The Land Armaments Directorate (TERRARM) under the National Armaments Directorate (DNA) has published a notice of infungibility/exclusivity preliminary to the acquisition of supplies via negotiated procedure without prior publication of the tender related to the acquisition on behalf of the Army Staff of:
- robotic scatterable mine deployment systems, Dynamit Nobel Defence Skorpion 2, comprising a “canister” type launch system and installable on a 20-ft platform;
- Dynamit Nobel Defence AT2+ anti-tank mines;
- training utilized anti-tank mines that can be used on the aforementioned deployment systems.
The principles of this contract are endorsed by TERRARM as these durable goods and services have no equivalents for utility, value, and thus, are not interchangeable with others in terms of performance or functional requirements.
The Program
The consultation covers a supply divided into nine installments (from 2026 to 2034) of landmine planting systems (mine dispenser) and related trainable warfare and training anti-tank mines with Dynamit Nobel Defence for a total amount of 96 million euros.
There will be a purchase of 12 planting systems with 23,583 AT2+ warfare mines and 3,600 training mines. Furthermore, within the contract coverage period (till 2034) there is an option to purchase up to a maximum of 43 additional planting systems with 50,000 AT2+ warfare mines, and 10,000 training mines.
Skorpion 2, developed and produced by Dynamit Nobel Defence, is a weapon system intended for counter-mobility, to obstruct the operations of the opponents’ armored and mechanized forces and directing them into engagement areas with other systems (artillery, anti-tank missiles etc.).
System Characteristics
The system can be installed on a 10″ container base on high mobility, off-road truck decks, or on a trailer for towing. Alternatively, 15″ or 20″ container bases can be used, increasing or doubling the number of launcher containers.
Each system includes four launcher containers each capable of automatically releasing up to twenty AT2+ mines for anti-tank purposes, covering a two-kilometer area in about ten minutes.
The AT2+ anti-tank mine has magnetic influence motion sensors that activate it within 0.5 seconds after detecting a metallic mass and does not necessarily require the armored target to pass over it to explode. Moreover, after placing and arming, it is time-programmed to self-destruct after a certain period from placement, as well as it is possible to program the delay in activation and anti-handling.
TERRARM also requires that the Skorpion 2 system should be able to be deployed and reloaded in the field by a crew of a maximum of two operators. It should also be programmable and operable from the vehicle cabin via a specific remote control device (Command & Control Device).
The Skorpion 2 system has recently been selected and purchased by the Latvian Ministry of Defense under a 50-million-euro contract.
Source Land Armament Directorate (TERRARM)/National Armament Directorate (DNA)
Photo credit @Dynamit Nobel Defence/Latvian Ministry of Defence
