Journal of Conventional Destruction

Volume 6 Issue 2 The Journal of Article 28

August 2002

The U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program

Nicole Kreger Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU (CISR)

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Recommended Citation Kreger, Nicole (2002) "The U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 6 : Iss. 2 , Article 28. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss2/28

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Kreger: The U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program

Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2002 1 Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 6, Iss. 2 [2002], Art. 28

performance of the company's full-size mine awareness training and mine risk • The Mine Clearing that it can be extensively tested in opera­ of the countries burdened by mines. AN-19 handheld . Now education." To fulfill this mission, the Hu­ Cultivator is a tional fi eld evaluations. These evaluations The tools and technologies devel­ vegetation clearance/ part of Schiebel's product line, the MMD manitarian Demining R&D Program has require coordination with host nation oped by the Humanitarian Demining mine removal has been deployed in three countries to developed a number of informational aids. demining officials, demining NGOs, and R&D Program fall into one of the fol­ machine that is undergo operational field evaluations. One of the most significant of these aids remotely controlled U.S. State Department and DoD officials lowing categories: mine detection, mine is the Demining Support System (DSS). as well. This tool has within the country in wh ich field evalu­ awareness and training, mine/vegetation been one of the R&D The DSS includes five fundamental train­ ations are to take place. So Far, over 40 clearance and neutralization, and deminer Camcopter Program's most The Camcopter, another product ing modules, specifically mine awareness, prototype technologies for demining have tools and individual protection. This ar­ successful made by Schiebel, is a small radio-con­ demining training, medical training, mis­ developments so far. been developed by the R&D Program; ticle touches on some of the major de­ trolled helicopter that can detect mines sion planning and landmine database. 18 of them have been sent to nearly 30 velopments in each area as wel l as some over a large area in comparison with stan­ countries for operational field evaluations. ofthe future prospects ofthe R&D Program. dard handheld detectors. It can be used Mine Awareness Materials Funding for the program is provided The R&D Program's mine awareness t-• llililll by ASD SO/LIC, who also offers direc­ Mine Detection to detect, identify, map and mark mines and minefields, and it is operated either materials include graphics for posters and tion and oversight. The Army's Humani- manually or automatically if pro­ handouts, a debriefing guide for • The remotely grammed. In several tests at Fort Belvoir, demining teams to use when a landmine controlled the Camcopter demonstrated the ability incident occurs, and a database oflandmine Camcopter is a fully to detect both AT and AP mines, using information. The posters are mostly • Constructing a Non-Electric (HDO) Training Aid Device autonomous lR sensors and an on-board global posi­ aimed at children, who are very suscep­ !nictating Assembly and Substitute Summary tool used to tioning system (GPS). It is capable of tible to severe mine injuries because of • Priming Explosives Non-electrically • HDO Program of Instruction detect, reaching speeds of up to 90km/hr and their height and their natural curiosity. • Priming Explosives with Detonating Summary identify, map and mark altitudes of 2000 m. An evaluation is The debriefing guide gives an overview Cord • Medical Information Collection Form landmines currently underway by the U.S. Joint on how to treat a landmine survivor so • Constructing a Ring Main • Mission Concept Brief Format while Area C learance Advanced Concept Tech­ that he or she can overcome the psycho­ • Radio Procedures • Policy: The DoD Humanitarian allowing the nology Demonstration (JAC-ACTD) ro logical trauma of the event. The landmine Information on each of these lessons operator to Demining Program be a safe determine the Camcopter's potential to database is an online searchable database can be downloaded from the R&D • Pre-mission Checklist distance from detect mines along routes. that allows the user to identify a mine Program's website (see contact informa­ • Route Reconnaissance Report Format the minefield. using several factors, such as size, shape, tion below). and