ERA was sponsored by the UK Department of International Development, to create an advanced dual sensor detector which would revolutionise mine detection.The project has proven extremely successful culminating in the production of MINEHOUND detectors which represents the latest technology in landmine clearance operations.

The equipment combines a high-performance metal detector with leading-edge ground penetrating radar in a light-weight handheld product. It was specifically designed to reduce instances of false alarm and improve the detection of minimum-metal plastic mines.

Deminers face a daily challenge caused by scrap metal in the ground. Typically for every landmine found, a conventional metal detector gives 80 false positive detections. It can take up to 20 minutes to excavate every detection; an enormous amount of time is therefore spent on false alarms and even modest improvements in performance can make a huge difference to efficiency. Better and affordable technology to reduce false alarms has been sought for many years by the demining and military organisations.

Trials of MINEHOUND in Angola, Bosnia and Cambodia, in real minefields by working deminers, have shown that this affordable and effective technology offers significant reductions in false alarms. In Bosnia, improvements of up to 8:1 have been recorded and in Cambodia, improvements in excess of 5:1. These independently assessed trials were also conducted in very wet weather and heavily mineralised soils.

The trials have proven how this multi-sensor detector, in the hands of real humanitarian
de-miners, can significantly reduce the cost of clearing a real minefield. ERA and Vallon are demonstrating MINEHOUND to various organisations and selling evaluation models to military and demining agencies worldwide.

For further information about MINEHOUND, please contact: david.daniels@era.co.uk

About ERA Technology Ltd

ERA Technology works at the leading edge of many advanced technologies. The business was founded in 1920 and today provides specialist, high value-added, technology-based services including design and development, testing, assessment and expert advice.

The company has built an international reputation for technical expertise through constant innovation at the leading edge of technology. ERA’s services reduce technical and commercial risk, improve the operational performance of engineering infrastructure assets, and enhance the competitiveness of products and systems.