Counter-IED Report Autumn 2022

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ISSN2050-6740(Online)

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63FLYINGALONE:TACTICALEVOLUTIONOFEXPLOSIVE–LADENDRONES

INTHEUKRAINIANCONFLICT

ByLieutenantColonelJoseMRufas,ChiefofAttacktheNetworksBranch, C-IEDCentreofExcellence

71RECENTMEXICANCARTELDRONEBOMBARDMENTATTACKTTPs:

POLICÍACOMMUNITARIADETEPALACATEPEC/CÁRTELESUNIDOS(CU) VS.CÁRTELDEJALISCONUEVAGENERACIÓN(CJNG)

ByDavidA.KuhnandRobertJ.Bunker,C/OFutures 80DSEIJAPAN2023

81USEOFIMPROVISEDLAND(ANTI-VEHICLE)MINES

INMEXICANCRIMEWARS

ByRobertJ.Bunker,DavidA.Kuhn,andJohnP.Sullivan C/OFutures,LLCandSmallWarsJournal-ElCentro 91IDEF2023

FOREWORD

ByRobHyde-Bales,ConsultingEditor,Counter-IEDReport

2022hasbeendominatedbytheongoingconfictin Ukraine,whichiscontinuingtoexertaheavytoll ontheUkrainianandRussiantroops,civilianlivesand infrastructure.Acombinationofstiffresistanceand, thankstotheWest,welltrainedandequippedwith modernWesternweaponryUkrainianforcesmeant thatUkrainewasableblunttheRussianadvancesand retakesometerritories.Sofar,offcialaidtoUkraine isestimatedat$85billioninmilitary,fnancialand humanitarianaid,anditisexpectedtoreceiveanother $50billionnextyear1 whichisaimedtoboostUkraine’s wareffortandturnthemilitarytideinUkraine’sfavour.

Accordingtopubliclyavailableinformation,itissafe toconcludethatbothsidesareusinglandmines includingoldSovietPFM-1anti-personnelmines, causingcasualtiesandsufferingamongcivilians. Deminingteamsinvolvedinclearingprocesson disputedandliberatedterritoriesaredoingagreatjob makingsuretheareasaresafeforpeopletoreturn.In August,USaloneannounced$89millionindemining assistancetoUkraine.

Inthepastmonthswesawasurgeincar bombingstargetingciviliansworkingwithpro-Russian GovernmentintheoccupiedUkrainianterritories–a fewbombingstookplacepriortoreferendumsinthe Donetsk,Luhansk,KhersonandZaporizhiaregions. Anothercarbombingallegedlyrelatedtotheongoing UkrainianconficttookplaceinAugustinMoscow killingaKremlin-friendlyjournalistDaryaDugina.

On30SeptemberPresidentPutinannouncedthe annexationofDonetsk,Luhansk,Khersonand

Zaporizhiaregions-some15%ofUkrainianterritoryechoingtheannexationofCrimeain2014.The InternationalCommunityhasrefusedtorecognisethe resultsofthesereferendums,andintheabsenceofa politicalsettlement,whichcurrentlydoesnotseem likelyinthenearterm,thisconfictseemssetto continueforaconsiderabletime.

On8Octoberatruckblastonthestrategicroadand-railbridgelinkingRussiaandtheCrimean peninsulabroughtdownsectionsofroadinone directionandkilledatleastthreepeople.Russiaclaims thatthetruckcargowhichwasshippedthroughseveral neighbouringcountriesfromtheUkrainiancityof Odesa,contained22,770kgofexplosivesdisguisedas rollswithplasticconstructionflm.

Ontheglobalsecurityfront,on31JulytheUnited StateslaunchedanarmeddroneattackontheKabul residenceofAymanal-Zawahiri,theEgyptianborn terroristandright-handmanofonetimeal-Qaeda leaderOsamabinLaden.Thedroneattackkilled al-Zawahiri,whowithbinLadenhadplannedthe9/11 terrorattacksintheUnitedStates.Thedeathof al-ZawahiriprovedthattheUSwillcontinuetohunt downhighprofleterrorists,regardlessofwherethey maybehiding.

InAfghanistan,recentmonthshaveseenaseriesof blastsatmosquesandcivilianareasincludingschools andeducationcentres.TheTalibanhaveemphasised thattheyaresecuringthenation,buttheseattacks provethesecurityenvironmentinAfghanistanhas alwaysbeendiffcult.

Notably,inSweden,therehavebeenover70 explosionsthisyear-thenumberhasincreasedin comparisonto2021.AccordingtoSwedishPolicethey arelinkedtocriminalgangs’violence.Thefrearms offenceshavealsoincreasedthisyear.

On1OctoberBurkinaFaso’sarmedforceshave announcedonstateTVthey’vecarriedoutanother coup.Thisistakingplaceagainstabackdropof an increasednumber ofjihadistIEDandgunattacks againstciviliansandmilitarypersonnelinrecentmonths.

Inhismostcomprehensiveand informativearticleColonelHRNaidu Gade,anIndianArmyVeteran, demonstratesthecontinuingcritical requirementforHumanitarianMine Action(HMA),alsoknownas HumanitarianDeminingforthe foreseeablefuture.Todaymorethan 60countriesarecontaminatedby abandonedmines(AMs),IEDsand otherExplosiveRemnantsofWar (ERW).Suchcontaminationwill remaininplacelongafteraconfict hasendedunlessmeaningfulHMAis undertaken,andthisisaninherently timeconsumingandcostlyprocess. TheaimofHumanitarianDeminingis toclearthelandofcontaminationin ordertoreturnitforregenerativeuse bythelocalpopulation.Itdiffersfrom militarydeminingasitshouldbe undertakeninabenignenvironment withtheaimoftotallandclearance anddoesnotacceptinjuriesto deminersasanoperationalreality. StrictsafetystandardsgovernHMAin theformofInternationalMineAction Standardswhichareproducedbythe GenevaInternationalCentrefor HumanitarianDeminingunderthe auspicesofUNMineActionServiceUNMAS.Numerousinternationallaws andtreatiesguideHMAincluding,

interalia,theOttawaAPMineBanTreatyof1997,the ConventiononClusterMunitionsof2008andthe ConventiononConventionalWeaponsof1980.The fvepillarsofHMAareClearance,MineRisk Education,VictimAssistance,AdvisoryandStockpile Destruction.HumanitarianDeminingmaybeeither manualormechanicalanditisclearthatitwillbe requiredwellintotheforeseeablefuture.

Intheirtechnologicallydetailedandinformative articleDanielGoodliffeandNeilTisdaleofChelton

Limiteddescribehowtheyhavedesignedand producedGroundPenetratingRadar(GPR)sensors thatplayakeyroleinreducingtherisktoboththe militaryandhumanitarianpersonnelundertakingland mineandIEDclearanceoperations.Cheltonhasa proventrackrecordinthefeldofGPRsensorswhich canbefoundonVallonminedetectors,inusewith, interalia,theBritishArmedForces,theUSMarine CorpsandHALOTrust.Therapidlyevolvingnatureof thetechnicalaspectsofIEDsnecessitatessimilar evolvingtechnologyonthepartofIEDdetectionTTPs inordertotakethesoldierandhumanitariandeminer outofthedangerzone,whilstretainingthecapabilityto operateeffectively.GPRwasfrstusedduringthe FalklandsWarin1982bytheBritishArmedForces, havingbeenadaptedbyChelton’spredecessorERA Technology.DespitetheOttawaAPMineBanTreatyof 1997,minescontinuetocontaminatemorethan60 countriesaroundtheglobewheretheyposeagrave threattocivilianpopulationsandpreventmeaningful post-confictnationalrecoveryandregeneration. AbandonedIEDsalsoposeasimilarwidespread threat.GPRisageophysicallocatingsystemwhich usesradiowavesinthemicrowavebandtocapture imagesofobjectslocatedbelowthesurfaceofthe ground.Thistechnologyenablesademiner orIEDclearanceoperatortodetectsubsurface landminesandIEDsincluding,critically,thosewith low/nometalcontent.Cheltonhasleadingedge technologyindevelopingadvancesinEODusingGPR tosupportCounter-IEDandmineclearanceoperations bybothmilitaryandhumanitarianorganisations.The companyhasalsoapplieditsextensiveGPRexpertise tothenextgenerationofstandoffdetectionsystems whichtaketheoperatorsoutofharmswaybymounting GPRbaseddetectionsystemsontotacticalvehicles andalsoUnmannedAerialSystems.

Intheirtopicalandfollowuparticleontheincreasing useofweaponiseddronesbyMexicandrugcartelsand associatedcriminalorganisations,DrRobertJ.Bunker andDavidA.KuhnofC/OFuturesLLCexaminerecent DrugCartelDroneBombardmentAttackTTPs.The attackshaveevolvedfrompointdetonationto bombardmenttactics.Thearticleexaminestwo

newandinterlinkedincidentsthatdemonstratethe evolvingtechniquesusingarmeddrones.Thefrst incidenthighlightedaCJNGcartelcommandounitof fourvehiclesbeingattackedbyaweaponiseddronethat bombardedthevehicles.Theattackwastheresultofa turfwarbetweenthedrugcartelandtheTepalacatepec CommunityPolice–acartelassociatedunit.Video surveillancebyaseconddronewaspresentthroughout theattackinMay2022andwaspublishedonsocial media.ThesecondincidentalsoinMay2022involved thebombardmentofaCJNGcartelcommandpostby thesamecommunitypoliceusingaweaponiseddrone. Itisconsideredthatthecommunitypolicemisidentifed thecommandpostasasyntheticdruglaboratory.This attackwasalsopublishedonsocialmediathanksto videosurveillancebyaseconddrone.Bothattacks involvedanattackdroneandasecondsurveillance droneandweredeemedsuccessful.Continuing improvementsinthecapabilitiesofcommercially produceddronesfacilitateevolvingcartelattackTTPs.

Lawenforcementagenciesshouldtakenoteofthese worryingdevelopmentsindrugrelatedturfwars. ■

RobHyde-Balesbiography

DuringhiscareerintheUKRoyal Engineers, RobHyde-Bales was responsibleforlandmineclearancein Libyaand,morelatterly,Afghanistan intherunningofthefrstUnited Nationshumanitarianlandmine clearancetrainingprogramme–OperationSalam.Theprogramme trainedAfghanmalerefugeesinlandmineclearance techniques,andAfghanwomenandchildreninmine awarenessandavoidancetraining.Morerecentlyheset uptheCaribbeanSearchCentreinKingston,Jamaica. TheCentreisdesignedtotrainsecurityforcesacross theCaribbeaninmodernsearchtechniques.After retiringfromthearmyhejoinedCranfeldUniversityat Shrivenham,nearOxford,andundertookaresearch projectonbehalfoftheUKMinistryofDefencethat examinedwaystoimprovethesharingofIEDthreat informationbetweenthemilitaryandcivilian organisationsinhazardousareas.

HUMANITARIANDEMINING-ANINSIGHT

ByColonelHRNaiduGade–IndianArmyVeteran

INTRODUCTION

Longafterconfictshaveended,abandonedmines (AM),explosiveremnantsofwar(ERW),and ImprovisedExplosiveDevices(IEDs)continuetokill, injureandimpactthedailylifeofaffectedcommunities. Today,over60countriesandterritoriesare contaminatedbyAMs,clustermunitions(CMs), unexplodedandabandonedexplosiveordnance. Despitesignifcanteffortsoverthepastthreedecades tolimittheimpactofexplosiveordnance,recentarmed confictshavecausedasharpriseinthenumberof casualties,althoughmanyaccidentsgounreported, especiallyinconfictareas.Overeightypercentof minevictimsarecivilians,ofwhichnearlyhalf arechildren.

UNDERSTANDINGHUMANITARIANDEMINING

Humanitariandeminingisthephysicalremovalor deactivationofAMs,ERW,andIEDstoprotectcivilians fromtheirindiscriminateeffect,facilitateareturnto ordinarycivilianlifeand,whereneeded,ensurethe deliveryofhumanitarianaid.Humanitariandemining differsfrommilitarydeminingbecauseit:aimsfor completemineclearancetomakeanareasafefor civilians;doesnotacceptdeminercasualtiesasan operationalrealityandthereforemustadheretostrict safetystandardsatalltimes;andmusthaveadistinctly humanitarian,non-militarypurpose.

PRIMARYRESPONSIBILITYHUMANITARIAN DEMINING

DuetothefactthatAMsandERWindiscriminately affectthecivilianpopulationandpreventthedeliveryof essentialhumanitariansuppliesduringarmedconfict, underinternationalhumanitarianlaw(IHL),partiesto theconficthaveanobligationtomeettheessential needsofthecivilianpopulationandtofacilitate humanitariandemining.Also,underinternational humanrightslaw(IHRL),Statesalsohaveaprimary obligationtoensuretheessentialrightsofthecivilian populationundertheireffectivecontrol.Giventhe impactthatexplosiveordnancehasontherealisation ofhumanrights,includingtherightstolife,health, water,adequatehousingandthechildrights,this obligationincludesfacilitationofhumanitarian demining.Wherewarringpartiesareunabletofulfl theseobligationsthemselves,theyarerequiredto cooperatewithneutralthirdStatesandimpartial humanitarianorganisations.

WHOCOULDOFFERHUMANITARIANDEMINING ASSISTANCE

UnderIHL,impartialhumanitarianorganisationsare entitledtoofferhumanitarianassistanceinsituations wherethecivilianpopulationisinadequatelysupplied. Impartialhumanitarianorganisationsaredefnedas entitieswhosemissionistopreventandalleviate

sufferinginarmedconfictwhileactingeffectivelyand areworthyoftrustduetotheirhumanitarianand impartialnature.Humanitarianassistanceisdefnedas activitiesaimedatpreservinglifeandpersonalsecurity, alleviatingsuffering,andaddressingtheessential needsofvictimsofarmedconfictthatareprovidedin accordancewiththe“fundamentalprinciples”of

humanity,impartiality,neutrality,andindependence. Wherehumanitariandeminingcomplieswiththe aboveprinciples,itshouldbeclassifedasaform ofhumanitarianassistanceundertheGeneva Conventionsof1949andtheirAdditionalProtocols.

ORGANISATIONSINVOLVEDINHUMANITARIAN DEMINING

UnitedNationsMineActionService(UNMAS)

Establishedin1997,itworkstoeliminatethethreat posedbyAMs,ERWandIEDsbycoordinatingUN mineaction,leadingoperationalresponsesatthe countrylevel,andinsupportofpeaceoperations,as wellasthroughthedevelopmentofstandards,policies andnorms.AsaspecializedserviceoftheUNlocated withintheDepartmentofPeaceOperations,UNMAS operatesunderUNlegislativemandatesofboththe GeneralAssemblyandtheSecurityCouncil.Inrecent years,UNMAShassupportedandcontinuestoprovide assistanceinabout25thirdworldcountries.

MinesEverywhere. (Source:UNMAS)

ClusterMunition. (Source:UNMAS)

TheGenevaInternationalCentreforHumanitarian Demining(GICHD)

Workstowardsreducingrisktocommunitiescausedby AMs,CMsandammunitionstockpiles.TheCentre helpsdevelopandprofessionalisethesectorforthe beneftofitspartners:nationalandlocalauthorities, donors,theUN,otherinternationalandregional organisations,non-governmentalorganisations(NGOs), commercialcompaniesandacademia.Itdoessoby combiningfourlinesofservice:feldsupportfocused onadviceandtraining,multilateralworkfocusedon normsandstandards,researchanddevelopment focusedoncutting-edgesolutions,andfacilitating dialogueandcooperation.Collectively,itsadvisors supportaround45affectedstatesandterritoriesevery year.Theirworkismadepossiblebycore contributions,projectfundingandin-kindsupportfrom 30governmentsandorganisations.

MineAdvisoryGroup(MAG)

Isaglobalhumanitarianandadvocacyorganisation thatfnds,removesanddestroysAMs,CMsand ERWfromplacesaffectedbyconfict.MAGalso provideseducationprogrammes,particularlyfor children,sopeoplecanlive,workandplayassafely asapossibleuntiltheycleartheland.Itworksin communitiestoreducetheriskofarmedviolence throughweaponsandammunitionmanagement programmeswhichkeepgunsandmunitionssafe andsecure.Since1989,MAGhashelpedover20 millionpeoplein70countriesrebuildtheirlivesand livelihoodsafterwar.

NGOsandCommercialEntities

TherearealargenumberofNGOsandCommercial Deminingorganisationsaroundtheglobewhichare involvedinhumanitariandeminingoperationsallover

TowardsMineFreeWorld. (Source:UNODA)

theworld.Theseorganisationsarefundedby countriescommittedtohumanitarianlawsandhuman rightsofthepeopleaffectedbyconficts.Many philanthropicorganisationsandindividualdonors providefnancialsupportforhumanitariandemining operations.

