Panama remote controlled vehicle
A remotely operated mine-detection vehicle based on the Snatch Land Rover.
The British Armed Forces use a mine-clearing system called the Panama Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). It is built from a Snatch Land Rover that has been adapted for remote control, with a large mine-detection unit attached to its front. This vehicle was created as an inexpensive way to find mines, driven by the need to reduce casualties during the War in Afghanistan.
The Panama ROV is towed behind another vehicle, typically a Buffalo MRAP. Crews can disconnect it without leaving cover, then drive it remotely to search for explosives. A full system includes two Panama vehicles and one control station. These systems usually operate within a Talisman team, which also contains two Buffalo Rummage vehicles, four Mastiff 'Protected Eyes' vehicles, two micro unmanned air vehicles, two HMEEs, and two Talon UGVs.
Costs are kept low because the design uses the SN2A Snatch Land Rover, a model declared obsolete due to weak armour. The military had around two hundred of these vehicles waiting to be scrapped. The Panama has been in service in Afghanistan since early 2011.
The project went from a procurement decision to operational use in eleven months, with a total cost of £50 million—£9 million under budget. Using the old Snatch Land Rovers instead of buying new vehicles saved an extra £8 million over the contract’s lifespan. The programme was managed directly by the Defence Equipment and Support branch of the Ministry of Defence, with help from PA Consulting Group, an unusual approach for UK procurement. Despite this, the Land Rover was approved. Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Parker of the Royal Engineers explained that a whole generation of technicians already knew how to maintain them, a supply chain for parts existed, all manuals were written, and thousands of parts were already coded to NATO standards. He added that the operator’s simple computer display, similar to a video game, allows soldiers to learn to use the vehicle in just one hour.
The project and PA Consulting Group won the Management Consultancies Association Award for best overall project in 2012.
Quick Facts
- Cost
- £50m total, £9m less than expected
- Development time
- 11 months from procurement decision to operational use
- Training time for operators
- one hour
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Panama ROV was created by Defence Equipment and Support, part of the Ministry of Defence, in conjunction with PA Consulting Group. Before its introduction, an average of one person every week was killed, with five or six more being severely injured. The vehicle is towed behind another vehicle – usually a Buffalo MRAP – and can be unhitched without the crew having to expose themselves, then remotely driven to search for explosive devices. A single system consists of two Panama vehicles and a control station. They usually work as part of a Talisman team, which includes two Buffalo Rummage, four Mastiff 'Protected Eyes' vehicles, two micro unmanned air vehicles, two HMEEs, and two Talon UGVs. The vehicles are considerably cheaper than a bespoke solution, as they make use of the SN2A Snatch Land Rover, which was rendered obsolete due to poor armour protection. The military had approximately 200 of these vehicles awaiting disposal. The vehicle has been in use in Afghanistan since early 2011.
Reader's Guide
The Panama ROV represents a pragmatic approach to urgent operational needs, repurposing obsolete vehicles to address a critical threat. Its significance lies in its low cost and rapid fielding: the project took 11 months from procurement decision to operational use, cost £50m total (£9m less than expected), and using existing Snatch Land Rovers saved an additional £8m over the contract length. The programme was managed by DE&S itself with assistance from PA Consulting, an unorthodox method for UK procurement. Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Parker of the Royal Engineers noted that the Snatch was chosen because a generation of technicians were trained in its maintenance, a supply chain for parts existed, manuals were written, and thousands of parts were already codified to NATO standards. He also stated that operators could learn to use the vehicle in just one hour due to a simple computer display familiar to computer game players. The project and PA Consulting Group won the Management Consultancies Association Award for the best overall project in 2012.
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