The Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of the first batch of L3Harris T4 bomb disposal robots under a £32 million programme, the department announced.
The Medium Uncrewed Ground Vehicles (UGVs) will be used by Army and Royal Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams in the UK, Cyprus and Gibraltar. According to the MOD, the T4 system features advanced controls, high-definition cameras and a haptic feedback system designed to give operators maximum control in high-risk environments.
A total of 50 robots are being provided under the project, which is managed by the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Specialist Vehicles and Uncrewed Land Systems team in partnership with L3Harris.
Steve Hayward, SVULS Team Leader at DE&S, said in the release: “The team has delivered equipment into the hands of the users at pace, conducting trials and testing to achieve delivery milestones ahead of schedule. Providing this capability in support of the UK Defence’s Military Aid to the Civilian Authorities (MACA) obligations demonstrates the commitment within DE&S to deliver the right equipment where it matters, keeping our operators and the people of the UK protected from the threats of today and tomorrow.”
Colonel Tim Gould, Head of Programmes at Army DEODS, added: “The L3Harris T4 will now join its T7 stablemate in supporting our EOD operators on their vital work to safeguard the UK public from explosive hazards. The T4 will close a capability gap in the UK MACA EOD response by enabling greater UGV access in confined spaces.”
L3Harris noted that the T4 complements the in-service T7 platform, with both systems sharing synergies in training and logistics. The company has established a UK-based team to provide through-life support for the programme.
Ian Menzies, General Manager of the ICI Division at L3Harris, said: “At L3Harris, we are committed to delivering mission-ready technology that keeps people safe and operationally effective. These deliveries demonstrate our ability to rapidly deliver capabilities on time and to specification. The T4 gives operators the ability to neutralise explosive threats from a safe distance, reducing risk to life and strengthening the UK’s operational resilience.”
