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Guadalcanal
Field Evaluations

The Solomon Islands forms an archipelago in the Southwest Pacific about 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) northwest of Australia. Guadalcanal is one of several main islands making up the archipelago. The island chain and particularly Guadalcanal was the scene of massive fighting between United States and Japanese forces during World War II. A tremendous amount of deteriorating unexploded ordnance (UXO) and abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO) from World War II remains on Guadalcanal, posing a serious hazard to the population and preventing land from being used by the very poor population. In mid-2011 the Department of State initiated an effort to assist the Solomon Islands Government eliminate the UXO/AXO threat on Guadalcanal, which included a request for assistance by the US Humanitarian Demining Research and Development (HD R&D) Program. The HD R&D Program responded by deploying the "Badger" mechanical clearance system which made a valuable contribution to helping the Solomon Islands eliminate the threat. From March 2012 to February 2019 the Badger cleared 6,151 items of UXO from 1.5 million square meters of land.

Sources: To Walk the Earth in Safety, 2023
Landmine Monitor Report, 2020

BADGER

BADGER

Badger, an intermediate area preparation system, is a medium-class 13-ton excavator that can cut vegetation, dig and process contaminated soil, and prepare suspect area for demining operations using a suite of commercial excavator tools. The tools currently available include: soil sifter, brush cutters, grinding drums, grapples and digging buckets. Badger’s reach-in capability allows the machine to travel in cleared areas and operate tools inside suspect area, while its armored cab protects the operator. Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release.

PARTNERS: Mines Advisory Group - Cambodia; Golden West Humanitarian Foundation - Guadalcanal (2012-2019)

 

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