EOD & C-IED Tools & Equipment Workshop at MAT KOSOVO

What a whirlwind the last few weeks have been for our Operations Director, Oliver Gilbert. Not only has he been on his IMAS Level 3 course, but also assisting with a hands-on demonstration and workshop.

The recent workshop delivered by MAT Kosovo was a great example of partnership in action, bringing together their programme expertise with the practical support and technology of RDS. Over two focused days, participants not only deepened their understanding of EOD & C-IED Tools & Equipment but also gained direct experience using RDS equipment guided by members of the RDS team.

Day One -  building understanding

The first day centred around the core theory of the programme. MAT Kosovo led the sessions, introducing key concepts and operational procedures, while the RDS team provided demonstrations of how the tools and equipment work in the field. This combination gave attendees both the knowledge and visual context they needed to connect theory with real-world application.

Chris Hawthorne showing the delegates the Vulkan De-Armer Disruptor's features. Image credit@ MAT KOSOVO MEDIA TEAM

Day Two -  learning by doing

The second day put participants in control. Under the guidance of instructors from both MAT Kosovo and RDS, they handled the equipment themselves, testing what they had learned and becoming more confident in using it correctly and safely. For many, it was the highlight of the workshop — a chance to translate understanding into ability.

Chris Hawthorne overseeing a student fit the Richmond Defence Rocket Wrench to a fuze. Image credit@ MAT KOSOVO MEDIA TEAM

Teamwork and expertise

What made the workshop particularly successful was the attitude of everyone involved. The participants brought enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, while the trainers ensured every question was answered and every task supported. A sincere thank you goes to all attendees for their engagement, to MAT Kosovo for leading the programme, and to RDS team members, Chris Hawthorne and Oliver Gilbert, for their help and guidance. We would also like to acknowledge our colleague, Artur Tigani, whose coordination and support throughout the event were invaluable.

Richmond kit on display at MAT KOSOVO prior to the workshop. Image credit@ MAT KOSOVO MEDIA TEAM

Oliver Gilbert of RDS demonstrating how to prep Vulkan for use. Image credit@ MAT KOSOVO MEDIA TEAM

A special thank you -  capturing the experience

We would also like to extend our appreciation to our Product Manager, Nicholas Gilbert, for attending the workshop to capture video and images. His work will play a vital role in supporting future training and in promoting the value of our courses and workshops. Having high-quality visual material not only helps us document the progress made but also allows us to share the professionalism and effort behind each programme. We also wish to thank the media team at MAT KOSOVO for sharing the photos we're using, and the fully edited video, below.

Vulkan post-deployment against target. Image credit@ MAT KOSOVO MEDIA TEAM

Looking ahead

This workshop demonstrated the value of bringing expertise together — MAT Kosovo’s training framework combined with RDS technology and field experience. We are proud to have contributed and look forward to continuing this collaboration on future programmes.

Training with Richmond Defence Systems

Richmond Defence Systems is committed to supporting organisations with more than just equipment. We offer bespoke training courses tailored to individual operational needs, ensuring teams are fully prepared to use RDS explosive ordnance disposal equipment safely, confidently and effectively. Whether delivered on-site or at our own facilities, each course is designed by experienced professionals and can be customised to match specific roles, environments and mission objectives. To enquire, please get in touch.

Want to see more from the workshop? Take a look at the gallery below.

Soldiers looking at a Vulkan de-armer disruptor.

A soldier preparing a rocket wrench to remove a fuze on an unexploded bomb

A soldier preparing a rocket wrench to remove a fuze on an unexploded bomb

A Vulkan de-armer disruptor ready to fire at an IED

Students being shown how to deploy the Vulkan de-armer disruptor at a target device.

A soldier preparing a rocket wrench to remove a fuze on an unexploded bomb

A soldier preparing a rocket wrench to remove a fuze on an unexploded bomb

A soldier preparing a rocket wrench to remove a fuze on an unexploded bomb

A man preparing a Vulkan de-armer disruptor.

A 50 Calibre de-armer set up to fire at unexploded orndance.

A fuze extrator fitted to unexploded orndance.

A group of soldiers looking at an exhibition stand that displays a variety of EOD tools.

A man showing a group of soldiers a Vulkan de-armer disruptor.

A man and a group of military students looking at EOD tools and equipment.

A Vulkan de-armer disruptor just after deployment at an IED.

A man and students looking at a UXO that has just been neutralised with a fuze removal device.

A UXO prior to having its fuze removed with an EOD tool.