The Philippine Army has embarked on the acquisition of new assets capable of conducting mine detection capabilities for its growing combat engineering forces.
As part of the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program, the Philippine Army has included the acquisition of Vehicle-Mounted Mine Detectors, and Mini Mine Detectors, both of which can be used for mine detection depending on the situation.
While Mini Mine Detectors are handheld can be used directly by combat engineering or combat personnel, the Vehicle-Mounted Mine Detector that will be discussed in this resource page, are larger, and are to be used with sufficient safety distance between the operator and the mine or IED itself.
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| The first 2 ArmTrac 100-350 Mk. 2 VMMDs as seen in a military base in somewhere in Luzon. Photo credits to MaxDefense community member who wish to remain unnamed. |
Project Summary:
Combat Engineering Equipment Lot 6 - Vehicle-Mounted Mine Detector Acquisition Project:
Note: Edited as of 07 January 2024.
* End User: Philippine Army (Combat Engineering units)
* Quantity: 4 units
* Modernization Phase: Horizon 2 Phase of RAFPMP
* Project ABC: Php138,000,000.00
* Acquisition Mode: Government-to-Government (G2G) deal between Philippine DND and UK Ministry of Defence.
* Source of Funding: Multi-Year Contractual Authority for 3 years, using General Appropriations Act (GAA) from FY2020 to FY2022.
* SARO Release/s: SARO-BMB-D-21-0003095 worth Php55,200,000.00 dated 10 June 2021
* Winning Proponent: Armtrac Ltd.
* Product for Delivery: Armtrac 100-350 Mk.2 VMMD
* Contract Price: Php110,400,000.00
* First post by MaxDefense: 2019
* MaxDefense Searching Hashtag: #PACEEVMMDAcquisition
* Status: Project was implemented through G2G with UK government. Armtrac Ltd. received NOA on January 2021, contract and NTP release expected by June or July 2021. First 2 vehicles delivered as of March 2022, for induction after TIAC post delivery inspections and testing. Final 2 vehicles scheduled for delivery by July 2022, although MaxDefense Philippines confirmed that the vehicles arrived on September 2022. Sources confirmed that the vehicles have been accepted and inducted into service before December 2022. PROJECT COMPLETED.
Overview:
The intention to improve mine detection capabilities were evident in the acquisition plans the Philippine Army has forwarded for priority implementation under the Horizon 2 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program covering years 2018 to 2022.
These were included in the Combat Engineering Equipment Acquisition Project, which includes 2 lots for mine detection capabilities.
1. First is the Lot 7 - Mini Mine Detector (MMD) Acquisition Project which will provide handheld mine detection systems for small scale and space-restrained environments. The project is currently in the procurement phase but has encountered delays. This project has been discussed in our extension's resource page which can be accessed on the link below:
"Combat Engineering Equipment Lot 7 - Mini Mine Detectors Acquisition Project" - first posted at Philippine Defense Resource on 25 October 2019.
2. The second one, which is one of the main topics of this blog entry, is the Lot 6 - Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector (VMMD) Acquisition Project, which intends to bring in a mine detection capability to cover larger areas to protect operators.
Four (4) vehicle systems are planned, including all necessary accessories, integrated logistics support (ILS), and support for the vehicles, with a budget of Php138 million. This is very important since the PA does not have experience operating similar or same vehicles or equipment in the past.
According to MaxDefense Philippines sources from the Philippine Army, the Department of National Defense (DND) has awarded the project last month to UK-based Armtrac Ltd under a Philippines - United Kingdom Government-to-Government (G2G) deal supported by the UK's Ministry of Defence.
While no specific model was mentioned by our sources, Armtrac actually has four mine detection vehicles in its product offerings, only different from each other in terms of size and overall capability.
But based on the technical specifications from the DND and Philippine Army, we believe that the closest product to it is the Armtrac 100-350 Mk. 2 vehicle mounted mine detector.
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| The Armtrac 100-350 Mk.2 (above) is the closest to the specs of the specs of the project provided by PA sources to MaxDefense Philippines. Photo taken from Armtrac's website. |
According to the product information of both equipment, the Armtrac 100-350 Mk. 2 is armored and have protected cabins, can be operated manually or via remote controlled system. It uses a Ground Probing Radar (GPR) for search and detection of IED, mines, and bombs. The GPR is used with a robotic arms, and also includes a vegetation cutter.
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| An example of how the Armtrac 100-350 Mk. 2 is utilized for mine detection using 2 robotic arms. Photo taken from Armtrac's website. |
Aside from mine detection, the vehicle can actually be used also for route proving and clearing against mines, IEDs and bombs, and create safe passage ways for combat troops and vehicles. This can be done by installing the system's 3-meter Tiller and Flail header, as well as the Armtrac C-IED mine roller system.
The Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector and Dry Support Bridge Acquisition Projects were said to have the Notice of Award (NOA) released only in early January 2021, and it remains to be seen when the contract would be signed and the Notice to Proceed (NTP) released. But it is expected that delivery would be made by 2022, and full delivery by 2023.
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U P D A T E S:
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11 June 2021:
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released what is believed to be half the total contract amount of the Vehicle-Mounted Mine Detector Acquisition Project, with a SARO released on 10 June 2021 with an amount of Php55,200,000.00.
It is expected that a contract would be signed between the DND and Armtrac Ltd, with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) assisting in the deal due to the Government-to-Government (G2G) nature of the deal.
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01 April 2022:
MaxDefense Philippines received photos and information confirming that the delivery of the ArmTrac 100-350 Mk. 2 vehicle-mounted mine detectors (VMMD) have arrived in the Philippines, and were delivered to the Philippine Army several days ago.
2 vehicles and other equipment were delivered from the United Kingdom, and are currently undergoing post-delivery inspections and testing by the Philippine Army’s Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee (TIAC), before these new assets are inducted to the Philippine Army.
Based on the photos, it appears that the Philippine Army did not procure the mine clearing roller attachment, although these can be procured later using a different budget.
This makes the vehicle technically a mine/IED search and detection vehicle and not a mine clearing vehicle.
The ArmTrac 100-350 Mk.2 is made by ArmTrac Ltd of the United Kingdom, and is described as a cost effective, heavily modified and armoured to STANAG 4569 Level 1, multi-purpose C-IED/demining machine, and is built around the JCB Fastrac 8000 tractor.
Delivery of the last 2 vehicles is expected on or before July 2023.
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| The ArmTrac 100-350 Mk.2, shown here being transported from the port of arrival to the Philippine Army's facility. Photo credits to MaxDefense PH contributor who wish to remain anonymous. |
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24 September 2022:
MaxDefense Philippines has confirmed from its sources that the second batch of two ArmTrac 100-350 Mk.2 vehicle-mounted mine detectors are expected to arrive either by last week of September 2022 or early October 2022.
Both vehicles will undergo localized inspection and testing before formally accepted by the Philippine Army.
Once accepted, it can be considered that the project is complete as only the Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package would be remaining for a certain duration based on contract.
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| The first 2 ArmTrac 100-350 Mk. 2 VMMDs as seen in a military base in somewhere in Luzon. Photo credits to MaxDefense community member who wish to remain unnamed. |
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With the Armtrac 100-350 Mk. 2 vehicle-mounted mine detectors already delivered already delivered to the Philippine Army as of September 2022, MaxDefense and Philippine Defense Resource officially consider the Combat Engineering Equipment Lot 6 - Vehicle-Mounted Mine Detector Acquisition Project of the Philippine Army as COMPLETED.
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First edit and release: 10 June 2021
Copyright MaxDefense Philippines / Philippine Defense Resource
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