Objective
Provide for in-situ explosive neutralization of AP and AT mines using high-temperature pyrotechnic torches to destroy a target without a high-order explosive event.

Description
The Thiokol Humanitarian Demining Flares are high-temperature pyrotechnic torches fueled by surplus propellant from the manufacture of space shuttle booster motors. The flare tube is mounted on a three-legged stand so that it may be positioned toward the target casing. The flare is ignited by an electric match or pyrotechnic fuze and will burn for approximately one minute, penetrating the casing to ignite the explosive material. The benefit of this process includes minimizing the destructive effect of demolition, and thereby preventing the creation of shrapnel from metallic and thick-cased targets, as well as attempting to preclude an undesirable high-order detonation. The flares are simple and safe to use and require minimal training.
 

Performance

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Demolition trials conducted in Kosovo in December 1999 confirmed that Thiokol Flares could reliably penetrate 2 mm of steel and 10 mm of soft wood. The flares efficiently dealt with small AP blast mines. A number of tests were conducted with similar results: the explosive burned away with the detonator functioning within 25 to 65 seconds. In every case, the explosion was so weak that the flare stand remained in position and there was no crater or trace of unconsumed explosive. When used against a TMM-1, a metal-cased AT blast mine, the flare penetrated the casing almost immediately and the TNT charge began to burn. When sufficient pressure had built up within the casing, the base plate was blown off, but there was no high-order detonation. For the TMM-1, all of the explosive was consumed and the fuze, contained in the central well, was not initiated.

Limitations

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• For steel casings more than 4 mm thick, the heat of the flares dissipates too quickly to induce a low order effect.  The simultaneous use of multiple flares to reduce the dissipation of heat due to thick-walled targets did not significantly enhance the capabilities of the system.
• Fiberglass 5 mm thick also prevented penetration of the flare, although the resin burned and any explosive fill would almost certainly ignite.
• In three tests conducted against live, fuzed plastic-cased AT mines, a burn was followed by a high-order detonation, indicating that a substantial proportion of the explosive fill was still present