INTERNATIONALTREATIESAND CONVENTIONS

TheUNandothersmineactionworkis guidedbyasolidframeworkof internationallaws,whichinclude:

TheAnti-PersonnelMineBanTreaty 1997(OttawaConvention)

Thetreaty,whichimposesatotal banonanti-personnellandmines,used advocacytoraisepublicawarenessof theimpactofanti-personnellandmines onciviliansandtorallyglobalsupportfor atotalban.Presently,164countrieshave accededtothetreaty.

TheConventiononClusterMunitions(CMs)2008

Itprohibitsalluse,production,stockpilingandtransfer ofCMs.Italsoprovidescountrieswithdeadlinesfor clearanceofaffectedareasandthedestructionof stockpiledCMs.Itincludesarticlesconcerning assistancetovictimsofCMsincidents.Presently,123 countriesaremembersofthetreaty.

AllSetforMineAction. (Source:UNMAS)

MechanicalMineClearance. (Source:UNMAS)

ManualMineClearance. (Source:UNMAS)

TheConventiononConventionalWeapons1980 Hasprotocols,twoofwhicharerelatedtomineaction. AmendedProtocolIIdealswithlandmines,boobytrapsandotherdevices,andprotocolVdealswiththe problemofERW.UnderProtocolV,statespartiesand partiestoarmedconfictarerequiredtotakeactionto clear,removeordestroyERWandrecord,retainand transmitinformationrelatedtotheuseorabandonment ofexplosiveordnance.125countrieshavejoinedthe conventiontodate.

TheConventionontheRightsofPersonswith Disabilities2008

Itisthefrstcomprehensivehumanrightstreatyof the21stcentury.TheConventionhasparticular signifcanceformineactionasitdetailstherightsof survivorsofminesandERW.Itprovidesasolidlegal frameworkfortheprovisionofassistancetosurvivors ofminesandERW.

InternationalHumanRightsLaws

Establishtherightsofpersons,includingthose affectedbyminesandERWwhichcanaffectthe exerciseofanumberofpolitical,economic,social, civilandculturalrights.Fiveofthecorehumanrights treatiesallcontainrelevantprovisionsinthese areas.

InternationalHumanitarianLaws

Inadditiontorestrictingthemeansandmethodsof warfare,internationalhumanitarianlawprotects personswhoarenotorarenolongerparticipatingin thehostilities.TheGenevaConventionsandtheir AdditionalProtocolsareinternationaltreatieswhich protectpeoplewhodonottakepartinthefghting (civilians,medics,aidworkers)andthosewhocanno longerfght(wounded,sickandshipwreckedtroops, prisonersofwar).

FIVEPILLARSOFHUMANITARIANMINEACTION

Clearance

Mineclearanceisoneofthefvecorecomponentsof MineAction.Initsbroadsense,itincludessurveys, mappingandminefeldmarking, aswellastheactualclearanceof minesfromtheground.Thisrange ofactivitiesisoftenreferredtoas "demining".Humanitarianmine clearanceaimstoclearlandso thatcivilianscanreturntotheir homesandtheireverydayroutines withoutthethreatofexplosive hazards.Theaimofhumanitarian deminingistorestorepeaceand securityatthecommunitylevel.

MineRiskEducation

MineRiskEducation(MRE) referstoeducationalactivities aimedatreducingtheriskof

injuryfromminesandunexplodedordnanceby raisingawarenessandpromotingbehaviouralchange throughpublic-informationcampaigns,educationand training,andliaisonwithcommunities.Objectivesare toreducetherisktoalevelwherepeoplecanlive

InvolvingLocalsinDemining. (Source:UNMAS)

WomeninMineAction. (Source:UNMAS)

TrainingthePopulation. (Source:UNMAS)

safelyandtorecreateanenvironmentwhere economicandsocialdevelopmentcanoccurfree fromtheconstraintsimposedbyexplosivehazard contamination.

VictimAssistance

Providingvictimassistanceisacore componentofmineactionandan obligationundertheAnti-Personnel MineBanConvention.Assistanceis providedthroughanumberof concreteactionstomeetthe immediateandlong-termneedsof mineaccidentsurvivors,their families,mine-affectedcommunities andpersonswithdisabilities. Assistanceincludes,butisnot limitedto,emergencyandcontinuing medicalcare;physicalrehabilitation; psychosocialsupportandsocial

inclusion;andlawsandpublicpoliciesthatpromote effectivetreatment,careandprotectionforalldisabled citizens.

SnifferDogsinMineAction. (Source:UNMAS)

Advocacy

TheUNadvocatesforuniversalparticipationinexisting internationalagreementsthatbanorlimittheuseof landmines,CMsandprovidestechnicalandexpert advicetomeetingsofthestatepartiesandhelpsbuild nationalcapacitiestoimplementtheseinstruments.

StockpileDestruction

InaccordancewiththeAnti-PersonnelMineBan Convention,StatePartiesmustdestroytheirstockpiled mineswithinfouryearsaftertheiraccessiontothe Convention.UNMASprovidestechnicalsupporttoaid thedestructionofstockpiledexplosivehazards.and alsoassistsinproperstorageandinspection.

METHODSOFDEMINING

Acombinationofmethodsandtoolsareusedtodetect anddestroyAMs,CMsandotherunexplodedweapons, includingmanualdeminers,machineryandmine detectiondogs.Theapproachusedvariesdependingon anumberoffactors,includingterrain,vegetation,andthe levelandtypeofcontamination.Thisiscarefuland painstakingwork.Manualdemininginvolveschecking minefeldsmetrebymetreusingmetaldetectorsanda varietyofexcavationtools.Arangeofmechanical resourcesandtechnologieshelptoincreasethespeed andeffectivenessoflandmineclearanceincertain circumstances.Afeetofspecialisedarmouredmachines preparesgroundforclearance,removingvegetationand obstacles,andinsomecasesfndinganddestroying landminesdirectly.Minedetectiondogsaretrainedto “sniffout”explosivesandalerttheirhandler,makingthem avaluablepartofthemineclearancetoolbox.

CONCLUSION

Thereareabout60millionabandonedlandmines,ERW andCMsspreadovernearly70countriesaroundthe world,killingthousandsofpeopleeveryyearand maimingevenmore,leavingbehinddismembered victimsrequiringextensivehealthcareandrehabilitation. Thesevictimsareusuallywomen,childrenandfarmers indevelopingcountries.Thisisaseriousandagigantic problemandneedstobeaddressedwithgreatervigour andparticipationbytheworldcommunity.■

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

CommissionedintotheCorpsofCombatEngineers. ACivilEngineer,andSecurityProfessional,with 47yearsofrichexperienceinthefeldofCombat Engineering,Chemical,Biological,Radiological, NuclearandExplosives(CBRNe)Defence,Security& DisasterManagementandCounterIEDOperations. IsaqualifedCBRNandCounter-IEDProfessional.

IsaformerMemberInternationalCivilServicewhile workingasChiefCWInspector1997-2004withthe ‘OrganisationforProhibitionofChemicalWeapons (OPCW)’,TheNetherlands,winneroftheNobelPeace Prize2013.Ledteamsofinternationalprofessionalson manyverifcationmissionstovariousmember countries,toverifytheinventoryofChemicalWeapons andmonitortheirdestruction.

Presently,ChiefConsultantwith‘CBRNeSecure India’a‘forumandaknowledgecentre’forbringing awarenessinthegeneralpublic,governmentand securityentitiesonthethreatsarisingfromtheuseof CBRNematerialandtheirdisastrousconsequencesA prolifcwriterandspeaker,participatedinvarious international&domesticconferencesonCBRN Security,DisasterManagementandCounterExplosive Issuesandwritesarticlesforprofessionaljournals worldwideonthesesubjects.

ColonelHRNaiduGade -IndianArmyVeteran [BE(Civil),MSc(DefenceStudies),MBA(HR)]

ADVANTAGESANDCHALLENGESOFDEPLOYING K9TEAMSFORTHEDETECTIONOFIEDs

ByKenanMuftic,K9professional

SinceWorldWarII,dogshavebeenusedin supportofmilitaryunitsforfndinglandminesand otherexplosiveordnance.Inseveralcountries,from ColombiatoAfghanistan,theusageofIEDsand homemadeexplosivesisincreasing.Thecreativityof bombmakersandhugevariationsinthecomposition ofexplosivesubstancesrepresentasignifcant challengefordeminingoperators,asdetectiontools andworkmethodsareoftenlimited.Thedeployment ofK9teamsisstillnotyetstandardizedandpotential rolesindetectionarestillbeingexplored,however,in severalscenarios,K9teamshaveproventobe successfulandvaluabletools.

Theapproachesaredifferent.Someoperatorsrely onK9teamsasprimarydetectionforsearching indoorsandstructures,whileothersaremore conservativeandusedogsonlyasmineclearance toolsintraditionalminefeldsettings.Crushwiresand othersensitivetriggermechanismsareagreatthreat, whilstthe(alwaysdifferent)mixturesofexplosive substancesusedarenoteasytogeneralize.Still,in caseswhereIEDscontainminimalornometal content,orwhereothertoolsaretooslow,K9teams arelikelytobeagoodsolution.

BACKGROUND

InthesecondhalfofWorldWarII,Germanforces startedusingnon-metallicminesinNorthernAfrica.

Asmetaldetectorswereineffective,theU.S.lookedat othersolutionstothisproblem,oneofthembeingthe MineDetectionDogsprogramme.Inlessthanayear, 100dogsweretrainedanddeployedbyU.S.forces.

Accordingtoseveralsources,thiswasthefrsttimein historythatmilitaryservicedogswereusedforthis purpose.Unfortunately,thisprogramwasnot successful,largelyduetomisconceptionsaboutwhat thesedogsweretrainedtodetect(Storck,2012).It wasn’tuntildecadeslaterwhenexpertslearnedthat trainingshouldfocusondetectingchemicalexplosive substancesinsteadofgrounddisturbanceandscent tracesofhumansburyinglandmines.

However,similartrainingprinciplesprovedtobe veryusefulduringtheVietnamWar,whereK9teams wereusedforscouting,tracking,mine/boobytrap,and tunneldetection.Almost4000dogsservedduringthe VietnamWarprovidingtheinfantryunitsontheground withamobile,accurate,andcost-effectivedetection systemcapableofdetectingenemysoldiers’mines andboobytrapssafely.Theycouldbeemployedinthe sameterrainthatsoldiersweredeployedon,andin almostanyweatherconditions.Thevaluethatthe MWDsbroughttotheinfantry,hasbeenshowntobe incalculable(Hoefinger,2013).

Nevertheless,eventhissuccessfulK9training programwasdiscontinuedandshiftedtomilitary policepurposes(Storck,2012).

K9TEAMSDETECTINGLANDMINESANDIEDs

Decadeslater,withtheexpansionofhumanitarian demininganddevelopmentofthemineactionsector, minedetectiondogs(MDD)havebecomeoneofthe majoroperationaltools.MDDapplicationsinclude landmineclearance,TechnicalSurveys,sampling duringqualityassurance,verifcation,roadclearance, followupbehinddeminingmachines,andeven searchinginrubbleandurbanareas.

SeveralcommercialcompaniesandNGOswere andstillareusingK9teamsforexplosive,mine,and improvisedexplosivedevice(IED)detectioninmore than30countriesaroundtheworld,mainlyfollowing proceduresinlinewithInternationalMineAction Standards(IMAS).Nevertheless,inseveralconfict areasconventionalweaponsincludinglandminesare beingreplacedbyhomemadeandimprovised

explosivedevices,especiallyacrosstheMiddleEast, butalsoinseveralotherpartsoftheworldwhere guerillagroupsandparamilitaryunitsareinvolvedin warfareandarmedconficts.TheexpansionofIED usageisprobablyaconsequenceofrestrictions imposedonproductionandtradewithlandminesas manystatesaresignatoriesofinternationaltreatiesto banlandminesandclusterammunitionweapons.On theotherside,producinghomemadeexplosives (HME)andIEDsisarelativelyeasyprocessasthe ingredientsandtechnologyfortheproductionof explosivesareaccessiblefromagriculturaland householdproducts.Duetotheproductionand availabilityofHMEinsomecountries,IED contaminationisbecomingasignifcantlybigger problemthancontaminationwithconventionally producedlandminesandotherexplosiveordnance.

IEDdetectiondogtrainingNPAGTC. Photocredit:NinoZaimovic.

DealingwithIEDcontaminationisanewchallengefor mineactionoperators,andtraditionaldetection methodsoftenfailtogivesatisfactoryresults.Once again,K9teamsaredeployedtosearchforIEDsin additiontosearchingforcommonlandminetargets. Forinstance,theBritishandUSArmydeployedmore thanathousanddogstosupporttheirtroopsin counteringIEDsinAfghanistanandIraq.

Insomecountries,internationalcompaniesand NGOsinvolvedinmineactionandsecuritywork,use K9teamstosearchforIEDsonroads,openareas, andbuildings.K9shavebecomeastandard screeningmethodatcheckpoints,gates,airports, andmembersofpatrolunits.Someofthemare specializedforIEDcontextsonly,butoftenK9sare usedinbothlandmineandIEDcontexts.Onemine actionNGOoperatinginNorthernIraqhasseparate teamsforlandmineandIEDtargetswithclear differencesintrainingandoperatingprocedures. WhiletheirMDDsworkmainlyintraditionalboxsystemsitelayoutsandsearchforburiedlandmines andexplosiveordnancetargets,IEDdetectiondogs areusuallydeployedonso-calledextendedlong leashestosearchroadsandaccesspaths.The groupofdetectiontargetsalsoincludeavarietyof triggeringobjectssuchaspressureplatesandtheir componentslikebatteries,polycarbonates,wires, andcarbon.AlltheirK9s,bothMDDandIED detection,indicatepassivelybysitting,eventhough itispreferableforIEDdetectionK9stoindicatefrom alargerdistanceandasfastaspossible.ThisNGO, aswellassomeothers,avoidsusingK9teamsin housesandurbanareasclutteredwithhousehold itemsandtrash.However,therearesome companiesdeployingK9teamsalsoinhousesand urbanareaswithoutmajorrestrictionsandstrictrisk assessmentprocedures1.Themainconcerninsuch scenariosistheactuallocationoftriggersandmain charges,whichsometimescanbeplacedseveral metersapart.Therefore,itisamustthatdogsare alsotrainedtodetectvarioustriggermechanisms andtheirparts,whichnormallydonotcontainany

1Anonymoussource.

explosivesubstances.Severaloperatorsconfrmed thatdogsareabletodetecteventinycrushwires,as wellasseveralothercomponents,butconfusing themwithotherirrelevantitemsisnotuncommon,so someK9teamtrainersfocusratheronexplosive substancescontainedinthemainchargesandbuild theirsearchingtacticsaroundthat.

TheIEDoperationssettingiscomplexanda questionis:aretheK9stherightdetectiontool?Isit suffcientlyreliabledespiteitseffciencyandthelack ofalternativemethodsforthedetectionoflow-metal items?Toanswerthesequestionscorrectly,theactual challengesandrisksneedtobeidentifed.

Thecommonopinionofmostdogtrainersand expertsisthatdogscandetectonlythingsthatthey aretrained(imprinted)to.SometimesIEDsaremade ofconventionalexplosivesandammunition,butmore often,IEDsaremadeofhomemadeexplosivesand variouscasingmaterials.AlmosteveryIEDmakeris makinghis/herownexplosivemixtures,substance ratiosareusuallyimprecise,andnobodycanpredict whatIEDsmightcontain.Arethedogsabletodetect thesesubstances?

Itiscorrectthatmostofthelandminecontamination remains mainlyTNT-chargedconventionaldevices, butdogsprovedsuccessfulindetectingIEDs containinghomemadeexplosivesaswell.Onthe otherside,theIEDcontextisdifferent,notonlyforthe unknown,variousexplosivesubstances,andtrigger mechanisms,butalsoduetocombinationwithother factors,suchasterrain,vegetation,andhumidity.

AMMONIUMNITRATE

EventhoughmanydifferentHMEsubstancesare beingused,themostcommondenominatoris ammoniumnitrate(NH4NO3or2NH2O3),whoseratio insubstancesvariesandcannotbepredicted. Accordingtosomeresearch,sometraditionally trainedMDDs,havediffcultiesdetectingevenTNT fromdifferentmanufacturers(GICHD,2003), moreover,theskepticismonusingK9teamsincase ofmuchwidervarietiesinHMEisjustifable.

IEDK9teamN.Iraq. Photocredit:AdnanAvdic.

