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. 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 163 evaluations in 36 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan. The program’s technologies have cleared 21+ million sq meters of the world’s toughest minefields; found or destroyed 101,000+ mines and UXO; and provided 306,000 mine/UXO disposal charges with 36 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. The program element’s work is consistent with the Department of Defense’s strategic guidance to address instability and reduce the demand for significant US force commitments to stability operations; with DODI 3000.05 to foster security, economic security and development, and build indigenous capacity; and with § 407 and CJCSI 3207.01C to reduce the social, economic and environmental impact of landmines, unexploded ordnance and small arms ammunition.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2015
• Source ID: 920_0603920D8Z_4_0400_PB_2015

Tags

Readers

• Geochemistry
• Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
• Munitions and Ordnance Engineering