and evaluation of the Tempest Ground Penetrating flail. |
| Description: | The test consists of two parts: Test and evaluation of the Tempest Ground Penetrating Flail in Cambodia (maneuverability, performance and survivability) in collaboration with Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and Performance testing according to the CWA 15044:2004 at ITEP test facilities. |
| Aim: | To conduct a full set of in-country trials following the CWA on Test and Evaluation of Demining Machines (CWA 15044:2004) as close as possible within the time and logistical constraints.To inform MAG as to the suitability of operating the Tempest Ground Penetrating Flail in an area such as Cambodia, and To assess to which extent the results of an in-country performance test (first trial) reflect the results obtained from detailed performance tests using a statistical representative number of test targets (second trial). |
| Request: | Mines Advisory Group (MAG), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), Defence Reserach and Development Canada (DRDC - CCMAT) |
| Category: | Mechanical Assistance |
| Type: | Test and Evaluation |
| Equipment: | Tempest Ground Penetrating Flail (GEF), the Standard Vegetation Flail, Large Magnet Head, Promac Slasher Head |
| Development: | COTS |
| Time Frame: | 2005-01-31 to 2005-09-30 |
| Place: | Cambodia, Sweden (Norra Kulla test range) |
| Lead Nation: | United Kingdom, Canada |
| Partners: | Sweden, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) |
| Status: | Archived |
| Comments: | |
| Results/Conclusions: | The pre-trial assessment was completed in December 2004. The in-country trial was carried out in February 2005 and the corresponding trial report was published in April 2005.The in-country trial was focused on the Ground Engaging Flail (GEF) rather than on the well proven vegetation cutting system. Other attachments were also assessed, such as the standard vegetation flail head, the large magnet and the Promac slasher head. The main conclusions from the latter trial were that the Tempest Mk V system is a versatile machine with a number of different tools that can be easily fitted instead of the flail. The system is compact, easily transportable and the GEF adds an extra capability. The second trial was carried out during September 2005 at the SWEDEC test range, and the report was released in December 2007. The best performance of the Tempest GEF was at depths of 0 to 5 cm in gravel (50/50), while the poorest performance was at a depth of 7 cm in topsoil (11/50). The intentional depth limitation of 7-10 cm eliminates the capability of the Tempest to neutralise mines below that depth. The forward speed control system based on flail cutting resistance helps to ensure a consistent albeit shallow depth of cut. These results confirm that the role of the Tempest should be limited to ground processing and followed by another clearance tool. Comparison between results obtained on unprepared test sites in Cambodia and on standardised prepared test lanes in Sweden, as well as using SWEDEC life fuzes and inert WORM targets show similar trends of reducing performance with depth. Careful selection of in-country test areas may provide useful performance data. The portability of the WORM system, which produces similar results as the SWEDEC targets, is an advantage. |