Nevertheless,mostofthesolidformexplosives,such asTNThavealowvaporpressure,butammonium nitratedoesnotbelongtothatgroup.Forcomparison, thevaporpressure2 ofTNTundernormalairpressure conditionsandtemperatureof20o Cisnegligible,while ammoniumnitrateunderthesameconditionsisquite volatile.Also,itmustbenotedthatIEDscontainmuch largeramountsofexplosivesandareusuallynotsealed incasingslikemostconventionaldevices.

Thebadnewsistheactualnatureofammonium nitrate.Ammoniumnitrateisafertilizer,anditis decomposingovertime.Itisalsoeasilydissolvablein water.Undernormalconditions,inanopenarea, ammoniumnitrate-basedfertilizerreleasesover30% ofthenitrogeninabout170days.Ofcourse,theeffect

willbemuchslowerintheclosedcontainer,butthe factisthatthesesubstanceschangeovertimemore thanothersolidexplosivesubstances.So,aswiththe substanceitself,theodourisalsochangingandthat needstobeconsideredwhentrainingandplanning thedeploymentofK9teams.

Nevertheless,othersubstancesinHMEmixtures shouldnotbedisregarded.Takingforexample, variousmixturesofR1,anexplosivecommonlyfound inIEDsinColombia,includesaluminium,paints,wood primers,sawdust,ortar.Almostalladditional components,butespeciallyvolatilesubstanceslike paintsincreasetheodourofthetargetandremain identifableintheenvironment.Theodouritselfmight changeovertime,butitisstilleasilydetectableasit

2Avaporpressureisdefnedasthepressureexertedbyavaporinthermodynamicequilibriumwithitscondensedphases(solid orliquid)atagiventemperatureinaclosedsystem.Itrelatestothetendencyofparticlestoescapefromtheliquid(orasolid). Asubstancewithahighvaporpressureatnormaltemperaturesisoftenreferredtoasvolatile.

IEDK9N.Iraq. Photocredit:AdnanAvdic.

isavailableinlargeramountscomparingconventional explosivesanddevices.Thisisanopportunitythat shouldbefullyexploited,thoughtherearecertain conditionstobemetandaddressedduringthe trainingprocess.

Duringthetrainingprocess(imprintingphase),the dogsneedtobeintroducedtovariousformsandlevels ofodour, combinationsofodoursfromothertarget substances (casingofitems),background(soiltypes), andenvironmentconditions(temperature,humidity, airfow).Adog'snoseis(accordingtosomesources) amilliontimesmoresensitivethanahuman's (Dogster,2019),andevenseeminglyabstracttheories arebeingproveninpracticeasdogsareoften detectingexplosiveparticlesmeasuredinnanograms. However,thedetectionprocessisnotonlyabout indicatingthesmallestparticlesofodours,butrather associatingspecifcodourpictureswiththose presentedduringthetrainingprocess.Apparently,itis morethecognitionprocessthanpuresensing.

Therefore,thinkingofMDDdetectionassmelling fowers,isentirelywrong.Amuchbetterexample wouldbetheimageidentifcationCAPTCHAtest3 developedtodistinguishifacomputeruseroftheweb ishuman.Itisexpectedthattheuserwillrecognizea traffcsign,car,oranimalpresentedindifferentways. However,whilealmosteveryhumanwillidentifythe presenteditemifstandingaloneorinafamiliar context,mostofthoseautomaticallygeneratedtests willbeachallengeforyoungchildren,low-intelligence people,andpeoplewithlimitedbackground knowledge.Itisverysimilartothedogs–identifying smallparticlesofodourinafamiliarenvironmentisa successfultaskeverytimebutdetectingmore massiveamountsinadifferentcontextmightfailifnot understoodasanexpectedtask.

Thatdoesnotmeanthatdogsmustbeexposedto everysingleodourineverypossiblesituationtobe successful.Nevertheless,itisnecessarytoprovide dogswithavarietyoftargetsubstancesandsearching scenarios.OnceanMDDcanidentifyasetoftarget odoursindifferentconditionsreliably,itwillgeta

reference“picture”touseasatemplateagainstwhich tocompareanunfamiliarodourpicture.Thisis referredtoasgeneralizationtraining(Smith&Herstik, 2012).So,evenifallodoursubstancesarenot available,itisstillpossibletotrainMDDstoreliably recognizeandindicatetargetswhenthesearepresent ineitherfamiliarorunfamiliarcontexts(Storck,2012).

Oneoftheexamplesfromthesamestudyisthe processofconvertingCalciumAmmoniumNitrate (CAN)forHMEuse.IEDmakersremovethe limestonebysomechemicalmeanswhichmayalter theodourprofleofthefnalexplosivemixture.Asa result,dogsarepresentedwithamaterialwhose overallodourpicturemaybeunfamiliareventhoughit mayhavebeenpreviouslytrainedonthevariousAN components.Adogtrainedin“scentgeneralization” wouldstillrecognizethescentpictureofHME.The challengeistoteachthedogthatheisnotlookingfor onespecifcscent(Storck,2012).

STANDARDIZATION,QUALITYMANAGEMENT, ANDADMINISTRATIONISSUES

Thepotentialsideeffectsofgeneralizationtraining mightincludeanincreaseoffalseindications, particularlyinresidentialareas,formercamp locations,orbattlefelds.MostK9trainerswillagree thatfalseindicationsarethepricetopayifthedogs areexpectedtofndarangeofvariousitemsand possiblyunknownexplosivesubstances.However,the testingproceduresandstandardsonK9deployment havedeterminedaquitelowrateoffalseindications aseliminatoryintheaccreditationprocesses.

Thestandardsaredevelopedbasedonthe experiencesofthecountrieswithtraditionallandmine problemswhereconventionalantipersonnelandanti tankmineswereused.Thereareofcoursealotof commonfactorsandsimilaritieswithcontamination problems.However,challengesandunknowns requiretheactiveparticipationofallinvolvedinmine action.K9teamtrainersandoperatorsshouldseeka waytoengagewithoperationsmanagers,responsible authorities,andotherstakeholderstodevelopa

relevanttestingframeworkandthemosteffective methodsofK9teams’deployment.Suchcollaboration shouldincludeassistancewiththeestablishmentof adequatetrainingfacilities,jointtrials,testing,andthe developmentofrelevantstandardprocedures.The restrictionsaffectingtheestablishmentofadequate K9trainingareas,handlingandtransportingtraining samples,lengthyprocessesofapproval,and misunderstandingswithauthoritiesormanagement personneldonotcontributetothesaferdeployment ofK9teamsandtheimprovementofdetection techniquesingeneral.

CONCLUSIONS

ThedeploymentofK9teamsshouldbedecidedona case-by-casebasis.Understandably,alternativesto MDDsarebarelycomparableineffciency.However, thelimitationsofK9sneedtobetakenseriously,and detailedriskassessmentsneedtobeconductedon everynewhazard(orpartofahazardousarea).Atthe sametime,K9teamsneedtobegraduallyprovided withavarietyofnewtrainingscenarios.Ifthisis appropriatelyorganized,K9swillbecomecapableof detectingabroaderrangeofitemsandsubstancesand couldbedeployedinareaswheretheywerenotused before.Also,newdeploymenttechniquesshouldbe explored,andtrainingactivitiesadjustedaccordingly.

Itshouldbenotedthatbesidestheimpressionthat IED-suspectedareascontainmanydifferentitems andsubstances,theactualrangeoftargetsinareas ofoperationisusuallynotbiggerthaninareas contaminatedwithconventionalmines.Therefore,the frststepforestablishinganadequatetrainingarea willbetocreatealibraryofthetargetsandtarget substancesforimprintingtraining.

Intheend,itneedstobementionedthatthe problemoftasking,administrationissues,and approvalprocessesshouldnotimpedeeffcientasset deployment.Itwouldbebettertoreducethenumber ofworkingdaysonindividualhazardtasksandutilize thefreedtimetotrainwithK9teamsandstaff.Itwill increasetheoveralldowntimeofindividualassets, butoverallproductivitymightgrow,andbetter preparednesswillpaybackinthelongerrun.■

REFERENCES

GICHD.(2003).MineDetectionDogs:Training,Operations andOdourDetection.Geneva:GICHD.

Storck,R.M.(2012).ImprovisedExplosiveDeviceDetector Dogs(IDDs):IstheUSMCbarkingupthewrongtree? Quantico,Virginia:MarineCorpsUniversity.

Hoefinger,F.(2013).TheUnitedStatesArmy’sUseofMilitary WorkingDogs(MWD)inVietnam.SaberandScroll Journal.

Smith,J.&Herstik,M.(2012).StructuredGeneralizationin ScentTrainingofExplosiveDetectionCanines.The Detonator.

Dogster.(2019).https://www.dogster.comRetrievedfrom https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dogs-sense-of-smellfacts

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

KenanMuftic isaK9professional withover25yearsofexperience.

Backin1993,hejoinedBosnian specialpoliceforcesandworkedasa policedoghandler.Someyearslater hewashiredbyNorwegianPeople’s Aid(NPA)asMineDetectionDog (MDD)teamsupervisor.

AsaMDDprojectcoordinatorandtechnical advisor,heworkedinseveralcountriesincluding Angola,Mozambique,Ethiopia,DRCongo,Tajikistan, andKosovo,ofteninhigh-riskenvironments.Hewas mainlyresponsibleforMDDoperationsandtraining, butalsoforsettingupprojects,capacitybuildingand problem-solving.Hehasparticipatedinresearchand developmentprojectsonMDDs,includingRemote ExplosiveScentTracing(REST).

HeholdsadegreeofMasterofArtsinLeading InnovationandChangeofYorkStJohnUniversity. Currently,heisemployedastheHeadofNPA’s GlobalTrainingCentrewithresponsibilityfor coordinatingMDDresourcesworldwide.Heisalsoa memberoftheIMASworkinggrouponAnimal DetectionSystems.

ISPLOTINCORPORATINGTHREESIMULTANEOUS PBIEDATTACKSTHWARTED,BEIRUT,LEBANON

AssessedbyChiefSuperintendent(ret.)MichaelCardash

SUMMARY

OnFebruary23,2022,theLebaneseInteriorMinistry announcedithadthwartedacomplexsuicidebombing attackbyaPalestinianIslamicStatecellfromtheAinalHilwehrefugeecampinsouthernLebanontargeting HezbollahreligiouscentersinBeirut.Accordingtothe report,preparationsfortheattackweremadeasearly as2021,plannedanddirectedbyanIslamicState operativefromSyria.APalestinianIScellfromtheAin al-Hilwehrefugeecampwasentrustedwithdelivering theIEDstoacollectionpointsouthofBeirut.An undercoveragentfromtheLebaneseInternalSecurity Forcesinfltratedthecellandwasselectedtobeoneof

theparticipatingoperativesintheterroristattackplan. ThisenabledLebanesesecurityforcestoseizetheIEDs fromthedroppointandinmid-February2022,they arrestedthePalestiniancellthatplannedtheattacks.

ANALYSIS

Accordingtoreports,theplotwastoconductthree simultaneousPBIEDattacks-thetargetswere religiouscentersinHezbollahstrongholdsinthe southernsuburbsofthecapital,Beirut.

Atapressconferenceheldafterthecellmembers werearrested,therecoveredweaponswerepresented:

•ThreeAK-47rifeswith compatibleammunition

•Sevenhandgrenades–threeF-1andfourM75

•OnesmallPBIEDcased inabluelumbarsupport beltfttedwithan electricalinitiationsystem andamechanicalUZRG fuze

•Threelargeblackvest PBIEDsfttedwith UZRGfuzes

•AnIslamicStatefag.

Thepresentationoftherecoveredweapons.

VestPBIED3.

VestPBIED2.

AccordingtotheLebaneseInteriorMinistry,thetargetsweretheImamal-Kazemcompound,theLaylakicompound,and Al-NasserMosqueinBeirut'sOuzaisuburb.

ASSESSMENT

AccordingtotheLebaneseInteriorMinistry,the planningandorganizationoftheterroristplotwas carriedoutbyISoperativesinSyria,withthe assistanceofPalestinianISoperativesfromtheAin al-HilwehrefugeecampinsouthernLebanon.

ThetargetsoftheplannedattackswereShiite religiouscentersontheoutskirtsofsouthernBeirut, including:

•TheImamal-Kazemcompound

•TheLaylakicompound

•TheAl-NasserMosque.

AttacksandattemptedattacksbyISoperatives againstHezbollahtargetsandShiitesinLebanon beganinlate2013,duringthefghtingbetweenSyrian rebelsandBasharal-Assad’sforces,inwhich HezbollahoperativesfoughtalongsideSyrianAssad forces.

TheLebaneseAbdullahAzzamBrigades,operating inPalestinianrefugeecamps,releasedamanifesto onJune16,2013,sharplycriticizingHezbollahfor fghtingSunnisintheSyrianCivilWar,andcalledfor LebaneseShiitestostopsupportingHezbollah.In July2013,thegroupclaimedresponsibilityfor attackingaHezbollahcommander’svehicle,andon November19,2013,foradoublesuicideattack

targetingtheIranianEmbassyinBeirut,inwhich25 peoplewerekilled.

OntheeveningofNovember12,2015,two explosionsrockedBourjal-Barajneh,aHezbollah strongholdinsouthBeirut.Twosuicidebombers, reportedlyridingmotorcycles,initiatedtheirPBIEDs withinminutesofeachother,onenexttoaShia mosqueandthesecondnexttoabakery.Athird assailantwaskilledfromtheforceofoneofthe blastsbeforehecouldinitiatehisPBIED.The IslamicStateclaimedresponsibilityfortheattack.

Thepreparationsforthe2022bombingplotbegan asearlyasthebeginningof2021.Arecruited LebaneseInternalSecurityForces(ISF)agentwas contactedbyanIslamicStaterepresentativefrom Syriaandaskedabouthiswillingnesstocarryouta martyrdomoperation.Atsomepoint,theIS representativefromSyriaintroducedtheISFagentto Asadal-Shami–aPalestinianISmemberfromAin al-Hilwehwhoservedasamiddlemandelivering directivesfromISinSyriatotheISFsource.

Asadal-ShamiinformedtheISFagentthataPBIED wouldbedeliveredtohimforuseinamartyrdom operation,andheintroducedhimtoaPalestinianIS operativefromAinal-Hilweh,nicknamed AbuJaafar, whosemissionwastotraintheISFagenttousethe PBIED.

Remainsofamotorcycle.

Damagetobuildingsinthevicinityoftheattacks,Bourjal-Barajneh,Beirut,November12,2015.

ThevehicleusedtodeliverthePBIEDstothedropspot(left)andthePBIEDs(right),February3,2022.

AbuJaafar advisedtheundercoverISFagentofthe timeandplaceofthedeliveryofthePBIED:the Saadiyatarea,onMay14,2021.Thedropwasmade, buttheISFinterceptedthePBIED,ahandgrenade andLBP500,000.

Twoweekslater,Asadal-ShamicontactedtheISF agentandaskedhimtorecruittwoadditionalmen whomhecouldtrusttoconductsynchronized martyrdomoperationswithhim.TheISFfabricated fctitiousentitiesofSyriannationalityanddirectedthe ISFagenttoinformAsadal-Shamiofhisacquaintance withtwoSyriansresidingnearby,whoweresupporters ofISideologyandwhomhetrustedimplicitly.

Inlate2021,Asadal-ShamitoldtheISFagenttobe readytoreceivethreelargevestPBIEDs,grenades, andanadditionalsumofmoney.Al-Shamiinstructed theagenttobefullyprepared,becausethedateofthe assignmentwasapproaching.

OnFebruary1,2022,theal-Shamiannouncedthe vestswouldbedeliveredonFebruary3,2022,tothe samelocationwherethesmallPBIEDhadbeen delivered,intheSaadiyatarea.Onthenightof February3,2022,avehicledeliveredthreelargevest PBIEDs,twohandgrenades,andLBP1,900,000tothe dropspot.

Accordingtothereport,onFebruary7,2022,theISF agentwasinstructedtoprepareforanimminentattack targetingShialocations.

OnFebruary16,2022,theISFagentreceived instructionalvideosregardingtheuseofthesmall PBIEDandlargervestPBIEDsfrom AbuJaafar Abu Jaafar communicatedwiththeISFagentviaavideo

appandexplainedinlessthantenminuteshowto operateandusethePBIEDs.

Duringtheoperation,fourPBIEDsweredelivered,in twoseparatedrops;thefrstsmallPBIEDwascasedin abluelumbarsupportbelt,whiletheotherthree PBIEDswerevests,originallycombatvests,wherethe mainchargeexplosiveswerelocatedinthefront pocketsandthebulletproofplatewasleftintheback, toprotectthesuicidebomberagainstgunfre.

