Find and neutralize: what technique is used by Russian sappers in Syria
Military personnel of the International Mine Action Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the spring of 2016 cleared historical and residential parts of Syrian Palmyra. 825 hectares of territory, 79 km of roads and 8507 various objects (buildings) were cleared. 17 explosive objects were discovered and neutralized, including 456 improvised explosive devices.
For success in the service, the Mine Action Center was awarded the Diploma of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces and on October 4, the center received the Battle Flag.
From 3 December 2016, the integrated demining team began demining Syrian Aleppo. In a month and a half, about 2 thousand hectares of territory, 680 km of roads, 3,3 thousand different objects (buildings) were cleared. It was discovered and neutralized more than 25 thousand explosive objects, including about 13 thousand improvised explosive devices.
Basic engineering tools and systems used by the military in the demining of facilities in Syria
Robotic demining complex "Uran-6"
It is a light armored vehicle with remote control and clearance systems. This multifunctional robotic complex is designed for making passages in minefields and continuous cleaning of the area from anti-personnel mines and explosive objects with an explosive mass up to 1 kg.
Depending on the used equipment, the machine weighs 6 – 7 t, its height is about 1,4 m, the robot-sapper is able to climb a wall up to 1,2 m high.
The machine is controlled over the radio using the remote. The operator of the complex is located at a safe distance and can work at a distance of up to 1000 m from the machine. The trawling speed is up to 2 km / h with a width of the continuous trawling band of 1,75 m.
The machine is also equipped with a set of attachments, consisting of dumps and trawls of various types. The engineer unit itself plows up the ground, undermining all the mines found during the trawling.
The engineering forces have gained considerable experience in their operation: they have positively recommended themselves during trial operation when performing tasks to clear the area from explosive objects in the Chechen Republic and the Republic of Ingushetia, as well as when performing demining tasks for the Syrian Palmyra in 2016. Currently, the complexes are used for continuous cleaning of the area outside the dense urban areas of Aleppo.
Selective portable induction mine detector IMP-S
The mine detector is designed to search for anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, hulls, fuses and parts which are made of metal. It allows the operator to classify the detected objects by the combination of their electrophysical methods.
Provides detection and selection for the generalized parameters of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines installed in the ground (snow, water).
The portable mine detector is made using modern materials and modern radio-electronic base. The use of plastic has helped to significantly reduce the weight of the device (2,7 kg).
Combined Arms Mine Clearance Kit OBR-2
Designed to protect the sapper from the damaging factors of the explosion of anti-personnel mines of high-explosive and fragmentation actions and the damaging effects of fire bullets weapons, to increase the safety of the sapper and to prevent the likelihood of death during demining of the terrain and objects manually and making passes in the mine-explosive obstacles.
Each set includes: six suits - protective sets of the sapper "Falcon", six protective helmets. For each costume there are two shipping bags and two sets of thermal underwear: summer and winter. Also rely combat knife "Wag-3" and a lantern.
The new set has no analogues. Similar elements are found, but there are no kits in the same assembly.
The suit is much lighter than its predecessor and weighs about 8 kg. This significantly increases the life of sappers. Titanium protective panels are replaced by extruded polyethylene, which also reduces the weight of the suit. In addition, enhanced protection of the neck area and vital organs.
MMP multichannel portable mine detector
Designed to search for anti-tank and anti-personnel mines in buildings made of any materials. It has two independent search channels: radio wave and induction, each of which has its own search engine and electrical circuit combined in a single design. The mine detector provides the search for anti-tank and anti-personnel mines in three modes of operation: radio wave, induction and combined.
Portable radio wave mine detector РВМ-2М (РВМ-2)
Designed to search for anti-tank and anti-personnel mines in buildings made of any materials. Provides a search for anti-tank and anti-personnel mines installed in the ground, snow or water and on the surface of the ground or snow.
RWM-2M used a new element base, which allowed to improve its basic search parameters in comparison with the RVM-2 mine detector.
The principle of operation of РВМ-2М is based on the registration of the difference in dielectric constant and electrical conductivity between the mine and the environment in which the mine is installed (soil, water, snow).
Portable Kite Detector
Designed for remote detection of mine-explosive devices with electronic fuses: radio-electronic components, circuits and transistors. The antenna unit and the radar unit with the control panel are located in front, in the hands of the sapper.
It is able to detect explosive devices that are behind various obstacles: walls of concrete and brick, barbed wire fences and metal mesh, under asphalt and concrete road pavement. The detection range of guided mines and improvised explosive devices reaches 30 m.
Mine-searching dogs
Calculations of mine-searching dogs carry out the most important tasks of searching for explosive objects, including improvised explosive devices that do not contain metal, which, along with the use of other portable search tools and means of remote detection, constitutes the single and most complete set of tools intended for demining and cleaning the area from explosive objects.
In December, 2016, it became known that in the course of demining the Syrian Aleppo, the Russian military found ammunition manufactured in the USA, Germany and Bulgaria. In one of the headquarters of the Russian sappers discovered mortar shells caliber 122 mm, missiles for volley fire systems, hand grenades, grenade launchers, shells for howitzers. According to the military, such reserves would be enough for a whole battalion.
On the completion of the operation to free Aleppo from the militants, 23 of December was declared by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. At present, Russian sappers help mine buildings in the city. As stated in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, before leaving Aleppo, representatives of the "moderate opposition" mined "literally everything," even children's toys.
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