Procedures The Future ofDetection material and manufacturing location. All • Trip Report Format For the past few years, R&D effons of these tools are avai lable online at the Medical Training Module • Unit Status Report in the realm of mine detection have fo­ R&D Program's website (see contact in­ The following six procedures are Information on each of these topics cused on honing the skills of fi nding and formation below). covered in the medical training module: is available for downloading from the identifying mines. Additionally, the Pro­ • Bleeding and Shock R&D Program's website (see contact in­ gram has been looking for ways to de­ Demining Training Materials • Environment Assessment formation below). crease the amount of false alarms in de­ T here are 19 lessons covered in the • Instructor's Guide for Leg Injury tectio n. Examples of current R&D demining training module. The lessons Treatment Program Landmine Database projects in detection are different forms include the following topics: • Instructor's Guide to Buddy Aid: The landmine database module is • Demining Training Objectives Training Program for Treating The process of detecting mines is of GPR, lR and technologies to detect called MineFacts and can be used as a ref­ tarian Demining R&D Program Office • Identifying Likely Mined Areas vital to demining yet presents a number explosive vapors. Arm, Eye and Face Injuries erence tool. Many users find it helpful in at comunications and electronics com­ • Locating Tripwires • Introduction to Planning Module of challenges. The most prominenr diffi­ identifYing types of mines and in provid­ mand (CECOM) NVESD carries out the • Marking Mines and Tripwires • Medical Trauma Kit: Airway culties are detecting mines with low metal Mine Awareness and ing training materials to demining newcom­ program with a program manager, two • Assembling the Mine Detector conrent and distinguishing mines from Training There are also 27 more detailed les- ers. It includes text and images to assist deputies and a staff of approximately 20, • Identifying Mines in Bosnia sons in emergency medical procedures scrap metal. ln order to address these is­ the user in identifYing and understanding which consists of government engineers, • Visually Detecting Mines in Likely sues, the R&D Program has assessed sev­ Mine awareness and training are available from the Combat Lifesaver items in the database. More information logistics specialists and contractor support Areas Courses. All of this information is avail­ eral prototypes using technologies rang­ important aspects of mine action because is available on the R&D Program's website personnel. This ream has a broad range • Locating Mines by Probing able on the R&D Program's website (see ing from Ground Penetrating they have a direct effect on the civilian (see contact information below). ofskills, including extensive backgrounds • Unpacking the Mine Detector (GPR) to the use of to (IR) populations of mine-affected countries. contact information below). in counrermine technology development, • Locating Mines Using the Mine and sensors. Two oft he program's T he humanitarian demining R&D Pro­ Mine/Vegetation acquisition and contract management. As Detector most successful developments are the M ini gram is dedicated to improving the qual­ Mission Planning Module Clearance and Sean Burke, Program Manager of the • Marking, Recording and Reporting Mine Detector (MMD) and the Camcopter. ity of mine awareness programs and The following 12 procedures are Neutralization Humanitarian Demining R&D Program, deminer trai ning courses. Their mission Minefields covered in the Mission Planning train­ put it, "All of the team members ... know Mini Mine Detector For mine awareness and training is as fol­ • Directing a Demining Team ing module: The Humanitarian Demining R&D the mine problem inside and our.".l Ex­ • Demolition Safety The MMD is a version of the tradi­ lows: "The Humanitarian Demining • After Action Report Format Program's biggest successes have been in tensive travel to mine-affected areas of the R&D Program is committed to continue • Using and Maintaining Demolition • Demining Status Reporr the area of mine/vegetation clearance and globe is another must for all staff mem­ tional metal detector rhar is small enough working on information aids and tech­ Equipment • DeminingTeam neutralization. Of the Program's recent bers. This enables them to demonstrate to be fitted onto a belt-mounred pouch. nologies that support demining missions, • Identifying UXO • Humanitarian Demining Operation technological developments, three vegeta- the latest technologies to native citizens It is made by Schiebel and marches the

