Humanitarian Demining Flare Against Cluster Munitions and Hard Cased Land Mines
Abstract
Unexploded cluster bombs often fail to explode, remaining live and dangerous. These unexploded cluster munitions complicate the clearing of minefields. Generally, EOD personnel or deminers destroy mines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) in place using conventional demolition charges. This can result in a huge number of additional widely scattered metallic fragments, complicating mine detection. Recent conflicts in Kosovo and Afghanistan highlight the UXO threat. Individual BLU-97 bomblets from the CBU-87 and the British BL755 are a significant UXO problem. It is difficult to bring the explosive charges required to destroy the dud cluster munitions and mines into Kosovo because of the political situation. In the last few years, the Humanitarian Demining R&D Program has developed non-explosive and explosive mine neutralization technologies to make land mine and UXO clearance faster, safer and easier. A non-explosive method is needed to destroy these and other UXO. In response to this need, the Humanitarian Demining R&D Program and the NAVEODTECHDIV developed the Thiokol or Humanitarian Demining (HD) Flare. The Government tested the HD Flare against dud UXO (represented by the BLU-97 and Mk 118 Rockeye), two hard case AP mines and one metallic case AT mine. The HD Flares destroyed all munitions either by burning or by high order detonation. This investigation made it clear the two most important parameters to neutralize BLU-97s with burning are the location of flame on target, and separation distance from the target area. It took more than one flare to completely neutralize the explosive in the Rockeye by burning.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA458417
Entities
People
- Divyakant L. Patel
- Jason J. Regnier
- Sean P. Burke
Organizations
- United States Army Communications-Electronics Command