The latest weapon to help counter the threat posed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and mines in Afghanistan was unveiled by the Ministry of Defence on 23 June 2010.

Talisman is a suite of vehicles, operated by the Royal Engineers, that clears routes of IEDs and mines. It was bought as an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) worth more than £180M.

Each Talisman system consists of: 

• A MASTIFF 2 protected patrol vehicle
• A Buffalo mine protected vehicle, with a rummaging arm
• A JCB high mobility engineer excavator
• A T-Hawk micro air vehicle
• Talon tracked remote control vehicle

Patrick Beazley, Head of Combat Wheels Group at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), said: "Talisman will improve our ability to manage the IED and mine threat with the system's primary mission being to protect vehicle convoys delivering supplies to Forward Operating Bases (FOBs)."

"It has been designed as a flexible manoeuvre support capability that can be quickly re-tasked and rearranged to meet different mission tasks, operating independently or alongside other bomb disposal systems dependent on the threat."

"It is now part of a wide range of tools, techniques and tactics we have to help mitigate the risk to our forces from the threat of IEDs."

Talisman was unveiled at the MOD's annual Defence Vehicle Dynamic event at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, which showcases the latest military vehicles and equipment.