The landmine has been used in conflicts throughout this century and there are established military procedures for laying minefields. As the world's mine stock has grown and their use extended, the need for mine detection technologies has increased. This situation is made far worse by the fact that many minefields are laid by irresponsible groups who do not adhere to internationally accepted procedures.

ERA Technology has been involved in the development of mine detection technology, from bomb location in World War II to the latest GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) systems capable of detecting modern plastic mines.

ERA was the first UK organisation to investigate the application of impulse radar techniques in the detection of buried plastic Anti-Tank (AT) and Anti-Personnel (AP) mines. In initial trials carried out on behalf of the UK MoD following the Falklands conflict, a high rate of detection in peat conditions was reported. Since then ERA has carried out a significant number of projects on the design, build, test and assessment of the following technologies related to mine detection.

Ground probing radar systems for close-in mine detection
This technology is based on ERA’s field-proven, standard commercial impulse radar. The high performance radar head unit provides a state-of-the-art performance in terms of speed and fidelity of data by virtue of advanced antenna and transmitter-receiver design. This hardware is used in mine research and development programmes in UK, Sweden, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Holland. A modified version of the radar has been used in trials in Cambodia. Designs for multi-channel radar systems are available for vehicle use. The low power, impulse radar technology offers cost effective and proven technology and detects metallic and minimum-metal buried mines in realistic road conditions.

Sequential radar images (approx. every 5 mm) of buried mines over an area 1 m by 0.65 m
ultra-wideband radar-medium range sensors.

Much UWB impulse technology is closely related to GPR technology. ERA offers capability in system design, antenna design, and transmitter and receiver technology for this sensor.
quadrupole-resonance close-in sensors.

ERA, as a technology leader in this field, has been actively involved in the development of state of the art hardware and signal processing techniques for a UK research and development programme.

Passive radio frequency close-in sensors
ERA Technology has developed a low cost, hand-held, close in, passive, radiometer brass-board system for plastic and metal surface laid mines. This technology offers a unique, low-probability of intercept, for surface laid mines. Further development for close-in and medium range applications offers considerable potential.

Systems capability
In addition to its experience on National Research and Development programmes, ERA Technology is involved in a number of European joint programmes including DREAM, ARIS and INFIELD in the area of demining. ERA is the UK industry representative on the EU-EEDT task force. ERA brings considerable expertise in terms of system design, signal processing and data-fusion with respect to the technologies described above. ERA leads the world in applied surface penetrating radar technology and is currently involved in a number of collaborative projects with a view to developing a multi-sensor probe head. Details of these collaborations are confidential for security reasons; however, it is clear from the public interest in the UK and Europe, that humanitarian de-mining is high on the political agenda in both Westminster and Brussels.

For further information contact: david.daniels@era.co.uk