A detailed survey and assessment of the scale and nature of the contamination was undertaken to provide guidance in the selection of the most appropriate equipment to meet this complex challenge. The Aardvark Group has a 40-year history of delivering similar projects with similar conditions, including the safe demining of the Sarajevo airport area following the Bosnian Conflict and after careful consideration the Aardvark AMCS was chosen for its award-winning wide area mine clearing capabilities and unmatched levels of survivability and operator protection.
Despite numerous logistical challenges, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, the Aardvark team worked around the clock to meet the client’s 14-day delivery deadline in Füzuli. This outstanding feat could not have been achieved without the expert support and commitment from the UK Defence and Security Exports team and the Export Control Joint Unit at the Department for International Trade, the UK’s overseas representatives in both Germany and Baku and last but not least, the Azerbaijani Government – who embraced British support for the humanitarian efforts in their country.
The importance of the project was reflected by Mr. James Sharp, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan: