The HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian mine clearance organisation, is operating a fleet of JCB machines to help clear minefields in Afghanistan and they will soon be joined by a new addition, an armour plated X Series tracked excavator.
HALO’s programme in Afghanistan uses four modified JCB models – a 457ZX wheeled loading shovel, JCB Hydradig, JCB Teletruk and 8008 micro excavator. Each machine features HALO’s standard white livery denoting the neutral, humanitarian nature of the activity along with varying levels of machine protection dependent on threat level.
The new armoured JCB 220X will further help reduce deaths and injuries from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which account for the second largest number of conflict-related civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan.
The cab on JCB 220X model has been protected with blast resistant armoured plating and will be deployed to tackle the highest threat level in the region which comes from pressure-plate IEDs. Fitted with a quick hitch, it can quickly change between a general digging bucket and a rake attachment, which is very effective at finding and safely dislodging any mines from the ground.
The protection on the JCB220X was provided by Martin Williams (Hull) Ltd which has a division specialising in the design and build of armoured vehicles. Its customers range from the UK government’s Ministry of Defence, the United Nations and NATO as well as various non-governmental organisations, humanitarian groups and international charities such as HALO. The cab features 100mm glazing and three layers of blast protection fabricated from Armox 440T strengthened steel which is specifically designed for vehicle armour to provide penetration and blast resistance.