Company insight
Fast and simple sleeper counter mobility systems
Sleeper is an extremely simple, fast and economical way to prepare anti-tank mine holes. The Kaera drilling unit by FMG Defence can be attached to a truck or the front loader of a tractor, wheel loader or telehandler and drills mine holes quickly, even along asphalted roads.
P
reparing anti-tank mines is tough and slow work. The mines weigh around 10kg each, and preparing mine holes on asphalted roads is hard. Breaking through the asphalt is laborious, and carrying the mines can wear out soldiers fast. The Sleeper counter mobility system by Finnish company FMG Defence makes laying mines fast and light work. Using the system, a crew of three soldiers with a single vehicle can lay 30 anti-tank mines in just half an hour. A crew of seven soldiers working in two shifts can lay mines at this rate from one day to the next.
Using the Sleeper system is very simple. A soldier with a driving license can learn to use it in 15 minutes, it can be serviced in the field using the tools it carries, and it can be operated using almost any inexpensive and multifunctional vehicle. Thanks to the affordability of the Sleeper system, as many units as are needed can be procured to supply all engineering and other units.
Handle asphalt with ease The heart of the Sleeper system is the Kaera drilling unit. The hydraulically operated Kaera drilling unit can be attached to a truck with a separate lift or to a tractor front loader, wheel loader or telehandler, without preventing the loader from normal use. The operator starts the Kaera drilling unit and lowers it with the loader. The unit then drills a mine hole with a depth of 15–40cm in the soil, gravel or asphalt in under a minute. The Kaera drilling unit weighs 900kg and requires 50l/min of hydraulic output and 200 bar pressure, which any modern vehicle can easily produce. A mounting plate enables the drilling unit to be removed and attached to the front loader in a minute. In addition, the front loader can be used simultaneously with forks or a bucket, for example.
Kiosk carrier pallet transports mines The second part of the Sleeper system is the
top of the Kiosk carrier pallet. The MIL-Cage storage pallet is used to conveniently carry all the tools and equipment needed to lay mines. For example, it can be used to store backpacks, spades and accessories for marking mines, such as signs, flags and ribbons.
When attached to a tractor, for example, the entire system can be moved at speeds of up to 60km/h, or even 80km/h when attached to a Unimog truck, for example. The Sleeper system has no impact on the vehicle’s off- roading capabilities.
The hydraulically operated Kaera drilling unit can drill mine holes in soil, asphalt or even frozen gravel roads.
Kiosk carrier pallet, attached to the rear of the same vehicle that is attached to the Kaera, like the rear linkage of a tractor. The Kiosk carrier pallet can carry approximately 50–90 anti-tank mines. As the vehicle moves slowly forwards as the Kaera drills mine holes, two soldiers following the vehicle on foot lift mines from the Kiosk carrier pallet and lay them in the holes, after which the mines can be armed and concealed. Normally, moving anti-tank mines is tough work. With the Kiosk, however, soldiers hardly get tired as all they have to do is lift the mine off the carriage and lower it into the hole. This allows for a small crew to lay even large mine fields in very little time. Multiple Kiosk carrier pallets can be used per vehicle, allowing one to be filled under cover while the other is being used to lay mines. Kiosk carrier pallets can be stacked on top of each other, and they can be moved using standard forks. Each Kiosk carrier pallet is the size of two standard pallets.
MIL-Cage storage pallet The MIL-Cage is a storage pallet that fits on Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
www.fmgdefence.fi 35
Fast, simple and affordable Perhaps the best thing about the Sleeper system is its price. Rather than being a special armoured vehicle costing millions, the Sleeper is a simple package of accessories that can be fitted to a standard tractor, wheel loader or truck. The price of the Kaera drilling unit is approximately €30,000, while the Kiosk and MIL-Cage together cost approximately €15,000. Because the system is inexpensive, it can be procured in sufficient numbers to supply each unit and counter each threat rapidly, and because it is so simple to use, multiple operators can be trained in very little time. Furthermore, the Sleeper system does not prevent the vehicle it is attached to from being used for other tasks, such as loading. In many cases, the system can be integrated with existing machinery, eliminating the need to find other vehicles for the job. In addition to machinery equipped with a front loader, the Kaera drilling unit can be attached to the front of an armoured personnel carrier, for example.
The Sleeper counter mobility system is already used by the Finnish Defence Forces and is part of Nato’s joint procurement system. ●
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57
