In December 2007, Chemring Australia entered into a contract with the Australian Department of Defence for the supply of one hundred and fifty seven Portable Explosive Lane Clearance Charges (PELCC) along with a small number of training PELCC and appropriate consumables. Chemring successfully offered its Portable Explosive Minefield Breaching System (PEMBS), the world’s most widely used, effective and reliable solution for operational lane clearance.
The PEMBS were required in support of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), Project Land 144 -Countermine Capability. The aim of Land 144 was to provide high readiness engineer units with an enhanced countermine/counter-explosive hazard capability based on available off the shelf solutions. LAND 144 included the acquisition of the following countermine capability solutions:
Personnel Explosive Lane Clearance Charge (PELCC) Systems. The man portable systems fire an explosive line charge over a piece of terrain using a rocket to establish cleared lanes through anti-personnel minefields and wire obstacles, reducing the need for manual clearance. It is this capability requirement that the PEMBS system satisfied.
Protected Hazard Reduction Capability. Mechanical mine clearance vehicles capable of reducing the threat of landmines whilst reducing an operator’s exposure to the risk of mine detonation. A variety of methods can be used including rollers, flails, earth tillers, ploughs and bulldozer blades. This capability is not a combat capability; however it will improve the Australian Defence Force’s ability to return landmine affected land to alternative uses.
Improved Handheld Detectors (IHD). These systems detect metallic and low metal content plastic mines using a dual sensor detector head. They offer the soldier an immediate ‘second opinion’ on detection without the need to dig up a detection site. This reduces time and improves efficiency. This capability is not a replacement but an enhancement to current in-service mine detectors. |
|
 PEMBS System showing components
prepared and ready for Firing 
Preparing PEMBS for firing
during LAT activities in
Germany |
Further to product delivery, Chemring Australia was also contracted to develop and supply a suite of user documentation together with an extensive training and development package. Throughout the past twelve months, David Bloor - Chemring Australia’s Senior Project Manager, has managed the contract and in May traveled to Chemring Defence Germany (CDG) in Bremerhaven. CDG being the Original Equipment Manufacturer conducted Lot and Acceptance Testing (LAT) firings over this period, providing an opportunity for David to receive first hand, OEM delivered instruction and training. This enabled him in December this year, to deliver the final training requirements into Army, in order to close off on the final contract milestones.
The training activities took place at the Army School of Military Engineering in Moorebank, NSW, in the first week of December, and included formal classroom instruction together with field firing of the Training PEMBS.
Final sign-off for the contract was achieved within twelve months of contract signature, an achievement well received, particularly by those within the DMO and the Australian Army. This highlighted the virtues of Defence engaging with local suppliers for support in major projects involving considerable foreign components. Many issues arising as a matter of course throughout the contract where dealt with in a prompt and efficient manner. This was due to the excellent local relationship established between Chemring Australia and the Project Office, both situated with the Melbourne area.
As the PEMBS and Training PEMBS is further utilised within in-country training and overseas operational environments, further orders are expected to result. Requirements are anticipated to develop once users further develop and appreciate the capabilities of the PEMBS systems.
|