https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss2/28 • 58 • • 59 • 2 Kreger: The U.S. Humanitarian Demining Research and Development Program

rion clearance systems have been highly neutralizes AP and AT mines as well as Aame from the Aare penetrates the cas­ gram involves developing tools that im­ (PPE) for the humanitarian demining Conclusion successful: the Survivable Demining T rae­ any orher objects in irs path. Irs protec­ ing of the mine or UXO and ignites the prove rhe efficiency of demining opera­ world. It also allows more valuable rests tor and Tools (S DTT), the Mine C lear­ tive sh ields on the driver cabin and other main charge. The mine does not deto­ tions. In terms of protective equipment, for predicting how PPE items will work Building on past successes and al­ ing Cultivator (MCC) with the Sifter and sensitive components allow ir to survive nate; instead it burns. Even if the mine visors, boors, vests and other gear for in certain mine incidents. ways expanding their repertoire, the U.S. the Rhino Earth Tiller. Two neutraliza­ the blasts ofborh AT and AP mines while detonates before all of the explosive has deminers are created as well. The AIR­ Humanitarian Demining R&D Program tion products have Aourished as well. suffering linle damage. The Rhino can burned, the explosion is signifi cantly re­ SPADE is an example of a rool for Lessons Learned is paving the way for improved humani­ accomplish irs goals of mine neutral iza­ duced. Both the T hiokol Demining Flares deminers developed by the Program, tarian demining tools and technologies. Suroivable Demining & Tools tion and destruction in varied terrains, and LEXFOAM have been deployed in the while the Lower Extremity Assessmem Mr. Burke spoke of some of the les­ Mr. Burke poinrs out that the Program's The SDTT is a modified version of including those with vegetation. , field, most recently in Kosovo. Program (LEAP) was a program to im­ sons learned by members of the program. work is never done: " .. . what if there is a commercial farm tractor. An assortment South Korea and Cambodia currently use prove individual deminer protection. He said that one of the most important something our there we have not uncov­ of specialized vegetation clearance tools the Rhino, and it has just successfully Future Plans in Mine/Vegetation lessons was "the importance of talking ered? In addition to someone's new idea can be incorporated into the system for completed operational field evaluations Clearance & Neutralization AIR-SPADE d irectly with deminers to fully under­ or existing technology that is sent into use in a range ofhumanirarian demining in Jordan and Israel. It is also being con­ T he Program is currently working The AlR-SPADE is a tool that al­ stand their capabilities, their environmen­ our program for consideration or evalua­ simarions. The system is armored and has sidered for use in . on several projects to improve this aspect lows a deminer to excavate AP and AT tal constraints and most importantly, tion, we are always actively looking for mine-survivable steel wheels that can of their efforts, especially in vegetat ion mines in ha rd soil conditions with in­ their immediate technology needs."3 The possible solutions in areas not tradition­ withstand AT mine blasts; however, it is Neutralization Products clearance. The challenge in clearing veg­ creased safety. The system integrates a Requirements Workshops have been in­ ally linked to counrermine."3 The Pro­ specifically intended for use in areas with The two successful neutralization etation is to create a device that has a high commercial off-the-shelf air compressor, strumenral in doing this by helping the gram staff must be ever-vigilant in order AP mines, since it can endure AP mine products that have come out of the R&D performance level but comes in a more a gasoline or diesel power engine, and a Program "focus on [deminers'] most im­ ro ensure that the humanitarian demining explosions with no damage to the system Program are LEXFOAM and the T hiokol compact package than current machines. specially designed air nozzle rhat creates mediate and significant needs." community is getting state-of-the-art or its operator. In 2000, the SDTT under­ D emining Flare. LEX.FOAM is a nitro­ An up-and-coming tool in this field is the a focused jet of air that Aows at a super­ Mr. Burke also menrioned rhar pre­ equipment that will increase the speed went an operational field evaluation in methane-based explosive foam rhar is UK Development Technology Workshop's sonic velocity. It separates and removes deployment visits are viral requirements and efficiency of eradicating the world's Cambodia, which was highly successful. used to neutralize m ines and some types (DTW's) Tempest. The Tempest is a small the hard-packed soil or clay from around to operational field evaluations. Before landmine problem. • Following the system's success in Cambo­ ofUXO. T he explosive is activated when vegetation clearance tool/ a mine fa ster than existing digging tech­ the Program will deploy p rototype tools, dia, neighboring made a formal iris mixed with a liquid propellant; how­ mine Aail. The tool has been undergoing