Newcastle’s Pearson Engineering secures Ukraine anti-mine deal

A North East firm is helping Ukrainian forces repel Russia’s invasion.

Pearson Engineering is sending equipment to combat mine and bomb attacks across the war-torn country.

The contract includes “multi-purpose interfaces” for vehicles to fit mine ploughs and additional anti-explosive equipment.

The Newcastle-based firm is also supplying remotely-controlled mine clearance vehicles, pictured above, and mine rollers designed to counter pressure-fused devices.

Ian Bell, Pearson Engineering group chief executive, said: “Design and delivery of this type of lifesaving equipment is at the heart of our operations.

“We have supplied more than 3000 mine ploughs of various types around the world, and we continually invest to ensure that we can defeat modern threats as they evolve.

“We are trusted by international armed forces, and we are committed to continuing to defeat battlefield obstacles to keep soldiers safe.”

Armstrong Works-based Pearson Engineering secured the agreement through Defence Equipment & Support, which manages contracts on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Major General Anna-Lee Reilly, Defence Equipment & Support’s head of strategic capability, engagement and operations, added: “We continue to work collaboratively with our industrial partners to ensure that Ukraine has the mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities it needs.”

The contract builds on a partnership between Pearson and Germany’s Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft to supply route opening mine ploughs to Ukraine.