The Detection and Clearance Process

What is a landmine? The purpose of a landmine is to disable, immobilize or kill. It is an explosive device activated either by a person or vehicle, or command detonated by electric wire or radio signal. Most landmines are laid on or just below the surface of the ground and are activated by pressure or trip-wire. Normally manufactured from very durable materials such as plastic, bakelite, concrete, glass or metal, landmines are designed to survive the effects of weather, season and time. Anti-tank landmines (ATM) generally fit into two categories: blast and penetration, while antipersonnel landmines (APL) are generally either blast or fragmentation (see sidebar on page 19). However, these are only the basic categories; there are many other types of landmines, including helicopter mines, sea mines and shallow water river mines. They are commonly designed with simple, reliable fuse mechanisms. However, during the past several decades, increasingly complex fuse systems have been designed Landmine Detection and Clearance