0603920D8Z - SO/LIC Humanitarian De-mining
Abstract
The Humanitarian Demining Research and Development (HD R&D) program element rapidly develops, demonstrates and validates new technologies for DoD-supported nations to detect and clear landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), and to contribute to US military countermine R&D. The HD R&D Program focuses on development of new technologies to improve the efficiency and safety of indigenous nation-conducted, post-conflict clearance of residual mines and UXO, which pose a serious threat to US forces conducting stability operations, and to the host nation’s population and economy. The HD R&D Program adapts commercial-off-the-shelf equipment, integrates mature technologies, and leverages R&D activity within DoD, particularly in the Army's Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) Tactical Countermine mission area. The program aims to improve existing technologies for: mine/UXO detection, technical survey/area reduction, mechanical mine/UXO clearance, vegetation clearance, mine neutralization, individual deminer protection, and post-clearance quality assurance (QA). Evaluations of HD R&D Program-developed technologies in actual minefields are conducted by host nation demining partners (foreign military, non-governmental organizations and mine action centers) and provide valuable data for US military countermine R&D and next generation HD technology developments while directly contributing to world-wide mine and UXO clearance. Since 1995 the program has fielded technologies for 139 evaluations in 36 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The program’s technologies have cleared 16+ million sq meters of the world’s toughest minefields; found or destroyed 80,000+ mines and UXO; and provided 267,000 mine/UXO disposal charges with 33 tons of explosive recovered from stockpiles and abandoned munitions in PACOM. Under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (OASD SO/LIC), the HD R&D Program works closely with the COCOMS and the Humanitarian Demining Training Center (HDTC) to support the Warfighter by developing and implementing mine/UXO detection and clearance technologies; speeding improvements to technologies used by U.S. forces in support of USG operations; reducing the threat to host nation population and US forces; reducing insurgent access to explosives (landmines and UXO); enhancing mine action capacity of non-governmental organizations and mine action centers in mine-affected countries; and providing engagement opportunities for DoD personnel in mine-affected countries. Areas of emphasis are identified and validated at a biennial Requirements Workshop held by OASD SO/LIC. The Requirements Workshop involves representatives from Department of State (DoS), U.S. combatant commands (COCOMS) and mine-affected nations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Source ID
- 12c991202c7aebc13b33e33860d4fed7
Related Documents
- Root: Humanitarian De-mining