Dstl and Pearson Engineering unveil new British Army robotic mine plough

Dstl and Pearson Engineering have unveiled the Weevil prototype with a full-length robotic mine plough based on Warrior. (UK MoD/Crown copyright)

The UK's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Pearson Engineering unveiled the Weevil prototype of a new British Army robotic mine plough in a joint press release and a Dstl video on 10 April 2025.

They said the device would provide better protection to British troops by clearing explosives and pushing them aside, opening a safe path for them to move faster and more safely against enemy positions or key objectives than current mine-clearing methods. The British Army's current Trojan Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers (AVRE) has a three-strong crew operating directly in hazardous areas.

Dstl and Pearson Engineering jointly developed the Weevil prototype based on the Warrior infantry fighting vehicle fitted with a full-width mine plough, Pearson Engineering's Beacon remote-control system, and vehicle-mounted cameras, allowing it to be operated by a single soldier miles away from the hazardous area being cleared. The plough was optimised for Warrior, a much lighter vehicle than typical hosts, according to Pearson Engineering. Dstl and Pearson Engineering said the system can be adapted to any suitable vehicle platform.

Beacon can be operated either by dismounted soldiers using an operator control unit or as an integrated command station within a dedicated command vehicle.

Weevil trials have taken place on a surrogate minefield in Newcastle and will continue to test the system's limits, Dstl and Pearson said, but they did not say how long the trials would last when asked by Janes