Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) has completed its first trial of 2024 by gathering data from the Terrier Load Platform Arms (LPA). During the Trial, the Terrier was carrying two fascines while conducting Battlefield Missions with 26 Engineering Regiment. Terrier is the first of a new generation of multi-functional combat engineer vehicles, delivering uncompromising performance from a medium-weight chassis. The trial involved cross country driving, towing and lifting of the fascines. The fascine is an effective way of crossing gaps to allow the battlegroup to advance without the need for a bridge.
Terrier is designed to support ground forces in a variety of military scenarios ranging from peacetime support to full war conditions, earning its nickname as the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of armoured vehicles. Terrier is fully operational under armour, using cameras providing 360? vision both in daytime and at night using thermal imaging. It can also be operated by remote control at a 1km range. Using its bucket and excavator arm, Terrier can mechanically place or remove objects to create – or destroy – bridges and obstacles. It also has a rock hammer that can split rocks and penetrate concrete, and a ‘ripper’ that can tear up roads or runways, preventing their use.
Terrier can clear scattered mines using its surface clearance attachment. Additionally, it can use the Python rocket-propelled explosive device for rapidly breaching minefields and creating a safe path. Terrier is protected by all-round armour which can be enhanced against emerging threats. It has nuclear, biological and chemical protection, environmental conditioning, an on-board fire suppression, smoke dischargers and a pintle-mounted machine gun. Inside, Terrier features many technologies, including multi-function displays showing mapping, alerts, vehicle status and many others. It can also be driven entirely by joystick.
Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land Ltd. (RBSL) is a joint venture between the United Kingdom’s BAE Systems and Germany’s Rheinmetall AG for military vehicle design, manufacture and support. The RBSL joint venture business consists of BAE Systems Land UK, the UK land systems business segment of BAE Systems, and Germany’s Rheinmetall AG’s defence arm. To create the joint-venture, BAE Systems sold a 55% share of BAE Systems Land UK to Rheinmetall AG. The company received regulatory approval on 13 June 2019. It is based in the United Kingdom, with headquarters in Telford, and other sites at Newcastle upon Tyne, Bristol and Dorset.