A November 2018 issue of The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction features a case study on the use of drones in mine clearance: http://bit.ly/2VuHYfS.
The Journal also reported on the Seventh Mine Action Technology Workshop, where participants showed examples of how UAS can support mine action operations in the field: http://bit.ly/2Vvu5Of.
In the 1980’s, over a million PFM-1 land mines were dropped into Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War. These land mines have green ‘wings’ that allow them to flutter to the ground, easily detonate, and are mostly made of green plastic, making them both attractive to children and difficult to find with traditional mine detectors. More than 30,000 Afghanis have been killed or injured by these and other land mines and unexploded ordinance since 1978, and in recent years children have accounted for the majority of victims.
Made of plastic, metal, or other materials, mines contain explosives and sometimes pieces of shrapnel. A land mine blast can be fatal or cause injuries such as blindness, burns, damaged limbs, and shrapnel wounds.
There were at least 5,554 casualties of land mines in 2019 according to Landmine Monitor 2020. Civilians accounted for the vast majority of casualties (80%) and children represented nearly half of all civilian casualties (43%).
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