The British Army has taken delivery of 60 advanced remote-controlled armoured diggers designed to allow soldiers to carry out a variety of tasks from a safe distance, the Ministry of Defence said Wednesday.
The Royal Engineers inducted the Terrier vehicles, capable of digging holes, drilling into the ground and shattering concrete, as part of a £360 million project with arms maker BAE Systems.
The 30-tonne vehicle, which can reach speeds of almost 50mph, gives soldiers a 360 degree day and night surveillance capability with its five onboard cameras and thermal imaging technology.
Designed to carry loads of up to 5,000 kilograms, the Terrier can also be equipped with interchangeable equipment including a forklift and rock hammer.
It can be adapted for combat by fitting a 7.62-millimetre general purpose machine gun and smoke grenade launchers.
“The Terrier armoured digger is excellent news for the Army,” said General Sir Peter Wall, chief of the general staff for the Army.
“Its versatility will pay huge dividends on the battlefields of the future. We could not be happier with this new Armoured Engineer capability,” he added.
“The Terrier Vehicle is a great example of the contribution that the British Defence industry makes to our Armed Forces,” said defence equipment minister Philip Dunne.
“Designed and built in the UK by BAE Systems, it will provide technological advances for our troops with a more robust and versatile engineering capability,” he added.
Army gets new remote-controlled diggers