ThestructureofthefrstPBIEDwasdifferentin severalrespectsfromthethreevestPBIEDsthatwere deliveredintheseconddrop.

•ThefrstsmallPBIEDwaswornasaroundthe waist,fashionedfromalumbarsupportbelt,while theotherthreePBIEDswerecasedincombat vests,wornonthechest.

•ThefrstPBIEDwasconsiderablysmallerthanthe threevestPBIEDs.

•ThesmallPBIEDwasfttedwithtwoinitiation systems–oneelectric,andamechanicalUZRG fuzeconnectedtodetonatingcord.Thethreelarge vestPBIEDswereonlyfttedwithUZRGfuzes.

Theconfgurationofthesmallwaist-beltedPBIED:

•Longmainchargeexplosivecasedinablue lumbarsupportbelt

•Electricinitiationsystemcomprisinganelectric detonator,batteryandawhiteelectricrockerswitch •UZRGgrenadefuze

•Plasticexplosiveembeddedwithmetal fragmentation

•Totalweight2.7kg.

Thesmall,waist-beltedPBIED.

Asstated,thethreePBIEDsdeliveredinthesecond droponFebruary16,2022,werevestPBIEDs.The structureofthesePBIEDswasdifferent;theywere assembledasfat,square-shapedPBIEDs.Although allthreeofthesePBIEDswerefttedwiththesame mechanicalinitiationsystemintheformofanF-1 grenadeUZRGfuze,themainchargecomponents weredifferentinallthreePBIEDs.

VestPBIED2.

ConfgurationofvestPBIED3:

•MechanicalinitiationintheformofaUZRG grenadefuze

•Redandbluedetonatingcord

•Apacketofplasticexplosiveembeddedwithcut metalrebarfragmentation

•A75mmHEartilleryround

•APG-7warhead

•Totalweight10kg.

ThethreelargevestPBIEDscanmainlybe characterizedbytheirmainchargeexplosivesthat includedplasticexplosives,aswellasatrioof additionalstandardexplosivemunitionitems-an artilleryshell,amortarroundandananti-tank warhead.Thecombinationofthesemunitionitemsin thePBIEDsmayindicateashortageofexplosivesand anattempttoincreasetheconfgurationoftheIEDs beyondthebasicplasticexplosivemaincharge.

Anexaminationofthetypesofweaponsseized indicatestheattackplaninvolvedatripleattack(at least,)inourestimationincorporatingshootingand grenades,attheendofwhich,thePBIEDswouldbe initiatedbythesuicidebombers.

TwotypesofPBIEDscanbedistinguished-thefrst PBIEDdeliveredwasrelativelysmallandhadan electricinitiationsystem,aswellasamechanical systembasedonagrenadefuze.Theconfgurationof PBIEDswithadualelectricalandmechanicalinitiation systemisfamiliarfrommanyarenasintheMiddleEast, especiallyinthoseareaswheretheIslamicState operates,andhasoperated.ThesePBIEDsare intendedtobeusedasprimaryweapons,andthe mechanicalsystemisintendedtoserveasabackup systemintheeventofamalfunctionintheelectrical system.Ofnote,theUZRGfuzeandothergrenade fuzeshaveadelayof4-5secondsfromthemoment thesafetypinispulledandtheleverreleased,sowhen

Components(left)andX-rayimage(right)ofvestPBIED3.

Componentsofthemainchargeexplosive.

theattackinvolvesaPBIED(withoutadditional weapons,)thepreferredinitiationsystemisthe instantaneouselectricalsystem,andthemechanical UZRGfuzeonlyservesasabackup.

ThethreevestPBIEDsdeliveredintheseconddrop inFebruary2022,wereonlyfttedwithmechanical initiationsystems,basedonagrenadefuze.Itisclear fromthetypesofweaponsdeliveredtogetherwiththe PBIEDs,andthefollowingday,thatthePBIEDswere intendedtobeusedinsuicideattacks,butonlyafteran initialshootingattackusingAK-47sandthelobbingof anumberofgrenades.Thepresenceofamechanical fuzeonaPBIEDdesignedforuseattheconclusionof agunfghtisaknownTTPofISintheMiddleEast, wherethePBIEDismainlyusedasalastresort weapon.

Inourestimation,thedifferenttypesofPBIEDs deliveredontwodifferentdates,followingnegotiations betweentheagentandtheISoperative,andthelevel oftrustexhibitedintherelationshipwiththeoperations managers,indicatestherewasachangeintheinitial attackplan.Thefrstplaninvolvedlobbinggrenades

followedbythesmall PBIEDattack,wherethe roleofthesuicidebomber intheattackwasprimary. Thedeliveryofthree additionalPBIEDs,ftted onlywithUZRGfuzes, togetherwiththreeAK47 rifesandanumberof grenades,indicatesthe attackplanwaschangedto attackthreedifferent targetssimultaneously, wherethemainfocuswas gunfreandlobbing grenades,withthePBIED initiationscomingatthe conclusionoftheattacks.It ispossiblethatduringthe preparationoftheweapons, especiallythePBIEDs, anupgradedplanwas devised,andadecisionwasmadetotryandincrease thesizeofeachmainchargeexplosivebyadding standardweaponryitems,inadditiontotheoriginal explosivepayload.■

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

ChiefSuperintendent(ret.) MichaelCardash,Seniorbomb technicianandformerdeputyhead oftheIsraelipolicebombdisposal division,commandedbomb disposalunitswithintheborder guardsandpoliceduringintense terroristconfictsinIsrael.Michael currentlyistheseniorCIEDanalystatTerrogenceGlobal,researchesIED’sandauthorstheTerrogence MöbiusC-IEDreportsanalyzingandassessingglobal IED-relatedtechnicalandtacticalintelligence.

Theinitiationsystem,showingtheconnectionofthedetonatingcords.

TAKINGTHESOLDIEROUTOFTHEDANGERZONE

AMULETRANGE

INTRODUCTION

Cheltonhasleadingedgeexpertiseindeveloping advancedExplosiveOrdnanceDetection(EOD) systemsusingGroundPenetratingRadar(GPR)to supportcounter-IEDandmineclearanceoperations. ThehighperformingGPRsensorscandetectobjects thatwouldtypicallyevademetaldetectionsuchas thosemadefromplasticorwoodaswellasimprove clearanceeffciencybyreducingfalsealarmsfrom metallicclutter.

OurGPRsensorscanbefoundonVallondetectors, oneoftheworld’sleadingmanufacturersofExplosive OrdnanceDetectors.TrustedbytheUSMarineCorps, TheBritishForcesandTheHALOTrust,wellknownfor mineclearance,Chelton’sGPRsensorsareprovenin thebattlefeldtodetectandclearminesfromareas ofconfict.

ThenatureofImprovisedExplosiveDevices(IEDs) isthattheirdesignisrapidlyevolvingwithhostiles adaptingquicklytonewtechniquestoevadedetection andbeincreasinglydestructive.Often,theycan includemultipletriggermechanismswhichfurther increasetheriskforsearchandremovaloperators. Instead,anewsolutionisneededtotakethesoldier outofthedangerzonewhilststillbeingabletoidentify andremovethreatseffciently.

Thefollowingwhitepaperdemonstratesand concludeshowCheltonhasapplieditsextensive experienceinGPRtothenext-generationofstand-off detectionsystemsremovingsearchoperatorsfromthe immediatedangertheyfaceinthefeld.Operatingon thesamelow-burdenprinciplesofferedbyChelton’s handheldEODGPRtechnology,thephilosophythat thecapabilityiseasytotrainandoperateremains unchanged.

THEEVOLUTIONOFGPR

In1944,Sappers(a.k.aRoyalEngineers)inthe BritishArmywerepicturedclearingthelastmines fromaNormandybeach.Inthesetreacheroustimes, bravesoldiersandhumanitarianswouldclearroadsof mineswithslowandcarefulscanningusingmetal detectors.

Toassistinidentifyingpotentialmines,Ground PenetratingRadar(GPR)wasintroduced;initiallysold totheindustryasa‘magic,seeeverythingradar’for geological,civilengineeringandhistoricaluses,GPR wasadaptedformilitarypurposesduringthe FalklandsWarbyChelton’spredecessorERA Technology.

WHYLANDMINESARESTILLAPROBLEM

We’reallfamiliarwiththeshotsofPrincessDiana walkingthroughaminefeldinAngolaaspartofa HALOmanagedmineclearanceoperation.Her determinationforcampaigningagainstlandmineswon manyoverwiththesigningoftheOttawaMineBan Treatycallingforallcountriestouniteandridtheworld oflandmines.

Over60countriesacrosstheworldarestill contaminatedbylandminesandthousandslivewith thecontinueddreadofinjuriestothemselvesortheir families.Notonlyisthelossoflifeprevalent,but landminesdeprivefamiliesandcommunitiesofland whichcouldbebetterusedforpurposessuchas agriculture.Thisdeprivationimpedesacountry’s developmentformanyyears.TheLandmineMonitor 2020reportstatedthatatleast156 km2 oflandwas reportedtohavebeenclearedoflandminesin2019 andmorethan123,000mineswereclearedand destroyed;anincreaseinthe98,000landmines

destroyedin2018.CountriessuchasAfghanistan,Iraq andYemenhaveallcontinuedtheircommitmentto landmineclearancedespiteongoingconfict.

Thoughmanynationsarecommittedbyinternational treatiesnottouselandmines,therearestillanumber ofnationsnotboundbytreatiesandthatcontinueto usemines.Inaddition,theinternationaltreatieshave rightlyfocusedontheuseofanti-personnelminesdue totheindiscriminatedamagetheycaninfictonpeople especiallycivilians.However,anti-vehiclemines continuetopresentadangertocivilians,preventing safetravelandkeypost-confictdevelopmentactivities suchasfarming.

IEDs,whilenolongeranewthreat,continuetoposea dangertociviliansparticularlypost-confict.Abandoned ImprovisedMines(AIM)isthenewtermforIEDs abandonedbythosewhoburiedthem.Agencieswho removethem,likeTheHALOTrust,couldinadvertently makethemselvesatargetbyremovingtheAIMand consequentlyseemingtotakesidesinaconfict

BritishArmy‘Sappers’in1944excavatingminesfromNormandyBeach.

TheHALOTrustusingVMR3.

THEPRINCIPLESOFGROUNDPENETRATINGRADAR

GPRisageophysicallocatinginstrumentwhichuses radiowavesinthemicrowavebandtocaptureimages belowthesurfaceoftheground.Usedinhumanitarian missionsforminedetectionaswellasbyutility companies,itallowscrewstopinpointtheexact locationofitemsunderthegroundwithoutdisturbingit.

GPRoperatesbytransmittingradiofrequency(RF) signalsintotheground.Objectsburiedwithinthen refectbackaportionoftheRFsignalwhichtheGPR detectsandprocesses.SoftwarewithintheGPR translatesthesignalsreceivedintoaformthatcan easilybeinterpretedbytheoperatore.g.audiotones orvisualimagesofthesignal.

DATAWITHOUTTHEDESTRUCTION

ThepossibleapplicationsofGPRareendless;from minedetectioninthebarrenlandsinAfghanistanto investigatingtheburialsiteoftheworld’smostfamous playwright–allwithoutbreakingground.

Notonlycanitprovideinvaluableinformationwithout disruptingthesurface,GPRisextremelycost-effective, safetouseandcanprovideactionabledatacovering largeareasmadeupofavarietyofgroundmaterials whilstpenetratingatarangeofdepthsthrough frequencymodulation.

Cheltonhasdecadesofexperienceindeveloping GPRsolutionsforhumanitarianandmilitarymine detectionsystems.Withexperienceinresearchand development,productdevelopment,trialsand evaluation,equipmentdeliveryandinservicesupport includingtraining,documentationandlogistics, Cheltonhasdevelopedarangeofsingleanddual sensordetectionproductsincludinghandheld detectionsystems,robotmountedremotedetection systemsandvehiclemounteddetectionsystems.

TheExplosiveOrdnanceDetectionSystems (EODS)havekeyexpertiseindeliveringcomplex detectionequipmentprogrammesandtraining solutionsundershorttimescalesintooperational

environments.Thedeliveryteamaresupportedby bothanengineeringdepartmentwithkey competenciesinhardware,software,embedded systemsandRFfront-endarchitectures,aswellasa manufacturingdepartmenthighlyskilledinvolume productionofniche,complexhardwarecapableof workingreliablyinthemostdemandingenvironments.

Cheltonhasleading-edgeexpertiseindeveloping advancedEODSystemsusingGPRtosupport Counter-IEDandmineclearanceoperations.Our GPRtechnologyisintegratedtowell-established Vallondetectorsincludingthe VMR3/GwhichutilisesGPR tosearchfornon-metallic componentsandVR1Wirehound whichcanidentifywiresand cablecomponentsfrom10cmin length.Thesehigh-performance systemsaredesignedforthe mostdemandingrequirements andtakeGPRonestep furtherwithbothhandheld (dismounted),vehicle-based (mountedandstand-off)EODS GPRdetectionproducts,aswell asinnovativeEODSvirtualreality(VR)trainingsupport systems.Ourhigh-performance

GPRdetectionsystemsaremodular andscalableforsimpleintegration ontoarangeofunmannedaircraft andgroundvehiclesystems(UAS andUGV)aswellasmore traditionalplatforms.

PERFECTINGTHETECHNIQUE

Thetechniquetoeffectivelyoperate ahandheldGPRsystemdiffers fromthatofatraditionalmetal detector.Itisparticularlyimportant thatthesensorheadisswungina lowandcontrolledsweeppatternin ordertoaccuratelyidentifythreats. Assuch,trainingisanimportant componentfortheeffectiveuseofGPRhandheld systems.

ThisiswhereChelton’sinnovativetrainingsystem comesin,availableinbothVRandnon-VR,the systemprovidestrainingforallourGPRproducts, providingdataontheaccuracyandcontrolofthe GPRsearchhead,sweepanglesandmore.Italso providesanenvironmentwhereprocedurescanbe practised,withtheabilitytoplacemarkersand choosefromavarietyoftargetssothattrainingcan mirrortheexpectedtheatreofoperation.

InteractiveDisplayonVMR3G.

Chelton’sGPRVirtualTrainingSystem.

TURNINGUPTHEDIALONTRADITIONALGPR

CheltonhasapplieditsextensiveGPRexperienceto thenext-generationofstand-offdetectionsystems, whichtakestheoperatoroutofharm’swayby mountingGPR-baseddetectionsystemsontotactical vehiclesandUnmannedAircraftSystems(UAS).

IntroducingChelton’snewestoffering-AMULET;a scalable,modulardetectionsystemcapableof detectingburiedIEDs,Anti-VehicleMines(AVM),and otherExplosiveRemnantsofWar(ERW)inawide varietyofsoilconditionsfromamannedorunmanned platform.Designedmeticulouslytobelowsize,weight andpower(SWaP),AMULEToperatesonthesame low-burdenprinciplesinstilledinourhandheld MinehoundEODGPRtechnologymaintainingthe philosophythatthecapabilitywillremaineasytotrain andoperate.

Thesensorcanbemissioninstalledontoanytactical orroboticvehicleforfastdeploymentdetecting metallic,minimum-metalandnon-metallicthreats includingAVMminesaswellasIEDs.

THEUPRISINGOFDRONES

TherecentsurgeinprofessionalgradeUnmanned AircraftSystems(UAS)hasallowedlargerandmore complexpayloadapplicationstoemerge.Combined withtheintenttomakeIEDandminesdetectiona standoffcapability,aclearsynergyexistsbetween UASandGPR.

VehicleMountedEODwithAMULETQuadpack.

UASMountedEODwithAMULETQuadpack.

Chelton’sAMULETQuadpack.

UGVMountedEODwithAMULETQuadpack.

Akeydesireremainstoremovethehumanfromthe threatanddangerofminedetectionthroughtheuseof standoffdetectionmethods.Thiswouldalloweithera mountedorhandheldsystemtoremainatasafe distancewhilstdetectingthethreataheadofit.One approachistouseforwardlookingradar,howeverthe diffcultywiththisapproachispropagationintothe ground.Whenasignalisfredatanobliqueangle,it signifcantlylowersthestrengthofanyreturnsreducing itsabilitytodetecttargetsofinterest.Throughasurface, thisangle,knownasthe‘BrewsterAngle’exists,which

preventsmeaningfulsignalpenetrationintotheground. GPRworksbestlookingdirectlydownwardandsothe combinationofaUASthatallowsdownwardlooking andstandoffsolvesthiscapabilitygap.

