There are stories in the press of farmers ploughing up old WWII explosive ordnance when preparing their land for crops. We also hear about old unexploded explosive ordnance (often known as just unexploded ordnance) causing issues for archaeologists excavating a site where ancient remains have been discovered when land is being cleared for housing, leisure or industrial development.
However, what is not so often in the news is all the ongoing work being done every day to clear lands of former conflict to be free of the risk to life posed by unexploded ordnance left behind once peace has been achieved.
Armtrac has been helping local authorities, the military, the police and other task forces to neutralise both the past and the present unexploded ordnance for many years with our remote-controlled demining machinery and equipment.
Removing the risks to locals when reclaiming land
One of the main priorities of the local government in any area of former conflict across the world is to make the land safe for use by the local community.
Whether this is to hand back former productive farmland to go back into food production or make roads and access points safe for re-installation of essential infrastructure such as gas, electricity and water etc.
Any unexploded ordnance presents risks to local people and workers from trying to return the community to everyday life. In many cases, explosive ordnance is undocumented, so removal teams have no idea where these may be hidden.
This is where Armtrac can help with our driverless, remote-controlled demining machines, equipment, and bolt-on tool sets can really be a lifesaver.
What is the difference between explosive and unexploded explosive ordnance?
Explosive ordnance, often abbreviated to E.O., is all munitions. All munitions contain explosive elements, so it is considered E.O. and includes bombs, warheads, missiles, artillery, mortar, rocket and small arms ammunition, land mines, torpedoes, improvised explosive devices (I.E.D.s) and other devices that contain components that are explosive in nature.
Unexploded explosive ordnance, often abbreviated to U.X.O., is explosive ordnance that has been armed or primed or set to explode but failed to function as designed following use. This could mean an air dropped bomb that has been fitted with a timer fuse which fails to explode would become U.X.O.
There is a big difference between an excavation team coming across a cache of bullets, artillery and rockets that have not been armed and been buried underground (which is EO) and a live landmine that has been primed with a pressure plate (which is UXO).
Safely removing the explosive remnants of war
Explosive remnants of war, often abbreviated to E.R.W., consist of unexploded ordnance and abandoned exploded ordnance that poses real-time safety issues to the local community in former conflict areas.
The machinery our team at Armtrac manufacture has been designed to counter the real threat to life from landmines, U.X.O. and E.R.W., including improvised explosive devices (I.E.D.s).
Quite often, people have no idea if there are any hidden risks in the sand, soil and scrub of these lands. Sometimes, these discoveries are found too late when they are triggered by locals trying to reclaim the lands for farming, house building, or rebuilding essential infrastructure.
To safely remove or detonate these hidden threats without risking the life and safety of those on mine-clearing duty, you need to use a solution that keeps people at a safe distance from the danger.
Armtrac design and manufacture both remote controlled or human-driven demining machines that use quick hitch toolkits and equipment that can bring unexploded ordnance to the surface for safe disposal or detonates/neutralises primed ordnance where physical removal may be impossible.
The key parts of.quick hitch toolkits such as Hammers/chains or picks/pick holders can be easily replaced when used to detonate UXO and hidden landmines. Replacement.parts are provided by Armtrac.but some are also available across the world, so no matter where you are based, you will be able to access all the replacement equipment you need.
Do not hesitate to contact us for more information. We will be happy to discuss the best solutions for your requirements.
