Counter Explosive Ordnance : Today the impact of hidden explosive ordnance left over in areas of former conflict causes devastating harm to civilians returning to the site in peacetime. According to figures from the United Nations, in the period 2011-2015, 82 per cent of recorded casualties were civilians.
However, we cannot forget the impact that IEDs and hidden explosive ordnance have on the military, police, peacekeepers, land clearance teams and utility workers tasked with returning former conflict areas to public use.
In Afghanistan, one of the world's most heavily landmine-contaminated countries, the UN states that IEDs kill ten times more civilians than landmines. The use of explosive ordnance here has been randomly scattered over fields and roads to deny military forces access to towns and infrastructure. Still, it is the civilian population that pays the highest price for this strategy during both the time of conflict and the following period of peace.
The long-term effects of hidden explosive ordnance
In areas of former conflict, hidden explosive ordnance can severely impede and disrupt civil society activities, such as access to education and healthcare, infrastructure and sanitation, and the safe practice of local government and law enforcement.
The after effects of local conflicts affect a whole spectrum of human rights, including the rights to life, physical security, education and health. The long-term socioeconomic impact on these areas can delay economic recovery and the return to everyday life, leading to enduring poverty among the local population.
The need for threat mitigation from IEDs and unexploded ordnance has led to a change in priorities and strategies for local governments in former conflict areas. Changes include an extensive overhaul of training and clearing of battlefields, including unmanned mine clearance technology, such as is provided by Armtrac ltd., that helps protect the lives of those tasked with minesweeping duties in areas of land that may or may not contain hidden explosive ordnance.
Armtrac Ltd Counter-Explosive Ordnance (C-EO) solutions
Armtrac Ltd. designs and manufactures a range of manned and unmanned mine clearance machinery, equipment and bolt-on tool sets for Technical Survey, demining and C-IED which assists the ground-level mine clearance teams to do their work without putting life and limb at risk.
Our counter explosive ordnance solutions' swift and accurate effectiveness improve local logistical planning, peacekeeping activities and engagement with local community leaders to restore and hand back parcels of clean land to the local community.
For example, the Armtrac 20T C-IED Robot is a versatile and cost-effective solution for clearing scrub land that may contain hidden explosive ordnance that is difficult or unsafe to sweep without reducing vegetation levels first.
This small, heavy, remote-controlled ground vehicle can be fitted with interchangeable toolkits, including a demining flail or tiller to cut through easily and clear scrub and overgrown banked grounds. It has a rear robotic arm that can be fitted with different attachments to suit various uses. The 20T C-IED Robot can operate for several hours without refuelling, making it an effective tool for clearing remote lands further away from local power and utilities.
Armtrac Ltd. offers a wide range of flexible C-EO solutions and all the training and backup customer support you need for your operators out in the field. We have the perfect solution to help with Surface/Sub-surface IED Disposal and UXO removal from hard surfaces and runways while keeping your ground clearance team safe from the dangers of unexploded ordnance.
Our C-EO solutions help to support your humanitarian land clearance activities where the explosive ordnance is known or suspected to exist. Do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about our range of machines, equipment and toolkits that can clear landmines and IEDs and save lives.
