Objective
Provide a capability to detect, mark, and clear mines on roads, tracks, and in open terrain.

Description
The Mine Detection and Detonation System (MDDS) is a high mobility 6x6 mine resistant vehicle (Lion II) integrated with a 3-meter wide detection array, a real time marking system, and a hydraulic crane with several attachments: a tooth attachment for digging mines out of the ground (to depths of 10 cm); a fork attachment to move displaced mines to a designated area; and a disc roller attachment to detonate mines in areas not easily accessible by the vehicle. Additionally, there is a ripper/rake attachment for digging up and casting aside buried mines outside the path of the vehicle wheels, and a towed disc roller that is attached at the rear of the vehicle to detonate mines.

The MDDS can be used for both on and off road clearance operations. The Lion II vehicle is armored and designed to withstand 20 kg TNT equivalent under any one road wheel and 14 kg TNT equivalent anywhere under the vehicle. The three meter wide detection array has a proven capability of operating at speeds of up to 5 kilometers per hour while providing real time detection of landmines including some with minimum metal content.

The MDDS detection capability was tested against M14, PMN, PMD6, and M16 AP mines buried flush to 5 cm deep and M15, M19, TM62P3, and M7A2 antitank (AT) mines buried flush to 15 cm deep. The MDDS detected the minimum metal AT mines (M19, TM62P3) and detected all AP mines except the M14s (a very small and minimum metal mine). The MDDS detonated the M14, PMD6, and PMN mines with its steel wheels and one M14 with the rear roller disc. From the detonation test, the MDDS demonstrated blast survivability with minimal damage —  one cleat from the steel wheels fell off and the spot weld of two cleats broke. The front ripper/rake demonstrated limited capability to cast aside AT and large AP mines in loose soil — the ripper/rake speared several AT and large AP mines. The tooth attachment also speared several AT and AP mines while digging them out of the ground and the fork attachment moved mines with minimal risk of detonating them.

Towed disc roller.

• Detonation clearance operation is limited to AP mines.
• Steel wheels limit maneuverability but increase survivability.
• Use of the MDDS is limited in rocky or rough terrain.
• High repair/replacement cost when confronted with AP fragmentation mines or AT mines.
• Poor driver visibility- requires co-driver.
• System will reliably only detect metal mines, and has limited capability for finding minimum metal mines.
• Mechanism for mine clearance produces metallic contamination.
• Requires an experienced crane operator or a long training period.