Withtherecentimprovementsinenduranceand payloadcapacityofcommercialUASsystems combinedwiththereductioninsize,weightandpower ofGPRsystemsthepotentialforUASGPRmine detectionhascomeofage.Inadditiontothis,UAS systemscanbeneftfromtheadvantageofscanninga largegeographicareaathighspeedwithoutsacrifcing accuracy.Thesystemisalsoabletomappotential threatsinreal-timesothattheycanbeactioned. Cheltonisattheforefrontofpioneeringdevelopmentof suchsystems,tailoringofthesensorsystemtothe platformandrequirement.

CheltonhavedemonstratedthecapabilityofUAS mountedGPRusingcommercialofftheshelf componentsbyprototypingaTRL6systemandis currentlylookingtofurtherenhancethecapability.The AMULETGPRsensorisatTRL9foroperationaspart ofamodularsystemonvehicleapplications.The sensorhasbeenintegratedtoacommercialUAS systemfordevelopmentforfeldtrialsatTRL6.

AMULETUASKEYCOMPONENTS

ThekeycomponentsofaUASGPRsystemare broughttogethertoprovideademonstratorcapability thatwillofferthepotentialforuseinhumanitarianand militaryscenarios.TheUAScarriesapayload comprisinganAMULETQuadPackGPRsystem

enablingthedetectionoflandminesensuringeffcient datadeliverytotheoperator.Table1describeskey componentsforthesuccessfulintegrationofan AMULETUAS.

AMULETUASQUADPACK

GPRdataisacquiredusingtheAMULETUAS QuadPack.TheQuadPackantennaapertureonthe undersideoftheenclosuremustbekeptapproximately 15cmfromthegroundsurfaceduringsteadyfightwith forwardspeedmaintainedatapproximately5kph. Theseboundswillallowforeffectivedetectionofburied threatssuchasAntiVehicleMinesandlargeIED components.TheAMULETUASisnotcurrently optimisedforuseagainstsmallthreats;inthiscase, handheldsearchshouldbeused.

INTELLIGENTDISPLAY

GPRdataisdisplayedusingtheAMULETfor UnmannedSystemsControlandDisplaysoftware whichcanberunonaruggedizedlaptop,oran embeddedcomputerwithaseparatedisplay.The softwareprovidesasimplecolourmap,whichshows detectedminesorIEDsasaredanomalyagainstan otherwiseblackbackground.Signalstrengthbuilds fromgreenthroughyellowtoredallowinginterpretation ofthesizeandshapeofthedetectedthreat.

ProposedApproach

Cheltonhavepreviouslyconductedatestand evaluationworkpackagethatdemonstratedthe

Table1-TheAMULETIngredients.

UASMountedEODwithAMULETQuadpack.

feasibilityofmountinganAMULETRobotasshownon theimageswithinthispage.

TheAMULETUASQuadPackhassofarbeenused inademonstratorsystemandadetailedintegration processwouldberequiredforanyfuturetrials.

ConceptofUse

AMULETUAScouldbeused forthesearchofsuspect hazardousareas.Thesystem wouldbeparticularlyuseful whentheriskistoohighfor humanoperators,thiscould includeriverminefelds, foodedminefeldsand immediatelyafterconficthas ceased.

AMULETUASintelligently calibratesitselfusingafrst pass1Maltitudefight,where itgathersafreespace referencesignaltomapout theterrain.AMULETUASthen beginsitsautomatedmine mappingprocessat15cm, adjustingitscourseand altitudetomatchthe previouslymappedterrain contourskeepingtheGPR sensorattheoptimumheight foraccurateidentifcationof targets.

IntegrationwithClearance ManagementTool Cheltonhavedevelopeda MinefeldClearanceManagement Tool(CMT)forusewithall typesofsensorsystemsthat detectmines,IEDsandERW. ThisCMThasbeendeveloped undertheMineandIED DetectionAugmentedby Satellite(MIDAS)projectthat alsoencompassesvirtual trainingsystems.

AsanextensiontotheHMIforAMULETunmanned systems,CheltonwouldproposethattheCMT,as shown,isusedtoallowthreatrecordingandpaperless reportinginanIMSMAcompatibleformat.

ClearanceManagementTool.

generationofstand-off detectionsystems.Notonly willthesesystemsallowmore groundtobecoveredinless timeandwithmoreaccuracy, itdoessowithouttheneedfor asearchoperatortobeinthe middleofanactiveminefeld orbattlefeld.■

ClearanceManagementTool.

TheCMTrunsonalaptopcomputer,oratablet computer,andmaybeaccessedremotelyusingawebbasedinterface.Individualdetectors,bethey handheld,vehicleorUASmountedareequippedwith CheltonsuppliedGNSStrackingsystemscapableof <5cmCEPprecision.Thetrackthateachdetectorhas followed,anyassociateddetectiondataisthen recordedelectronicallyforreportingandassurance processes.

CONCLUSION

Landminescontinuetoposeathreatdespite internationaleffortstobantheiruse.Inaddition,the riseintheuseofIEDsandtherecentUkraineconfict haveonlyfurthercompoundedtheissue.While searchoperatorsfrommilitariesandhumanitarian organisationsbattletoremovethreatsfromareasof confict,theycontinuouslyputtheirsafetyatrisk.

Butthereisawaytoremovethethreattothose whoaretheretohelpandthat’sbyutilising innovativesearchtechnologieswithUASandUGV systemswhichwillprotecttheoperatorandtake themoutofthedangerzone.ThisiswhereChelton comesin.

WithourextensiveexperienceinGPR,wehave developedinnovativesolutionsforthenext

ABOUTTHEAUTHORS

DanielGoodliffe joinedCheltonin 2005followingagraduatescheme andhasprogressedtoundertakea widerangeofrolesacrossvarious partsofthebusiness.Danielhasheld rolesinProjectandProgramme Management,Operations,Contracts &Commercial,InsideSalesandmostrecentlyas BusinessUnitManagerforourportfolioofLandproduct lines.DanielhasaMaster’sDegreeinAerospace Engineering. Email: daniel.goodliffe@chelton.com Tel.:+44(0)1628472072

WithaMastersandDoctorate, NeilTisdale hasbeenwithChelton forover10yearsworkingasan Engineer.Afterworkinginavarietyof differentengineeringdisciplines,Neil isnowtheChiefEngineerforLand SystemslookingafterourExplosive OrdnanceDetection,VehicleIntercomSystemsand more. Email: neil.tisdale@chelton.com Tel.:+44(0)1628274930

Genericenquiriescanbedirectedto info@chelton.com

ANNEX

SYSTEMOVERVIEW

Aimofthesystem:whatcanitdetect/classifyand underwhichconditions?

Chelton’sAMULETQuadPackforUnmannedAerial Systemsissuitableforthedetectionofmetal, minimum-metalandmetalfreecomponentsthanksto itsmaximumsensitivity.Thesystemisalsoidealfor searchesatdifferentdepthsandacrossa widerange ofterrain.

CONOPS/CONUSE

ThesystemusesDifferentialGPS(D-GPS)to providehighresolutionpositioningandheight sensorstoautonomouslyfollowamissionprofile. On-boardprocessingprovidesassistedanomaly detectiontooutputthesizeandposition informationofanomaliestoaClearance

Whatdoesthesystemlooklike?

ManagementTool(CMT)forrealtimetrackingof anomaliesduringthemission.

RealtimedisplayoftheGPRprovidesCScanand Bscanviewofthedataduringthetuningprocedurefor thesystem.DataisloggedonboardtheUASfor detailedanalysisofGPRdatatoallowpost-processing.

Primarytechnologyapplied

TheprimarysensingtechnologyusedisGPR.

Conditionsofuse

Operationalenvironmentalconditionsarelimitedby thecommercialUASsystemwithwindspeedlimit (8m/s)andprecipitation(notrainprotected).Rangeof theremotecontrolisspecifedas2.1km,butregulation limitsittoVisual-line-of-sight(VLOS)fortrials.

InfoontransmittedRF

•AMULETGPR–300MHz–3GHz,impulsetransmission (330psat4MHzPRF)

•UASControlfrequency2.4GHz–2.483GHz,16dBmEIRP

•GPS-RTKmodem–UHF403Mhz –473MHz(12.5kHzband)

•Processor–WiFi2.4GHzforrealtimeviewofprocesseddata

•CMTcommunications–Xbee WiFi2.4GHz

MAGNIFICATIONCOMPARISON: CONSTANTPOTENTIALVSPULSEDGENERATOR

By MarcJansen,TeledyneICM

INTRODUCTION

Thisexperimentwasdesignedtodemonstratethe imagequalityoftwodifferenttypesofX-raytechnology, constantpotential(CP)andpulsedgenerators,based onthemagnifcationtechnique.

Forthistest,weusedtheTeledyneICMLITEXand theGoldenEngineeringXR150,bothbatterypowered generators alongwiththeTeledyneTactXdetector.

Thetestconsistedofplacingmeasurementtools (LP/mm)atdifferentdistancesfromthedetectorand determiningwhichlineswerestillvisible.Usingthis technique,wesawthatthefocalspotdimensionhada considerableimpactontheimagequality.

THEORICALREMINDERS

a.ConstantPotentialvsPulsedtechnology

•CPsources:

ForCPsources,DCvoltagewasappliedtothetube. Theelectronemissionwasbasedonthethermoionicemission:atungstenflamentwasheatedupby theJouleeffectlikeinaclassicallightbulb.

Thehigh-frequencyregulationallowedforavery stableandrepeatableX-raydose.Moreover,theoutput tubevoltageandcurrentwerecompletelyselectable.

Duetogoodthermalcapacity,theCPX-ray sourcecouldoperatefor25minutesatfullpower.

•Pulsedsources:

Forpulsedsources,repetitivehighvoltagepulses wereappliedtothetube.Averyhighfowof electronswasemittedfromapinbytheexplosive emissioneffect.

Astheinstantaneouscurrentwasveryhigh,the pinprogressivelydegraded.Duringitslifetime,as thepinshapemodifed,thedoserateevolved.The repeatabilityofthedosewasthenlimited.

TheX-rayemissiontimewaslimitedtoonlyfew seconds:eachpulsewasaround50nslong.Also, thevoltageappliedonthetubewasnotselectable. Only300pulsescouldbeemittedbeforewaitingfor coolingdown,resultinginlessthanfvesecondsof X-rayexposure.

b.Focalspot

TheTeledyneICMLITEXfeaturesaverysmallfocal spotof0.8x0.5mm,whereastheGolden EngineeringX-Raypossessesafocalspotof3.0x 3.0mm.Thesizeofthefocalspotwillimpactthe radiography,nomattertheresolutionofthe detector.Alargefocalspotwillinevitablycausea blurredimagewhenperformingmagnifcation. Figure1showsacomparisonofthefocalspot sizes.

Figure1:Comparisonoffocalspotsizes.

c.Magnifcation

Thetechniqueofmagnifcationconsistsofplacingthe objecttobeinspectedawayfromthedetectortosee greaterdetails.Thisiswhenfocalspotmattersmostas thesmallerfocalspot,thebettertheimagequality. Figure2showsacomparisonofthemagnifcationeffect. TECHNICALSPECIFICATIONSOFEQUIPMENTUSED

Figure2:Comparisonofthemagnifcationeffectbetween CPandPulsedsources.

Figure3:Illustrationofalp/mmleadbarphantom.

MAGNIFICATIONTEST

Test1:

ThesameLP/mmleadbarphantomwasplacedinaboxandmeasuredatthreedifferentdistancesfromthe detector:0cm,15cmand30cm.ThefrsttestwasperformedwiththeGoldenEngineeringXR-150giving30 pulsestoallowenoughtimetostarttheTeledyneTactXdetectorandacquireanimage.TheTeledynesoftware SherlockNDTcouldnotsynchronizeGoldenEngineeringequipment:therefore,weuseditinmanualmode.

Test2: ThetestwasrepeatedusingtheTeledyneLITEXwitha0.7x0.5mmfocalspotusingtheexactsamesetupand anexposureof1secat120kV,0.25mA.

COMPARISONIMAGESXR150(PULSED)VSLITEX(CONSTANTPOTENTIAL)

At0cm,thesmallfocalspotoftheLITEXofferedabetterresolution,withtheabilitytosee3.1lp/mmvs2.8lp/mm fortheXR150.

At15cm,theLITEXagainofferedabetterresolution.Itwasabletosee3.4lp/mmvs1.8lp/mmfortheXR150. ThisalsodemonstratedthatmagnifcationallowedustoseegreaterdetailswithaCPsmallfocalspotcompared tothedecreasedimagequalitywithpulsedequipment.

At30cm,the LITEX againofferedabetterresolutionasitwasabletosee3.7lp/mmvs1.4lp/mmfortheXR150.

CONCLUSION

Thesetestsdemonstratedthattheimagequality deliveredwithaCPgeneratorisslightlybetterthana pulsedgeneratorwhentheobjectisplacedagainstthe detector.Moreimportantlyhowever,whenmagnifcation at15cmor30cmwasapplied,theimagequality degradedrapidlyusingpulsedequipmentbutincreased usingtheCPgenerator.TheCPtechnologydelivereda muchclearerimagequality,reaching3.7LP/mm, thankstoitssmallfocalspot.Thiscannotbematched withapulsedequipmenttype,whichreachedjust1.4 LP/mm,andresultedinablurryimageduetoitsmuch largerfocalspot.Therefore,magnifcationcanbeused toincreasethevisibilityofobjectsinsideasuspect packagebyprovidingmorevisibledetails,whichis extremelybenefcialwhendoinganinspection.■

Forfurtherinformation:

TeledyneICM

ZoningLesPlenessesRueDuProgrès3 B-4821Andrimont(Dison)–Belgium

PHONE:+3287440150,FAX:+3287440160

E-MAIL: icm.sales@teledyne.com

ABOUTTELEDYNEICM

Ourmission,atTeledyneICM,istofacilitate professionals’lifebyprovidinginnovative,userfriendly,andsafe X-raysolutions,whileaccompanying themthroughouttheuseofourproducts.

For almost30years,TeledyneICMhasbeena worldwide-activecompanyspecializingindeveloping andmanufacturingportableX-raygeneratorsand detectorsforNonDestructingTestingandsecurity purposes.Today,ourX-raysolutionshavepermitted safe,accurateandeasytestingforcountless inspectionsandthreatassessmentsaround theglobe.

Regardlessofyourapplicationandbudget, wewill fndtherightX-rayproducttoftyourneeds.From pipeline nondestructivetesting inspectionstomilitary, EOD or counterterrorapplications…TeledyneICMwill alwaysprovidethelightestandmostrobustportable X-raysolutionsoutthere.

GOINGPOSTAL–WHENTERRORISTSUSE MAILSYSTEMSTOTARGETORGANISATIONS

ByVincentDeery,CEO,3DX-RayLtd.

InFebruary2021,threeparcelbombsweresentto threedifferentfoodanddrinkcompaniesinGermany.

ThefrstpackagewasdiscoveredatMunichairport. Thesecondparcelbombwassenttoabeverage manufactureranddetonatedwhenoneofthe employeesopenedit,causingasmallexplosion butnoinjury.Andthethirdpackageinjuredthree peoplewhenitdetonatedattheLidlsupermarket headquarters.

Whatseemsfairlyobviousisthatthefrstpackage waspickedupattheairportmaildistributioncentre, eitherbytheuseofmailscreeningtechnology,asyou wouldexpectinamaildistributioncentreorbyvigilant well-trainedstaff.

Butwhatisequallyobviousisthatthetwoother bombsthatdetonatedatthecorporateheadquarters werenotdetectedeitherbytechnologyorbyvigilant well-trainedstaff.

Thesearenottheonlyexamplesoftheuseofmail bombsasterrorweaponsinrecentyears.

In2018intheUS,aseriesofmailbombsweresent toprominentcriticsoftheformerDonaldTrump administration.Thefrstbombdiscoveredwas deliveredtobillionairefnancierandactivistGeorge Soros.Subsequentdevicesweresenttopolitical fgures,includingformerPresidentBarackObama;

formerPresidentBillClintonandhiswife,Hilary,a formerSecretaryofStateandUSCongresswoman

MaxineWaters.Othertargetsincludedtheformer AttorneyGeneralEricHolderandthenformerVice President,nowPresidentJoeBiden.Andeventhe actorRobertDeNiroreceivedone.

Butmostcompanieswillneverbevictimsofa terroristattackandunderstandablydonotwanttoturn theircorporateheadquartersintoafortressand spendlargesumsonsecuritymeasuresthattheymay neverneed.

Butgoodsecurity,likeinsurance,shouldbetreated asanecessary,notanunnecessaryexpense.The damagethataterrorattackcouldcauseintermsof lossoflife,injury,disruptionofbusinessandreputation damage,canfaroutweighthecostofreasonable securitymeasures,builtintotheeverydayrunning ofabusiness.

