‘Flying Robot’ pilot helps find IEDs in Helmand

Lance Corporal Rob McInerney is currently working at the forefront of counter-IED operations in Afghanistan piloting the ‘Flying Robot’, which is part of the Talisman counter-IED system.

Talisman has been designed to provide an increased level of assurance along routes throughout the region. It consists of a suite of cutting-edge equipment, including armoured vehicles, optical cameras and remote-controlled vehicles.

This life-saving equipment is being used to support combat logistic patrols, which can comprise several hundred vehicles and trek through the country delivering vital supplies to bases for the troops on the front line.

Lance Corporal Rob McInerney, aged 26, serves with 15 Field Support Squadron, part of 38 Engineer Regiment – the first troops to use the new system on the ground in Afghanistan.



LCpl Rob McInerney in front of a Buffalo, part of the Talisman suite
Photo: Captain Leanne Christmas RE
Crown Copyright/MOD 2010

His role is to pilot the MAV (Micro Air Vehicle), otherwise known as the ‘Flying Robot’ or ‘T-Hawk’:

“The MAV is a great piece of kit and complements the rest of the equipment,” he said. “The MAV has two cameras which feed information back to a laptop so that the commander is then better placed to make decisions.”

“We have been involved in a few contacts on a couple of the operations that we have been on, which made the day interesting! The most satisfying part of the tour for me is when we get the guys to their destination safely; after all, that is the aim of our job!”

To read the full story click here

Canadian cowboy trains British soldiers to spot IEDs

The British Army has recruited a Canadian cowboy to teach soldiers how to look for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hidden in the ground when deployed in Afghanistan.

The cowboy is professional tracker Terry Grant, aged 52, who is famed for his hit reality television show ‘Mantracker’ in which he tracks contestants over vast swathes of the Canadian wilderness.

Professional tracker Terry Grant with soldiers of 7th Armoured Brigade on the Canadian prairie
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

He has now been employed to pass on his unique ground sign awareness skills to the soldiers of 7th Armoured Brigade (the Desert Rats) who are set to deploy to Afghanistan next year.

The Desert Rats are currently training on Exercise Prairie Thunder 1 at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) located in the heart of the vast plains of Alberta in the west of Canada.

To read the full article click here

Prime Minister pledges extra £67m to counter IEDs

Prime Minister David Cameron has announced extra resources for British troops in Afghanistan to deal with roadside bombs during his first visit to Afghanistan since the formation of the Coalition Government.

During a joint press conference with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in the Afghan capital Kabul today, Mr Cameron said an additional £67m will be provided to help troops counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

A British counter-IED specialist at work

He also announced additional funding for policing, education, jobs and governance reform in Afghanistan.

Mr Cameron said:

"My biggest duty as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is to our Armed Forces and to make sure that they have all the equipment and all of the protection that they need to do the absolutely vital job that they are doing here in Afghanistan.

"I'm pleased to announce today that we will be spending an extra £67m on countering the IED threat and actually doubling the number of British teams that are there to counter the threat from those explosive devices."

British soldiers train members of the Afghan National Army in counter-IED techniques

Mr Cameron emphasised the importance of the relationship between the two countries and that Afghanistan is Britain's most important foreign policy and national security issue.

He added that this year will be a 'vital year' when NATO forces have to make progress - both for the sake of the Afghan people and on behalf of people in Britain 'who want to see this work and want to see progress'.

The two leaders also met last month and held talks at Chequers where they agreed that the relationship between Afghanistan and Britain should be further strengthened.

Pictures: Staff Sergeant Mark Jones & Andy Cargill