Germany boosts Ukraine's frontline with mine-clearing Wisent 1 vehicles

Ukraine needs almost everything, from the highly sought-after anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems to artillery ammunition and demining equipment vital for counterattacks.

The entire eastern part of Ukraine is heavily mined. The Russians, using throw mining systems or special rockets for multiple rocket launchers such as BM-30 Smerch, BM-27 Uragan, and BM-21 Grad, can mine even the logistical roads used by the Ukrainians located a couple of miles behind the front line. For these tasks, the Wisent 1 MC vehicles provided by Germany, based on the Leopard 1 tank chassis, are ideally suited.

The Wisent 1 MC, developed by Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) and known, among other things, for its partnership with British Pearson Engineering, uses the Leopard 1 tank as its base. The tank's turret has been removed and replaced by an armoured superstructure, providing space for a four-person crew.

The Wisent 1, tipping the scales at about 54 tons (approx 49 tonnes), is outfitted with a crane capable of lifting about 36 tons (approx 33 tonnes) and features an advanced anti-mine flail resembling a spider's limbs. This flail, designed by Pearson Engineering, facilitates the safe neutralisation of mines, ranging from simple pressure-activated ones like the TM-62 to more complex devices that could react to electrical or magnetic disturbances.

Furthermore, the Wisent 1 can map safe paths and transmit this information in real-time to the command post. Regarding protection, Wisent 1 meets the fifth level of the STANAG 4569 standard for mine resistance and the third level for ballistic protection.

This translates to resilience against fire from 7.62x51 mm NATO /.308 Winchester calibre weapons employing armour-piercing ammunition with tungsten bullets. The crew is equipped with a universal machine gun for self-defence, the MG3.