Thenofcourse,thereisthe‘DutyofCare’thatall employershavetowardsemployees.Thismeans thatemployershavealegalobligationto takeallreasonablemeasurestoensurethehealth, safetyandwell-beingoftheemployeesandvisitorsin theircare.

TheDutyofCareRiskAnalysisStandard(DoCRA) providesprinciplesandpracticesforevaluatingrisk.

“Itconsidersallpartiesthatcouldbeaffectedbythose risks.DoCRAevaluatessafeguardsiftheyare appropriateinprotectingothersfromharmwhile presentingareasonableburdenbydefningwhatis reasonablerisk.Ithelpsestablishreasonablesecurity basedonanorganisation'sspecifcmission,objective, andobligations."

Quiteapartfromthelegalandmoralimperative, thereisagoodbusinesscaseforreasonablesecurity measures.

Formostbusinesses,theirstaffaretheirmost valuableassets.Peoplethatfeelproperlyvaluedand caredfor,arefarmorelikelytobemotivatedand retained.Andfromapurelyfnancialperspective,itcan alsomeanthatexpensivelitigationcanbeavoided.

Inthefuture,courtsmaydecidewhatconstitutes ‘reasonablemeasures‘,butitcouldbeargued,thatall companiesshouldbetakingtheriskofaterrorist attackseriously,atalltimes,butespeciallyintimesof heightenedthreat.Itistrue,thatintheUK,thethreat level,setbytheJointTerrorismAnalysisCentreand theSecurityService(MI5)iscurrentlysetat ‘substantial’whichmeansthatJTACandMI5believe ‘anattackislikely’.

Clearly,threatlevelsvaryfromcountrytocountry butgiventhecurrentsituationinGermanyand theUKatleast,nocompanycouldargueincourtthat theydidnotknowthat ‘anattackislikely,’ and, therefore,shouldhaveimplementedreasonable securitymeasures.

So,whatarereasonablesecuritymeasures?

Well,Ithinkwecanallagreethattherearesome measuresthatareinexpensive,practical,and thereforeperfectlyreasonable,regardlessofthesize oftheorganisation.Firstly,developingasecurityplan basedonasoundriskassessmentandestablishing appropriatestafftraining.Andthentherearesome obvioustechnologieswecanuse,suchassecurity andfrealarms,indoorandoutdoorCCTV,somesort ofaccesscontrolsystemandanidentitysystemfor bothemployeesandvisitors.Noneofthisisespecially controversial.

Afterthat,itbecomesmoreproblematictodecide whatisnecessaryandreasonable.Alotwilldependon thesizeofthecompany,thenatureoftheirbusiness andthelocalthreatassessment.

Forinstance,somecompaniesmayfaceahigher risk,likethemedicalresearchlaboratoriesinthenorth ofEngland,whoweresentnailbombsinthepostby animalrightsactivistsin2001,whichleftonewoman withseriouseyeinjuries,afarmerwithfacialinjuries andasix-year-oldgirlwithawoundedleg.

AXIS™-CXiScreeningSystem.

Butwhatisthenextstepupintermsof reasonablesecuritytechnology?

ThisiswhereImaketheargumentthatX-ray technologyshouldbeconsideredaspartofany corporatesecuritytoolkit.

Thisisnottosuggestthateverycorporate headquartersshouldhavelargeairportstylebaggage screeningX-raymachinesintheirfoyers.Thatwould notbereasonable.

Buttherightmodernmobilex-raytechnologycanbe arealgamechanger,ortousemilitaryparlance ‘a forcemultiplier,’givingthesecuritydirectororfacilities manageraccesstohighgradesecuritytechnology, wheretheywantit,whentheywantit,andat reasonablecost.

Mostbigcorporationswillbefamiliarwithpostal x-rayscanners,butmostofthosecurrentlyin operationarewhatyoucouldcall,frst-generation technology.Thatis,theycanonlyscaningreyscale, aresmall,andabletomanageregularpostandsmall packagesonly.

X-raytechnologyhasmovedonagooddealsince thesesystemswerefrstwidelyadoptedincorporate mailrooms.Mostairportscannersnowusecolour

differentiatedscans,whichmakeitpossibleto determinenotjusttheshapebut,thenatureofthe materialsbeingscanned.So,orangeshowsorganics, suchas-explosives,chemicals,anddrugs,aswell asmoreinnocentitemssuchasfoodstuffs.Blue showsmetals,suchas-guns,knives,andpotential IEDcomponents.Greenshowsinorganicmaterials likethoseusedinhomemadeexplosives.Greyscale isusedforrecognitionofshapesandtheform ofobjects.

At3DX-Ray,wedecidedthatthemailroomscanner neededtobebroughtintothe21stcentury.So,we developedtheAXISCXicabinetscanner,whichuses thesamecolourdifferentiatedscansasairport scanners,makingiteasierandquickertodetermine, notonlyifthereisathreat,butwhattypeofthreat. Afurthermajorinnovationisinthedesignitself,ithas analtogethermorepleasingaesthetic,withanextralargeinspectionchamber,whilstmaintainingasmall footprint.Sonotonlycanitscanmailandparcels,but itcanalsoscanbagsuptoandincludingaircraftcabin bags.Finally,weputitonwheels,soitcanbe wheeledoutintoacorporatefoyerorhotellobbyin timesofraisedthreatlevels.Ofcourse,ithasallyou wouldexpectfromanymodernelectronicdevice, suchasuser-friendlytouchscreencontrols,high imageresolutionandimageprocessingsoftware. TheAXISCXiisaleapforwardformailroomsecurity, aswellasbeingarealutilitytoolforreasonable corporatesecurity.

Becauseinthecorporateworld,timereallyismoney!

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

VincentDeery istheCEOof 3DX-RayLtd.

AXIS™-CXiScreeningSysteminuse.

ByLieutenantColonelJoseMRufas,ChiefofAttacktheNetworksBranch, C-IEDCentreofExcellence

‘Justbecausethewolfpackfearsyourslingdoesn’tmeanyoustopcarryingstones’ (EdMcDonaldinhisbook‘Blackwing’frstpublishedin2017)

Maybetheconfictbetweenthearmedforcesof AzerbaijanandArmeniainthedisputedareaof Nagorno–Karabakhin2020evidencedoneofthelast

tacticalrevolutionsofmodernwarfare:thedecisive tacticaluseofexplosive-ladenunmannedaircraft systems(UAS)tosupportoperationalobjectives.

Bothsidesemployedloiteringmunitions,with AzerbaijanenjoyingspecialsuccessagainstArmenia’s lesstechnologicallydevelopedweaponry.Loitering munitionswereintegratedintotacticalcombatby destroyingorsaturatinganti-aircraftsystems, consequentlygaininglocaldefencesuperiorityand makingallotheraircraftmoreeffectiveincombat againstheavyandessentialcombatequipment.

ThecurrentconfictbetweenUkraineandRussia (afterthepartialinvasionbythelatternationin supportofpro-RussianseparatistsintheDonbas area)isalsonotindependentfromthetactical relevanceoftheuseofweaponiseddrones.However, inthiscase,theloiteringmunitionsandmunitiondroppingdronesaremostlybasedonimprovised designsandmanufacturedforvehicles,explosive devicesorevenforboth.

Stepbystep,fightbyfight:the2014Russo–Ukrainianconfict

CrimeabyRussianforces,therelativelackofaerial capabilityintheeastofUkraineledtheUkrainian defenderstousetheircommercial-of-the-shelf(COTS) dronesasimprovisedair‘bombers’.

Adaptingtoemergingdigitaltrends,andanindirect imitationoftheimagesandvideosfromDaesh sources,theUkrainianfghtersfrombothsideswere mostlyemployingCOTSUAS(e.g.rotary-wingDJI PhantomMavicseriesandfxed-wingSkywalkerX8) fttedwithimprovisedreleasesystems,recordingtheir attackswithimprovisedairmunitionsanddistributing thevideosthroughsocialmedia.

Thoseimprovisedmunitionsweremainlybasedon: •30x29mmgrenadesforautomaticlaunchers(e.g. VOG-17serieswithmanipulatedfuses).

•KZ-6(KЗ-6)shapedchargesfordemolition/ sabotage(with1.8kgofTG-50explosivemixture).

•Homemadeexplosiveorincendiarydevices.

•Anti-tankPG-7serieswarheads.

•POM-2scatterablemunitions.

•Initialdesignsof3D-printedair-projecteddropped1 ImprovisedExplosiveDevices(IED).

Figure2:ImprovisedmunitionbasedonaKZ–6shapedcharge,LuhanskoblastMarch2018. (Source– www.rossaprimavera.ru)

AftertheviolentrisingofseparatistforcesinDonetsk andLuhansk,alongwiththesubsequentoccupationof 1

TheRussianinvasionandtheproliferationof explosive-ladendrones

TheresistanceinsidetheUkrainianterritorieswasnot suddenlymobilisedimmediatelyaftertheentryof RussianmilitaryforcesfromboththeRussianand Belarussianborders.Thepossibilityofanopen confictwithRussiawaspartiallyanticipated,so thedevelopmentofimprovisedsolutionswas progressivelydevelopingamongboththeUkrainian militiasandtheregularforces.

Theeffectsachievedwiththeinitialuseofsmall COTSUASsolutionssuchasDJIMAVICorAutel RoboticsEVOseries,alongwithhandgrenades(e.g. RGD-5,F1,M430A140x53mmgrenadeswith manipulatedfusesalongwith3D-printedtails), Russiansubmunitions(e.g.PTAB-2.5M)orVOG-type munitions(fttedwithallkindsofhomemadetailsand

modifedorimprovisedfuses)resultedinsomeuseful tacticaltrenchwarfare,buttheyhighlightedtheneed forlargermunitionsalongwithmorepowerfuldrones.

Accordingly,thepayloadcapabilityofotherCOTS models,suchasDJIMatrice300RTK,wasallowing thetransportationanddroppingofasingle82mm mortargrenadefttedwithinstantpointdetonatingM-6 fuses,three60mmmortargrenadesorevenuptoeight 30x29mmgrenadeseach.

Simultaneously,therewereseveraldevelopmentsof muchmorepowerfulmulticopters(fromfourtotwelve rotors)manufacturedwithcommercialcomponentsby membersoftheUkrainianarmedforcesandmilitias, whichincreasedthemaximumpayloaduntilbeingable toequipseveral81/82mmmortargrenades(uptosix), twoRPG-16antitankgrenadelaunchersandone 120mmmortargrenade.

Thereweremorethan300registeredexplosiveladendrones’eventsinUkrainefromFebruary2014to September2022,whichhavebeenrecordedonsocial media,newssourcesandoffcialsitesbasedonopensourceintelligence.

Butthesedevelopmentswerenotonlyfocusedon rotary-wingmodels.Thelessonsfromhobbyaircraft modelsguidedthemanufactureoffxed-wingUAS whichwereequippedwithimprovisedmunitionsand charges.

Followingacoupleofimprovisedloiteringmunitions withdelayswitchesattackingfueldepotsinDonetsk OblastinSeptember2021,severalnice-lookingfxedwingmodelshavebeenseenaroundtheDonbas frontline(orevenneartheBelarussianborder).

(Source: https://mil.in.ua/)

Thesefxed-wingdesignshavebeenusedas armedplatformsdroppingimprovisedmunitionsoras somesortofimprovisedloiteringmunitions.

Therewereevensomesemi-industrialand homemadeattemptstobuildfxed-winganti-tank UASvehicle-borneIEDs2 withPG-7seriesgrenades (inwhichdistantarminginsidethepiezoelectricfuses wasmanipulated).

Alibabawenttowar

Weallareawareofthehugeumbrellaof possibilitiesthattheChinesedistributor‘Alibaba’ couldhaveregardingtheglobalshoppingbusiness, butthesetimesaresurprisingeventhebravest predicters.

2 Tacticalcharacterisationinaccordancewith‘ImprovisedExplosiveDevice(IED)TechnicalExploitationLexicon(5thEdition 15thMay2017)’.

Figure5:Homemadefxed-wingUASwithimprovisedmunitions,DonetskOblastFebruary2022.

Subsequentinvestigationsafterasuccessful explosiveattackagainsttheNovoshakhtinskyoil refneryinVostok(Russia)onJune22nd2022, showedthepotentialUkrainianuseofanunknown modelofloiteringmunition.Itwasfnallyidentifed asacommercial-of-the-shelfproduct(called ‘Skyeye5000mmPro’or‘Mugin-5Pro’)soldthrough

www.alibaba.com,whichwastransformedintoaUAS vehicle-borneIEDbyUkrainianforces.

Thesameexplosive-modifedCOTSmodelwas launchedagainsttheRussianBlackSeaFleet HeadquartersinSevastopol(Crimea)onJuly31stand August20th,2022.

Figure7:GraphicdescriptionoftheUASattackinSevastopolonAugust20th2022. (Source: www.thedrive.com)

Figure8:Callforacrowd-fundingcampaigntofnanceR–18octocopters/RKG–1600munition. (Source: www.aerorozvidka.xyz)

Civiliansupporttoexplosive-ladenUASwarfare FromtheverybeginningoftheUkrainianconfict, civilianshavebeenimmersedinthedevelopmentof initiativesindirectorindirectsupportfortheUkrainian defenders.

Apartfromsometechnologicalinitiatives drivenbyenthusiasticamateurdesigners,inventors, techniciansandscientistsinthefeldofarmed dronesaimingtosupportthedefenceofthe Ukrainianterritory,itwasin2014whenagroup ofpatriots,self-nameda‘non-governmental organisation,’startedarevolutionindirectbeneftto thenationaldefencecapability–theyarecalled ‘Aerorozvidka’.3

AlthoughthedesignsofAerorozvidkaweremostly focusedonunmannedaircraftsystemsforintelligence, surveillanceandreconnaissanceuntil2019,theeverpresentthreatfromRussiaandpro-Russian separatistsmadethegroupresurgewithaspecial dedicationtoexplosive-ladendrones.

ThemostrelevantUASasdevelopedby Aerorozvidkaisthe‘R-18’model,anoctocopter completelymanufacturedwithamixtureof commercial-of-the-shelfcomponentsandsomeselfdesignedelements.Thedronecountsonrelative resistanceagainstelectronicwarfarealongwith 40minutesoffightandthermalvision.

InaparallelefforttotheR-18design,Aerorozvidka´s researchersfoundouthowtobeneftfromtheobsolete RKG-3seriesanti-tankshaped-chargehandgrenades increatingrelativelypowerfulimprovisedaerial munitions(e.g.RKG-1600one)abletodefeat armouredvehiclesfromabove.

Theevolutionoftheconfictmadethe‘semioffcially-issued’adoptionofboththeR-18droneand RKG-1600munitionsbytheUkrainianArmedForces. Thechainproductionofthemunitionwaspossible thankstothecollaborationofPJSCVinnytsiafactory ‘MAYAK’(ahugeindustrialfacilityformerlyspecialising intheproductionofheatingdevices).

Fromtheauthor´sperspective,anevenmore amazingcivilianinitiativethanAerorozvidka’s oneitselfwasmadepubliclastSeptember2022.A groupcalled‘СталевіШершні’(translatableas‘Steel Hornets’)simultaneouslylaunchedaccountson TelegramandFacebook(https://t.me/steelhornets, https://www.facebook.com/steelhornets2022/ ,) showingtheirdevelopmentsin3D-printedimprovised munitionsandreleasesystemsforthem.

Secure-paymentdonationsarealsoacceptedbythe group(https://send.monobank.ua/jar/51oLDodZtf).

Afterseveraltrialsandtests,thegroupisfnally manufacturinghomemadecomponentsfordrones, alongwithtwodifferentversionsofimprovised 3 FromtheUkrainian‘Аеророзвідка’,translatableintoEnglishas‘airreconnaissance’.

munitionsforUAS:thefrst model(250g)isofferingboth penetrationandfragmentation capabilities,andthesecondone (300g)providesonlyblastand fragmentationeffects.

Butthesurprisecomeswith theprocessof‘ordering’the respectiveimprovisedmunition and3D-printedreleasesystems forseveralmodelsofCOTS drones(e.g.DJIMavic2,DJI Mavic3,AutelEVOLite,Autel EVOII).Thegroupofferonline requestforms(availableat ЗамовленнябомбСталеві Шершні (google.com), ЗамовленняскидівСталевіШершні (google.com)and Замовити пристрійдляскидання (google.com)).

Theordersarefreeofcharge andonlyopentoUkrainian fghtingunits.Themunitionsare sentwithoutfusesormain charge,althoughthegroup recommendedthemodelsof fusestouse(MD-5,MD-5M, MD-2,KD8A)alongwiththe plasticexplosivefllingto complete.

