Dstl’s WEEVIL is a Robotic Mine Plough Built on a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle

WEEVIL is an innovative robotic mine plough that the British Army is testing to keep soldiers safer when clearing minefields. It’s run from a distance remotely to dig up explosives without troops having to get close to the danger, a lot better than old ways that need three people to drive big machines right into risky spots.

The prototype is currently built on a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle, fitted with a full-width mine plough to dig up and push aside mines, plus cameras and an advanced remote-control setup. A single operator can run it from miles away, keeping them out of the blast radius. It’s adaptable, meaning it could potentially work with other military vehicles down the line. The system’s been tested in places like Newcastle, and the Army’s planning more trials to refine it.

The idea comes from lessons learned in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, where hidden explosives were a constant threat, and more recently from observing mine-heavy conflicts like Ukraine. The hope is to reduce the need for soldiers to manually probe minefields—a slow, risky job. The Armed Forces Minister, Luke Pollard, has said it’s about getting to a point where no one has to physically walk into a minefield to clear it. It’s being developed with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and Pearson Engineering, a Newcastle-based firm.

WEEVIL is the perfect combination of tried and tested technology and modern advancements. By enhancing existing vehicles with new capabilities, we’re able to maximize their potential and give our troops a much-needed advantage, particularly in missions where time and safety are critical,” said Major Andrew Maggs, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Military Advisor who pioneered WEEVIL.

[Source]