Support: August 31, 2002

Archives

The fighting in Afghanistan reminded everyone that mines are still a major hazard on the battlefield (despite efforts to get landmines banned.) The current mine clearing systems, for getting things done in a hurry, rely on explosive cable fired onto a mined area (using a small rocket) and then detonated. The 110 meter long cable contains 1,840 pounds of C-4 explosive. It can clear a path up to 14 meters wide (7 meters on each side of the cable) and 100 meters long through a minefield. The explosion sets off most of the mines. Then an armored vehicle pushing a heavy metal roller "proofs" a lane through the mine field that anyone can use. This two step process often takes too long, and U.S. Army Engineers have long wanted to develop a faster method. The Explosive Standoff Minefield Breacher (ESMB) system, using a net like system containing small shaped charges, will destroy 95 percent of the mines in the area it is used on. But this still requires a metal roller to proof the lane. More exotic systems that can attack the mine fuze are in the works. But at the moment, there's no easy way to deal with landmines.


 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close