Thesocialmediasitesofthe ‘SteelHornets’areeven offeringtargetformatsfor training,sharingtrainingtips, providingtechnicalsupportand showingtrialswithUAS vehicle-borneIEDsfttedwith thedouble-purpose(antivehicle,anti-personnel)version oftheirimprovisedmunitions employedagainstarmoured vehicles.

Figure9:Picturesfromthemanufactureofimprovisedmunitionsandoneofthe munitionmodels. (Source:Facebook)

Daretostickinthehornet’snest!

TheRussiansidehasalsodiscoveredthepotentialof COTSexplosive-ladendronesinthetacticalbattlefeld, buttheirwaysandmeansaremuchmoreprimitiveand theyhaveshownthemselvestobemuchlesseffective thantheUkrainiandevelopments.Theseparatists haveemployedsimpletechniquesusinghand grenades(includingnon-lethalmodels)andVOG-type projectilesasthebasisforimproviseddroppable munitionsfordrones.

Anoutstandingdevelopmentinexplosive-laden UASwasshowninavideosharedbyUkrainianforces lastJuly,whichshowedanattackusingfrst-personview(FPV)gogglestodrivearacingdronefttedwith anexplosivedeviceinsideahouseinwhichRussian forceswerehidden.

Lately,double-stacked30x29mmhavebeenusedto increasethepowerofUAS-droppablemunition capabilities(couldtheybereminiscentofDAESH tactics,techniquesandproceduresdeployedinIraq andSyria?),andeventhelaunchofcommercial electronicbeaconsbydroneswiththeaimof supportingtargetingbylandartilleryhasalsobeen evidentinUkraine.

Therelativelywideandsuccessfulemploymentof explosive-ladendroneshascausedtheproliferationof campaignsrequestingonlinecrowd-fundingand donationsforacquiringUAs.Whiletheimaginationhas been‘spurred’bynecessityundercombatconditions, donotexpectthedronewarfghtinginUkrainetoseem likeafad!

Ashashappenedpreviously,combatdevelopments widelyshowninUkrainethroughsocialmediaare certaintoprovideterrorists,insurgents,extremistsand criminalswithdangerousideas.■

REFERENCES

C-IEDCoE‘TechnicalReportIV/2017–Unconventional WeaponizationofUnmannedAircraftSystems’,dated 18thMay2017

C-IEDCoE‘ThreatNetworks’TacticsTechniques&Procedures Updates’products(uptoOctober2020)

C-IEDCoE‘Non-StateActors’TacticsTechniques&Procedures Updates’products(fromNovember2020onwards)

Disclaimer

Thisarticledoesnotrepresenttheopinionofany nationalormultinationalorganisation;itswholecontent shouldonlybeconsideredastheopinionoftheauthor. Asalltheinformationhasbeenobtainedfromopen sources,potentialmistakescouldhavebeenmade duringtheresearchprocess.Pleasefeelfreetosend yourcomments,correctionsandinputstotheauthor; theywillbehighlyappreciated.

‘Youmustbeabletogofromadefensive toanoffensivemindset’.

(DarrenLevine,inhisbook‘CompleteKravMaga’frstpublishedin2007)

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

LieutenantColonelJoseMRufas graduatedfrom theSpanishArmyMilitaryAcademyin1993.Hewas commissionedintotheC-IEDCentreofExcellenceas HeadoftheDefeattheDeviceBranchinAugust2016, andcurrentlyholdingapostofChiefofAttackthe NetworksBranch.AsaMilitaryEngineerOffcer,his backgroundhasbeenmainlybasedonExplosive OrdnanceDisposalactivitiesintheSpanishArmyand C-IEDstaffissuesatthemultinationalheadquarters.In additiontohisEODOperator/EODOffcereducation, heattendedsomeothermilitarycoursesregarding Parachuting,ArmyStaff,InformationOperations,War CollegeGeneral/JointStaff,MilitarySearch,Technical ExploitationOperations,WeaponsIntelligenceTeam, ExploitationLaboratories,HomemadeExplosivesand otherC-IEDcourses.Hisoperationalassignments includeBosniaandHerzegovina(3),Afghanistan(3), RepublicofEcuador,IraqandUganda. E-mail: jrufas@ciedcoe.org

RECENTMEXICANCARTELDRONEBOMBARDMENT

POLICÍACOMMUNITARIADE TEPALACATEPEC/CÁRTELESUNIDOS (CU)VS. CÁRTELDEJALISCONUEVAGENERACIÓN (CJNG)

ByDavidA.KuhnandRobertJ.Bunker,C/OFutures,LLC

BACKGROUNDER

Giventhenumeroussocialmediaposts,news reports,andoffcialgovernmentalstatementsonthe subject,itisclearlywidelyrecognizedthatthe Mexicancartels,aswellassmallerdruggangs andlocalself-defenseforces/communitypolice (autodefensas;typicallylinkedtoorganizedcrime), haveincreasinglyrelieduponconsumerdronesin theirbothillicitactivitiesandintheirconfictwithone anotherandtheagentsandinstitutionsofthe Mexicanstate.

WeaponizedcarteldronesinMexicofrstappeared inOctober2017nearValtierrilla,Guanajuato(seized duringahigh-riskvehiclestop)andhavesincebeen felded(and/orseized)inJuly2018inTecate,Baja, inApril2020inSanAndrésCholula,Puebla,andin July2020inTepalcatepec,Michoacán.Additionally, dronebombardmentsandexplosivebomblet incidents(useandseizures)havemorerecently takenplaceinMarch2021inPeribán,Michoacán,in

September2021inMazamitla,Jaliscoandalsoin Tepalcatepec,Michoacán,andinNovember2021in Tecalitlán,Jaliscoascartelusepatternshaveshifted frompointdetonationtobombardmenttactics. Subsequentcarteldroneincidentshavesincetaken placeandbeendiscussedandanalyzedprimarilyin various C/OFuturesCartelResearchNoteSeries articles.

Cartelweaponizeddroneusehascenteredaround the CárteldeJaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG; JaliscoNewGenerationCartel)andthosecartelsithas beenactivelyfghting–frstthe CárteldeSantaRosa deLima (CSRL;SantaRosadeLimaCartel)andlater the CártelesUnidos (CU;UnitedCartels).Monitoring, patternandtrendidentifcation,andtacticaloperational/earlywarning/futuresanalysisofthis phenomenonhaveappearedinthe Counter-IED Report inthefollowingtwoarticles:“Useof WeaponizedConsumerDronesinMexicanCrimeWar”

(Winter2020-21)and“I&WNote:MexicanCartel DroneIEDBombletsNowAppearing”(Winter 2021-22).

Overthepastfewyears,certaincontestedregionsof Mexico–suchasMichoacán–have,inasense, becomepetridishesinwhichcarteldroneTTPs (tactics,techniques,andprocedures)andassociated capabilitieshavebeenactivelyevolving.Thisarticle discussesandanalyzestwonewandinterlinked incidentsrelatedtosuchcartelevolutionaryuse patternsthathaveappearedwiththe Cárteles Unidos (CU).

RECENTMEXICANCARTELDRONE BOMBARDMENTATTACKS

Inthisarticle,aTikTokvideoposting(postings) placedonthe PolicíaCommunitariade Tepalacatepec (TepalacatepecCommunityPolice) siteis(are)analyzedtobetterunderstandthemost recentMexicancarteldronebombardmentTTPsthat havedevelopedasofMay2022.[1] Thevisual documentationprovidedisfragmentaryandnotofthe highestquality–itismeantforpropagandaand narrativeshapingpurposes–butdoesofferquiteabit ofoperationalandtacticaldatawhichcanbe analyzedandinterpreted.Itshouldbenoted, however,thattheactualmakesandmodelsofthe consumerdronesutilizedintheseattackscannotbe identifedalthoughDJIrotormodelsarecommonly usedbythecartels(giventheircommercialmarket dominance).

Note –the PolicíaCommunitariadeTepalacatepec (PolicíaEstatalFuerzaRuralTepalcatepec and relateddesignations)isalliedtoandgenerally viewedaseitherbeingacomponentofand/or increasinglyco-optedbythe CartelesUnidos inthe ongoingconfictwiththe CárteldeJaliscoNueva Generación

IncidentNo1.–Tepalcatepec,Michoacán (May2022)

Theinitialincidenthighlightedina TikTok video segmentisthatofaCJNGcommandounit consistingoffourvehicleswithmountedand

dismountedenforcers(lightinfantry)beingattacked bya PolicíaCommunitariadeTepalacatepec /CU weaponizeddronethatbombardedtheunitwithtwo bomblets.Whilenotimmediatelyapparent,avideo surveillancedroneisalsopresentduringtheincident. Thevideosegmentis1:00:18secondslong,withthe segmentoftheattackuntilthepointthattheinitial vehiclemovingbeing8.566seconds.Thetimefrom whichtheobservationdroneleavesitsstationto pursuethevehiclesuntiltheendofthevideois 50.876seconds.Thevideodocumentsthedropping oftwoexplosivebombletsnexttotheCJNG vehiclesandtheirhastywithdrawalfromtherural roadwheretheywereparked.Atthemomentofthe bombings,twoofthevehicleshadtheirdoorsopen withcartelpersonnelspreadoutinsidethecabs, intheopencargobays(fghtingboxes),and dismountedfromthevehicles.Thesurveillancedrone thenvideosthemayhemthatensuesasthe dismountedcartelmembers(wearingtacticalgear) scrambletogetintothevehiclesastheybeginto driveawaywithincreasingspeed.Thedronethen pullsbackonthecamerazoomcuttinginandoutwith itscameralensasitmonitorsthefeeingCJNGforces astheyspeeddowntheruralroadwayuntilthevideo cutsout.

Who: PolicíaCommunitariadeTepalacatepec (TepalacatepecCommunityPolice)/ CártelesUnidos (CU;UnitedCartels)attackon CárteldeJaliscoNueva Generación (CJNG;JaliscoNewGenerationCartel).

What: Adronebombardmentofacommando unitoffourCJNGvehicles(twoofwhichappearto containarmoredopenfghtingboxes)withnumerous mountedanddismountedcartelenforcerspresent.

When: DuringthedaylighthoursofMay2022onor priortoFridaythe20th.

Where: Onastretchofruralroadbyfarmfeldsin theregionofthemunicipalityofTepalcatepec, Michoacán.

Why: TheTepalacatepecCommunityPolice/CU areinaviolentconfictwiththeCJNGwhoare attemptingtoforciblyexpandintotheareatoexpand theirillicitnarcoticstraffckingandassociated activities.

IncidentNo1.OriginalCJNGCommandoDroneBombardmentVideoPostingat Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Polic%C3%ADa-Estatal-Fuerza-Rural-Tepalcatepec-314620905363876.Videolinktothe TikTok Postinghasbeenremovedfromthatsite.

IncidentNo2.–Tepalcatepec,Michoacán (May2022)

Thesecondincidenthighlightedina TikTok video segmentisthatofaCJNGobservationpostbeing bombardedbyaTepalcatepecCommunityPolice/CU weaponizeddronethoughinmediaandblogreports thetargetedposthasbeenmisidentifedasa “laboratorioclandestinodedrogassintéticas” (syntheticclandestinedruglaboratory).[2] Onceagain, whilenotimmediatelyapparent,avideosurveillance droneisalsopresentduringtheincident.Thevideo segmentoftheattackis12.37secondslongwith additionaleditingofrepeatfootageandslow-motion cutsfordramaticeffect.Thepropertimesequence showsatop-downviewoftheobservationpostwhich

slowlypansoutastwodroneexplosivebombletsare droppeduponit.Onebombletdetonatesinsidethe structurewhiletheotherdetonatesnexttoit.One individualisliterallyblownoutoftheimprovised structure(atthe1-2o’clockposition)whileanother thenscootsontheirrearend(atthe6o’clockposition) awayfromit.Bothcartelindividuals(onewithoutashirt andonewithateeshirt)areclearlyinjuredfromthe detonations.

Who: PolicíaCommunitariadeTepalacatepec (TepalacatepecCommunityPolice)/ CártelesUnidos (CU;UnitedCartels)attackon CárteldeJaliscoNueva Generación (CJNG;JaliscoNewGenerationCartel).

What: AdronebombardmentofahillsideCJNG observationpost.

When: DuringthedaylighthoursofMay2022onor priortoFridaythe20th.

Where: Inanundisclosedruralhillsidelocationin theregionofthemunicipalityofTepalcatepec, Michoacán.

Why: TheTepalacatepecCommunityPolice/CUare inaviolentconfictwiththeCJNGwhoareattempting toforciblyexpandintotheareatoexpandtheirillicit narcoticstraffckingandassociatedactivities.

AttackMethodology

Theattackstrategyandprotocolthatwasusedinboth attackswasidentical.Analysisofallofthevideoframes producedbythedronemountedcamerasduringboth incidentsindicatesthattherearetwodronespresent overtheprimarygroundtargetduringeachattack.One droneisoverfyingthetargetanddeliveringitsexplosive payload.Theseconddronehasarrivedjustaheadof thearmeddroneandishoveringoverthetargetforthe primarypurposeofprovidingrealtimeoperationaland recordvideooftheincident.Thesetwodroneswillbe identifedinthereferencephotosanddiagramsas No.1(attack)andNo.2(observation),respectively.

IncidentNo2.CJNG ObservationPost

DroneBombardment Video. Original TikTok Posting Removed;Reposted onVariousSocialand NewsMedia.

ANALYSISOFTHEDRONEBOMBARDMENT ATTACKTTPS

ThedroneattackthatoccurredinTepalcatepecagainst thegroupofCJNGtrucksnearthefarmfeldsandthe attackonthetarpaulincoveredhillsideobservation postareverysimilarintechniqueofattackand equipmentusedandtheyappeartohavebeen executedbythesameoperators.Thereisadifference, however,betweenthetwoattacks.Theattackonthe truck(commando)groupappearstohavebeenarapid responsefollowingthedetectionofthevehiclesand personnelintheareainwhichtheywerelocated.The attackthatoccurredontheobservationpost, however,appearstobewellplannedinadvance ofthetargetengagement.Bothoftheseattackshave beenfullyanalyzedtotheextentthatallthevideo evidenceallows.

Inbothincidents,theobservationdrone(Drone No.2)operatoriscoordinatingtheirfightplanwiththe attackdroneoperator;aplanthatwillplacethe observationdroneonstationwithitsforwardaxis perpendiculartotheattackdrone’spredictedfight path,butataslightlyloweraltitude.Thistechniquecan lightenthetaskloadontheattackdroneoperatorand cangivethemanadvancedviewofthetargetjust beforeengaging.Aprofleviewofthisstrategyis shownin:DiagramD-1;withanoverheadperspective in:DiagramD-2.

Thereaderwillnotethatthealtitudeperspectiveof thetrucksintheearlyframesofthevideofromthe No.2droneappeartoindicateastationaryaltitudeof approximately60-feetAGL(AboveGroundLevel); however,thisdroneisusingcamerazoom.TheNo.2 dronethathasthethreevehiclesinframeduringthe impactdetonationsiscloserto800-feetAGLorgreater basedupondetailedexaminationofthevideo.This altituderangewouldalsominimizeaudiblerotor signatureand/orvisualdetection.

Aspreviouslyreferencedabove,theplannedfight pathoftheattackdronewasgenerallyperpendicularto theaxisandataslightlyhigheraltitudethanthatofthe observationdrone.Ifweassumethattheverytopof thevideoframesshowingthegrounddetonationsison a North,or“0°”heading(referencepointonly),the attackdronesfightvectorcrossedtheNo.2drone’s positionat105°asitreleaseditspayload.Thisis baseduponthegroundpointofimpactofbomblets No.1andNo.2.

DiagramD-1

DiagramD-2

Thereisnotenoughvideoinformationtodetermine theprecisetimethattheNo.1dronereleasedits bomblets,howeverbombletNo.2impactedtheground 2.96-secondsfollowingNo.1.Thisindicatesthatboth bombletswereinfightatthesametimeforat approximatelyafoursecondperiod.Thefrstbomblet justmissedtheleadpickuptruckwithintheimmediate groupofthethreevehicles.Analysishasindicatedthat thesecondbombletimpactedtheground9.5-feetfrom thefrstdetonation;thepointofimpactoccurring

outsideofthevideoframe.PhotographP-1showsthe plottedimpactlocationofthesecondbomblet. Frame SequenceNo.1 alsoshowstheexactlocationof impactofbothbomblets.

Thedroneattacktechniqueonthehillside observationpostwasidenticaltotheoneusedinthe attackonthetruckconvoy.BombletNo.1impactedthe tarpaulinsurfaceclosetothecenter.Itappearsthat BombletNo.2hadananomalyinitsfnsectionwhich impartedconsiderabledrift,takingtheweaponoff

coursewhereitimpactedanareaofinclinedgroundin frontofthetentanddetonated(Frame:F-6).

