Experiences of the German Army with marking, monitoring and protection of mined areas CDR Udo H. Schmidt DA German Embassy

General Information : Following the Ottawa Convention: The German Army does not have any Anti Personal Mines ( except a small number for trial purposes) The three types of Anti Tank Mines of the German Army are in accordance with the Ottawa Convention The German army has in war time the order to mark, to fence and to guard every mine field to protect the civilian population and the own troops. Additionally the civilians have to be warned.

Agenda Difference Military Demining / Humanitarian Demining Mine clearing vehicles of the German Army Testing Project Minebreaker Kabul 2002 The future intents of the German Army in this field

Difference Military Demining / Humanitarian Demining Time pressure, possible casualities, day and night, every season, a reduced clearing rate sometimes will be accepted No time pressure, carefully planed, not in winter time, a clearing rate of 99,9 %

Mine clearing vehicles of the German Army KEILER Mine Breaching Tank Height over cross arm: 3,20 m Total length: 10,95 m Width: 4,51 m Weight: 49 to Speed: max 4km/h Demining depth cm Demining speed: 1-20 m/min clearing path: approx. 4,60 m wide clearing rate: nearly 100 % clearing speed: 120 m / 10 min MINEBREAKER Mine Clearing Vehicle

Protection and Fencing Equipment sticks Metal sticks Warning plates Plastic strings

General Information about GPS The effectiveness of GPS depends on the used GPS system and on the conditions of the area. Some GPS systems are very exact with a limit of tolerance under 1 cm, others do have a limit of tolerance of some meters.

Testing Project Minebreaker Kabul 2002 The only project where the German Army conducted mine clearing according to humanitarian demining standards including reporting the results with GPS.

cleared area by the Minebreaker At this project the vehicle cleared more than 1000 AP and approximately 100 AT mines without any serious damage.

Original Daily Report: Mine clearing vehicle “Minebreaker” Kabul 2002 Grids of the GPS have been transfered with the System PC-Map directly inside a digital map

Clearing area north of the bridge Zone 42 E N Date: 05th of December 2002 Cleared area: 400 m²: No detonation Cleared area: 300 m²: No detonation Original digital map: Produced with GPS and PC MAP Kabul 2002

Experience of the German Army reporting mine fields with GPS The GPS system did not work while military operations with support of the Air Force have been conducted.

The future intents of the German Army in this field: A system, which can be used + mounted under protection + at every daytime and every weather conditions + for digital distanced survey – for locating the position + for digital interception, processing and transfer of recce results

The aims: 91 cm Locate and identify of explosive ordnance : By daylight up to 7000m By night up to 5000m Magnification 2x –30x Locate and identify of explosive ordnance : By daylight up to 7000m By night up to 5000m Magnification 2x –30x Possible Survey without reflector up to 3000m Deviation 1cm per 500m Possible Survey without reflector up to 3000m Deviation 1cm per 500m

This project would include the possibility to produce digital reports of minefields.

Questions ?