Support: Afghan EOD Loves Their Little Droids

Archives

July 17, 2013: With its recent $17 million purchase, the Afghan Army now has over a thousand MMP-30 robots (for mine and roadside bomb clearing) in service or on order. The base price of the MMP-30 is $4,325. But add in accessories, service, spare parts, and the like and the final price more than doubles. The MMP-30s began arriving four years ago, after the Afghans decided that it was the best model for their growing force of bomb clearance technicians. The MMP-30 entered service six years ago as the smaller MMP-15 and four years ago as the MMP-30. One of the first users of the MMP-30 was the U.S. Navy EOD (Explosives Ordnance Disposal) teams, and they recommended it to the Afghans (who had also used them).

The MMP-30 got into an already crowded market by being cheaper and more rugged than the existing Talon and PackBot droids that have dominated the market for years. The MMP-30 is a 13.6 kg (30 pound) robot with a 9 kg (20 pound) payload. Its batteries will last two hours (before being replaced or recharged). The MMP-30 is light enough to be carried into action, with another man carrying the accessories. The MMP-30 can be operated via cable or wirelessly. It can mount the usual assortment of cameras and claws.

 

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close