Humanitarian Demining

The Humanitarian Demining program, part of the Army's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation efforts, is dedicated to developing and validating technologies for demining operations outside the continental United States. This initiative seeks to address threats from landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that affect U.S. forces and local populations. The program collaborates with entities such as the Department of State's Weapons Removal and Abatement Program, Department of Defense Humanitarian Mine Action programs of the Combatant Commands, international mine action organizations, and foreign militaries.

A primary goal is to advance demining technologies through operational field evaluations with host nation partners. These evaluations provide valuable data on live mines and UXO in real-world settings, guiding future technology investments. The program also supports stability operations by fostering military-to-military engagement and enhancing economic security and development in partner nations. This aligns with strategic directives like Department of Defense Instruction 3000.05 and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 3207.01C.

Research and development efforts focus on adapting commercial-off-the-shelf equipment and integrating mature technologies to improve detection, clearance, and neutralization capabilities. Plans for upcoming fiscal years include maturing technologies for mine/UXO detection, vegetation clearance, and mechanical neutralization. The program will demonstrate these technologies in live threat environments and transition them to additional countries for operational use.

Additionally, the initiative aims to enhance robotic control technologies and develop sensors with advanced positioning capabilities for deeper detection of mines and UXO. These efforts are designed to meet Geographic Combatant Command humanitarian mine action priorities in regions such as Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The program continues to address global needs through biannual working group meetings focused on UXO detection and clearance technologies.