Humanitarian Demining
This project develops, demonstrates and validates cost-effective technologies for use in humanitarian demining via Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) operational field evaluations. This project's low-cost and highly effective technology reduces the landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) / improvised explosive device (IED) threat to deployed United States (US) forces and the local population. This project coordinates with the Department of State's Weapons Removal and Abatement Program, the Department of War (DoW) Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) programs of the Geographic Combatant Commands (GCCs), international mine action organizations, and foreign militaries. New technology requirements and areas of emphasis are identified and validated at annual Requirements Workshops and UXO/IED Working Group Meetings. Technology investments are prioritized using the results of these meetings and GCC security cooperation and theater campaign plan HMA objectives. This Project advances the state-of-the-art of demining technologies and evaluates these technologies utilizing host nation humanitarian demining partners. This project supports and bolsters the GCC stability operations mission as directed under Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 3000.05 to foster mil-to-mil engagement and bolster economic security and development with partner nations worldwide. Additionally, this project fosters nations' mine action capacity while improving DoW's visibility and access, generating long-term positive perceptions of DoW and the US, and fostering collaborative relationships with host nation governments. This project utilizes a development plan based on operational data gained through Operational Field Evaluations (OFEs). These OFEs provide this project a unique capability to collect data against live mines/UXO in actual minefields around the world. This data is not available to any other DoW organization. This OFE data drives future humanitarian demining investment decisions and is shared and leveraged by the Army Futures Command to further improve U.S. forces' technologies. In addition, this project provides mine and UXO detector training to the GCCs at the Humanitarian Demining Training Center (HDTC) in support of Military-to-Military training and partnerships.
FY2027 planned work Will integrate mature target detection and recognition algorithms into demining technologies for use in mine and minefield detection systems; continue development and maturation of mine/UXO detection sensors with positioning technologies, and automated field data capture, analysis, discrimination, and classification to find mines and UXO at greater depths. Will validate improved performance of mechanical technologies for remote operations. Will identify emerging technology gaps and emerging threats with demining partners, and mature component technologies to address threats. Will continue operational field evaluations from FY2026 while maturing new mine and unexploded ordnance detection and…
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease represents reduction in efforts to provide high resolution maps for mine/UXO classification.
FY2026 plans — current year Will mature mine/UXO detection sensors with positioning technologies and demonstrate automated detection and classification of mines and UXO buried at greater depths. Optimize robotic and global positioning system control technologies and improve performance of mechanical technologies for remote operations. Identify emerging technology gaps and emerging threats with demining partners, and mature component technologies. Continue operational field evaluations from FY2025 while maturing and demonstrating new mine and unexploded ordnance detection and clearance technologies in FY2026.
FY2025 accomplishments Will develop mine/UXO detection sensors with positioning technologies, and automated field data capture, analysis, discrimination, and classification to find mines and UXO at greater depths. Will mature robotic and global positioning system control technologies and validate mechanical technologies for remote operations. Will provide technology to address GCC HMA requirements in critical areas (i.e., Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific region). Will continue ongoing operational field evaluations from FY2024 and deploy several new technologies during FY2025.