ORACLE II (Obstacle Removal And Clear Land Equipment) is produced in collaboration with Caterpillar Inc. The machine has a demining tool based on tiller technology, with a ground-controlled forward drive system tailored to the ground conditions and type of mine threat.

The system is based on an track loader from Caterpillar, model 973C, and has been developed in collaboration with Caterpillar, while the actual demining tool, the tiller, was developed in-house.

The tool can penetrate down to 55 cm, thus reaching mines buried deep in the ground. Using the ground as a stationary force, it is designed to crush and destroy mines, rendering them harmless before they are able to detonate (which is the criterion for the fourth-generation technology).

The capacity varies depending on the ground conditions and terrain. The machine weighs 53 tonnes in operation, and tills the ground in front of the machine, which requires a certain degree of bearing capacity from the supporting surface. The ORACLE system has short service times and the tiller can be quickly changed for different terrains and soil types.

Capacity

ORACLE II has the capacity to demine more than 40,000 square metres mined land per day, which is approx. 200 times faster than manual demining. In comparison with other demining systems on the market, ORACLE is very competitive and offers a high level of cost-effectiveness. The system removes vegetation and clears mines simultaneously. Competing technologies usually carry out demining in two stages, first removing vegetation to provide access to clear mines. The system can be considered one of the most powerful on the market.

The machine is driven by a 600 hp motor, while a 1,400 hp hydraulic power unit drives the tiller. Thanks to its engine power, the ORACLE can reach mines buried deep in the ground.

The ORACLE system has successfully been used for commercial demining of more than 3.3 million square metres of mined land in Croatia.

In good conditions, demining is quicker with ORACLE than with competing methods and technologies. This is of particular interest to potential commercial customers, who see economic value in being able to use the land for other activities as quickly as possible.

The ORACLE technology is most competitive when used to demine contiguous areas of fairly even land, without hills, forests or buildings. A large number of mines are placed in this type of area as it is favoured for troop movements.

Caterpillar

Countermine’s demining system is primarily based on standard equipment from Caterpillar, the world-leading manufacturer of construction machinery, among other things, in combination with our in-house technology. To date two machines have been produced at our plant in Södertälje. In April 2008 negotiations began on the purchase of up to six further machines for production of ORACLE II systems.

Collaboration with the multinational actor Caterpillar offers valuable benefits, e.g. access to a global service system in which almost all distributors are independent, locally owned and have a good knowledge of the specific local environment and conditions..