ni ques. The air jet will not detonate the these visits must be conducted to verify References request for a similar operational evalua­ ever, each of irs components are individu­ operati onal fie ld evaluations in Cam bo­ mi nes because it does nor exert enough that the most appropriate equipment is tion. The system now supports the efforts of ally classified as either inert or C lass Two dia and Thailand and will be modified and pressure to do so. Operational field evalu­ being sent to the country requesting ir. I. The Dcmining Support System: Worldwide An~lysis and Assessmem. World Wide Web: http:// the Thailand Mine Action Center (TMAC). Aammable liquids. Thus, thei r transpor­ res red agai n early next year. ations have been conducted in Afghani­ If rhe technology requested is deemed www.humanitariandemin ing.org/pubs/dssreporr.pdf tation is much easier and safer than that stan and Cambodia, and the AIR-SPADE inappropriate for that location after the 2. Technologies to Assist with the Global Demining Mine Clearing Cultivator of C lass One ex plosives. Deminer Tools and is used to support mine clearance opera­ pre-deployment visit, the Program sug­ Effort. 1999. Online video: htrp: /1 The MCC is designed to expose and The T hiokol De mining Flare is a Individual Protection tions in and Ecuador. gests other possibilities until a sarisfac­ www.humanitariandcmining.org/newvideo.hnn 3. E-mail interview wid> Mr. Sean Burke. june 28,2002. remove AT mines and large bounding AP p yrotechnic device used to defuse rory arrangemenr is made. mines from the ground in both urban and landmines without explosives. After a Because manual demining is still the Lower Extremity Assessment Program Another essential lesson learned at 'All piJoros courresy ofHumanitarian Demining R&D rural locations. While removi ng mines mine has been detected and partially un­ most widely used mine clearance method, LEAP was a joint p rogram iniriared the R&D Program is "ro st ick with those Program. from rhe soil , it also avoids creating a covered, a Aare is placed near it and trig­ improved tools and deminer safety are in 1998. The program's purpose was to technologies showing promise that have contaminated berm a nd all ows the gered from a safe distance. The intense important considerations. The R&D Pro- assess the effectiveness of various types of high potential payoff down the road." Contact Information ground to be used for agricultural protective footwear against several differ­ While projects may at first seem costly purposes, something that is often nor ent AP mines. Using cadaver legs, the with no immediate rewards, they often Sean Burke, Program Manager • Developing Personal possible after demining operations. strain exerted on a deminer's leg from a have benefits that can only be gained from Humanitarian D emining R&D Program Protective The system utilizes remote controls mine detonatio n was studied. Also, the long-term investment. Mr. Burke cired US Army CECOM NVESD Equipment (PPE) is to decrease rhe amount of training study was designed to observe injury par­ the MCC and the Floating Mine Blade ATTN AMSEL-RD-NV-CM-HD (S. Bwke) important since manual demining is necessary and increase the safety of terns and medical outcomes to determine (FMB) as two examples, stating that af­ 10221 Burbeck Rd, Suire 430 still the most widely the operator. An operational fi eld rest the development of injury criteria. This ter a few years of research and modifica­ Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5806 used clearance of the MCC was conducted in Egypt program determined that the U.S. Army tions, "these designs have matured into Tel: (703) 704-I 047 method. Testing in 2000. At presenr, it is being pre­ Blast Boor and the U.S. Army Blast Over­ robust mine clearance systems."·1 Fax: (703) 704-2500 done by the R&D program has pared fo r deployment in Angola. shoe were the best combination to reduce Lastly, Mr. Burke comments that E-mail: sean.bu [email protected] allowed for more lower leg amputations and decrease the "the oldest lesson learned is to recognize Website: http:/ /www.humanirarian­ effective PPE to be Rhino Earth Tiller chance of infection. when it is time to stop or eliminate a demining.org/R_D/defaulr.htm developed. The Rhino is another remotely project that is no longer viable or controlled machine that crushes and Continued Progress needed."3 This is an imporranr aspect of Researchers at the Humanitarian the program so that time and money are Demining R&D Program have put a lor best spent on the projects that will yield • The AIR-SPADE is a safer way fo r ofwor k into undersranding rhe effects of the most productive results. Test results de miners to excavate landmines mine blast explosio ns on rhe human proving itself especiall y useful in hard on these tools are kept ro help make the soil conditions. The airjet, which travels body. As they acquire more knowledge, program more efficient in the future. at a supersonic velocity, is powerful it enables the industry to design more enough to break up tough soil, yet will effective Personal Protective Equipment not detonate mines.

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