Theexplosivethatiscontainedwithinthebomblets thatwereusedinboththeattackonthevehiclesand theattackontheobservationpostappears,inall respects,tobeblackpowder;thewhitesmoke signatureofwhichpresent.Blackpowderislikelythe onlypropellant/explosivepresentbaseduponthe observedspeedoftheshockfrontthatpropagatedat thetimeofdetonation;thiswouldincludetheblast pathologypresentfollowingthestrike.

Itisimportanttonotethatwhilethesebomblets appeartocontainonlyalow-explosive,analysis indicatesthattheexplosivewassubstantiallyconfned andeithercontainedinternalshrapnelorwasina casingthatwasdesignedtofragmentate.Bothofthe twoindividualsthatarebelievedtohavebeenwithin thetarpaulincoveredareaappeartohavebeen seriouslyinjuredfromblastand/orfragmentsfollowing thedetonations.Thesensitivityofthebomblet (contact)fuzeswassuchthatoneofthebomblets detonatedduringpenetrationofthevinyltarpaulin.The

amountoftarpaulinsurfacedepressedbefore detonationisestimatedtobeapproximately16-inches. ThismeansthattheNo.1bombletdeliveredanairburst withintheconfnedareaofthesite.Thiswouldhave beenastrongcontributingfactortotheinjuriesthat bothoftheknownoccupantssustained.Pleaserefer to: FrameSequenceNo.2 whichwillshowtheexact pointsofimpactforbothbomblets.

LessonsLearned

Theimportanttakeawayfromtheanalysisofthesetwo attacksisthattheywerebothtacticallysuccessful.In thefrstincident,itappearsthatthecartelresponsible hadasecuritysystemand/orsurveillanceoperationin placeintheareainwhichthevehiclesweredetected. Despitethefailuretoscoreadirecthitontheintruders, theirmessagewasclearlyreceivedasallofthe vehicleslefttheareaathigh-speedwhilebeing followedbytheobservationdrone.Thesecondattack thatoccurredontheobservationpost,althoughscoring onedirecthit,producedcasualties;andmadethe oppositionwellawarethatitwasnolongersafetohave

apresenceinthatareaunderthecurrentconditions. Additionally,eachdronebombardmentattackutilized twobomblets–thecarryingofmultiplebomblets, insteadofsolelyone,onaweaponizeddrone representsanotheremergingTTPforthecartels.

Mexicancartelbaseddroneattackshavebeen occurringatasteadyincreaseoverthelastfewyears. Commerciallyavailabledronesareconstantlybeing upgradedbythemanufacturerswithimproved performance.Alloftheattributesthatmakethesedrones desirableforcommercialpurposesalsomakethem widelyadaptableforparamilitarypurposes.Thisincludes GPSnavigation,extendedrange,way-pointdesignation, greaterpayloadcapability,andobstacleavoidance.

Lawenforcement(andmilitary)personnel,including agenciesthatareresponsiblefordiplomaticsecurity, shouldlookatthesetwoincidentswithinthecontextof arelevantcurrentthreatvectorwithrespecttospecial securityoperations.Whilesimilardroneattackshave recentlybeenobservedoutsideoftheCONUS,the incidentsthathavebeencoveredhererepresentnot onlyatrend,butacontinuingrefnementofasound attackstrategy.Theoperatorsthatcarriedoutbothof theaboveattacksusedaneffectiveapproachinorder toovercomeseveralinherentproblemsthatare normallyencounteredwhenusinganon-militarydrone toengagegroundtargetswithIEDs.Previousincidents indicatethatthecartelsaredevelopingandproducing signifcantlyimprovedIEDmunitionsandrelease mechanismsfordroneoperations.AnalysesoftheIED munitionsthatareconnectedwiththistrendindicate thatthecartelsarereceivingcompetentoutside technicalassistanceintheirdevelopment.Thisoutside assistancemayalsoincludetacticalfightoperations planning.Itisquiteclearthattheseoperatorshad spentaconsiderableamountoftimedrillingonthe attacktechniqueandprotocolthatwasusedinbothof theaboveincidents.

Therapidresponseandarrivalatthetargetsite wheretheCJNGtrucksweredetectedalsoindicates thattheoperatorswerefullypreparedwithfightready equipmentandpersonneluponreceivingthe information.Thetechniqueofusingaseconddroneon stationprovidesareal-timevideofeedoftheattack

andalsoprovidestheoperatorswithaclearand immediatedamageassessment (Similarcapabilities hadbeenobservedwhentheIslamicStatewere engagingintheirdroneandcombinedarmsoperations inIraqandSyriaduringthe2016-2017period).The strategicstationingofthisdroneataloweraltitudealso preventstheattackdronefrombeingcapturedonthe video;effectivelyconcealingthesize/modelof drone,detailsregardingthepayloads,therelease mechanisms,oradditionalexternalequipmentthat mayhaveprovidedanadvantagetotheoperators. ■

FURTHERREADING

RobertJ.BunkerandJohnP. Sullivan,Eds., CriminalDrone Evolution:CartelWeaponization ofAerialIEDs.ASmallWars Journal-ElCentroAnthology. Bloomington:Xlibris2021.

KEYWORDS

AerialBombardment; AutodefensasMichoacán; Bomblets; CárteldeJaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG; JaliscoNewGenerationCartel); CártelesUnidos (CU;UnitedCartels); PolicíaCommunitariade Tepalacatepec;Tactics,Techniques,andProcedures (TTPs);WeaponizedDrones.

ENDNOTES

[1]Itisstillunclearifthecarteldronebombardmentvideo clipsanalyzedwereoriginallypostedinone TikTok video ortwogivenhowtheyhavebeenrepurposedand repostedoncartel,affnity,andrelatedsocialmedia platformsandaccounts.

[2]Duetothepositioningofthemakeshiftstructure,itssize andorientationwhichwouldmakethetransferof precursorchemicalstoandfnishedproductfromthe locationdiffcult,andthelackofasecondaryexplosion,it isfarmoreplausiblethatthisisaCJNGobservationpost andnotasyntheticdruglab.

REFERENCES

“EnTikTokrevelanataqueaCJNGporla‘Policía CommunitariadeTepalacatepec.” ElDebate.21May 2022, https://www.debate.com.mx/policiacas/En-TikTokrevelan-ataque-a-CJNG-por-la-Policia-Comunitaria-deTepalcatepec-20220521-0144.html

“NarcosMichoacanosBombardeanaIntegrantesdel#CJNG VIDEOS.” ValorporTamaulipas. 22May2022, https:// www.valorportamaulipas.info/2022/05/narcosmichoacanos-bombardean.html

SolPrendido,“Tepalcatepec,Michoacán:TheJaliscoNew GenerationCartelIsAttackedWithDrones.” Borderland Beat. 22May2022, http://www.borderlandbeat.com/ 2022/05/tepalcatepec-michoacan-jalisco-new.html.

“DifundieronvideodelataquecondronesquerealizóelCJNG enTepalcatepec.” Infobae.25May2022, https:// www.infobae.com/america/mexico/2022/05/25/ difundieron-video-del-ataque-con-drones-que-realizo-elcjng-en-tepalcatepec/

ABOUTTHEAUTHORS

DavidA.Kuhn isanAssociatewith C/OFutures,LLC (www.cofutures.net) andanAssociatewith SmallWars Journal-ElCentro.Heisasubject matterexpertinanalysis,technical instruction,andterrorismresponse trainingrelatedtostandoff weaponry(MANPADS,threat, interdiction,aircraftsurvivability,et.al),infantry weapons,smallarms,IED/ VBIEDs,WMD,andother threatandalliedusetechnologies.Heispresentlythe principalofVTACTrainingSolutionsandhas career-longexperienceinsupportinggovernmental operationsandcorporateinitiativesinthefeldsof homelandsecurity,vulnerabilityassessment,technical operations,andprojectmanagement,withadditional focusandexpertiseinareasinvolvingfacilitythreat/risk assessments,underwateroperations,andvaried engineeringtechnologies.

Dr.RobertJ.Bunker istheDirector ofResearchandAnalysisofC/O Futures,LLC(www.cofutures.net) andaSeniorFellowwith Small WarsJournal-ElCentro.An internationalsecurityandcounterterrorismprofessional,hewas FuturistinResidenceatthe BehavioralScienceUnit(BSU)attheFederalBureau ofInvestigationAcademyinQuantico,VA,Minerva ChairattheStrategicStudiesInstitute(SSI)ofthe U.S.ArmyWarCollege,Carlisle,PA,andhastaughtat ClaremontGraduateUniversity,theUniversityof SouthernCalifornia,andwithotheruniversities. Dr.Bunkerholdsdegreesinthefeldsofhistory, anthropology-geography,socialscience,behavioral science,government,andpoliticalscienceand hastrainedextensivelyincounterterrorismand counternarcotics.Hehasdeliveredhundredsof presentations–includingU.S.congressionaltestimony –withwellover600publicationsacrossvariousfelds andformats.Email: docbunker@cofutures.net

USEOFIMPROVISEDLAND(ANTI-VEHICLE)MINES INMEXICANCRIMEWARS

ByRobertJ.Bunker,DavidA.Kuhn,andJohnP.Sullivan

C/OFutures,LLCand SmallWarsJournal-ElCentro

©Copyright2022

BACKGROUNDER

Asdiscussedinanearlierarticle(Counter-IED Report, Spring-Summer2021),theutilizationof ImprovisedExplosiveDevices(IEDs)andVehicle BorneImprovisedExplosiveDevices(VBIEDS)bythe Mexicancartelshasgonethroughtwohistorical phaseswithamorerecentthirdphasebeginningin August2016.Thatphase,takingplacebetweenthe CárteldeJaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG)andthe CárteldeSantaRosaLima (CSRL)inGuanajuato stateandlimitedsurroundingareas,hassincefully ebbedwiththeimplosionoftheCSRLsincethearrest ofitsleaderJoséAntonioYépezOrtiz(aka“ElMarro”) inlate2020.

Whatcannowbeconsideredanewfourthphaseof cartelIEDutilization(devoidofVBIEDs–oratleast anti-personnelbombsplacedincars)hasnowbegun sinceJanuary2021andispresentlyongoing.[1] This phaseprimarilyfocusesonimprovisedland(antivehicle)minedeploymentfordefensivepurposes relatedtosmallurbanenclavescontrolledbyacartel inordertohelpbluntanoffensivedrivebyanother cartelorMexicanFederalforces.Onceagain,the CárteldeJaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG)isatthe

centerofthisactivitybutthegeographicfocushas primarilyshiftedtoMichoacánstatewithanoutlier incident,notlinkedtoCJNG,takingplacein Tamaulipasstate.Inthisnewphase,anopposing cartelfaction CártelesUnidos (CU)–composedofa numberofsmallcartelsthathavebandedtogether againsttheaggressorCJNG–arealsoinvolvedin ImprovisedAnti-VehicleMine(IAVM)utilization, thoughnowapparentlytoamuchlesserextentthan CJNG.

HIGHLIGHTEDIMPROVISEDLANDMINE INCIDENTS

FiveincidentsofMexicancartelrelatedIAVM,use beginninginJanuary2021andextendinginto February2022,areprovidedbelow.Inadditionto thesefveincidents,aSeptember2021incidenthas beenmentioned,butnotconfrmed,inwhichaman steppedontoalandminedetonatingitwhilewalking onadirtroadinTepalcatepec,Michoacán.Giventhe circumstancesoftheincidentandthefactthatthe victimwaspulverized,itappearstobeanIAVMwith primitivefuzingthatdetonatedatanti-personnel

minelevelsofpressuresensitivity.Additionally,in November2021,asmallcraterwitharoundmetal plateinitwasobservedbyareporterinLomaBlanca, Michoacán.Localvillagersinformedthereporterthat alandminehaddetonatedinanareaknowntobe dominatedbythe CárteldeJaliscoNueva Generación (CJNG).Ametalplateinthisinstance wouldbeutilizedtodirecttheexplosiveforceofan improvisedminesituateduponitupward.Sporadic imageryofwhatappearstobeheavily‘mine damaged’civilianvehiclesandcartelImprovised ArmoredFightingVehicles(IAFVs)arealsoreadily evidentrelatedtocartelimprovisedlandmine deploymentinthecontestedareasofMichoacán, however,actualincidentsintimeandlocationcould notbefullyvetted.

IncidentNo1.–UndisclosedUrbanArea, Michoacán(2January2021)

Theinitialincidenttookplaceon2January2021 somewhereinanurbanareacontestedbetween CártelesUnidos (CU)andthe CárteldeJalisco NuevaGeneración (CJNG)inMichoacánstate, Mexico.Theincidentcaughton21secondsof nighttimesecuritycamerafootage(nosound)which showsaCJNGIAFVdrivingdownthestreetwhile takingsmallarmsfreandpossiblyrespondingwith smallarmsfresfromitsmountedinfantry compartment.AstheIAFVpassesthecenterofthe

securitycamerafootage,anexplosivedevice–presumedtobeaCUIAVM(ImprovisedAnti-Vehicle Mine)–isdetonatedinanoverwhelmingfashoflight. Thisimmediatelycausesfrestobreakoutonthe undersideofthevehicle,catchingitswheels/wheel wellsonfreasittravelsdowntheroadandoutofthe viewofthesecuritycamera.Intheoriginal Blogdel Narco articleposting,theimageofaCJNGIAFVis providedbutitcannotbepositivelyidentifedasthe onedamagedintheIAVMdetonation.Injuries(and/or fatalities)assumed.

Who: CártelesUnidos(CU)andCárteldeJalisco NuevaGeneración (CJNG).

What: Apurported CártelesUnidos (CU)IAVM detonatedanddestroyeda CárteldeJaliscoNueva Generación (CJNG)IAFVwhichranoveritwhile travellinginastreet.

When: On2January2021,duringnighttimehours, theincidentwascaughton21secondsofsecurity cameravideofootage.

Where: SomewhereinthestateofMichoacán whereCUandCJNGarecomingintoconfict.The locationhasnotbeendisclosedbutislikelyinthe greaterTepalcatepecandAguilillaregion.Itisan urbanareainwhichbusinesseswouldhavesecurity camerasposted.

Why: CUandCJNGareengagedinanongoing confict,withtheCJNGIAFVbeingtargetedbythe purportedCUimprovisedanti-vehiclemine.

IncidentNo2.–PeñaBlancaArea,Tamaulipas (5October2021)

Thesecondincidenttookplaceduringthemorningof 5October2021inComalesinTamaulipasstate, MexicoattheaccesspointforSantaRosalíade CamargoGasCollectionStation–aPemexfacility–ontheroadfromPeñaBlanca.Itischronicledinnews reportimageryinanumberofphotographsandina follow-onvideoshowingSEDENApersonnelburning theIEDinapileofbrushonthegravel/pavementarea oftheaccessroadtorenderitsafe(withit subsequentlydetonating).Thenewsreportsstate thataboobytrapwassaidtohavebeencreated, linkingponchallantas(roadspikes;caltrops)onthe highwaytoanactiveIED(composedofexplosive flledPVCpipeanda40mmgrenadenexttoit)hidden inthebushesafewmetersaway.Itwasspeculated thatsomeformoftrigger/detonationlink–suchasan electronicwire–wouldsendasignaltotheIEDonce avehiclepassedoverthe ponchallantas.Giventhe ongoingclashesbetweenthe CárteldelGolfo (CDG) andthe CárteldelNoreste (CDN),thepresumption existsthatonecartelwastargetingtheIAFVsofthe other,althoughothertargets–suchasSEDENAor Mexicanlawenforcementvehiclesorvehicles associatedwiththeGasCollectionStationitselfcould alsohavebeenthefocus.Theboobytrapwas discoveredbya SecretaríadelaDefensaNacional (SEDENA)convoymakingsecurityinspection

rounds.Itshouldbenotedthattheincident descriptionandtheimageryrelatedtotheactualIED (whichispoorquality)aresomewhatinvariance andthetriggering/ambushapproachistactically questionable.

Who: Huachicoleros (FuelThieves);Rivals Cártel delGolfo (Gulf;CDG)and CarteldelNoreste (Northeast;CDN).

What: AnIAVMcomposedofanexplosive-flled PVCtube–80centimeterslongby4inchesin diameter–withanattachedmeterlongfuze (electronic).A40mmgrenade(launchedfromaM203 orlikesystem)wassituatednexttothePVCtubefor possibleexplosiveboostingandfragmentation purposes.

When: DiscoveredbyaSEDENA(Ejército Mexicano;MexicanArmy)patrolduringthemorningof 5October2021.

Where: AccesspointtoSantaRosalíadeCamargo GasCollectionStation–aPemexfacility–whichison astretchofroadbetweenPeñaBlancaandComales ejdioinTamaulipas,Mexico.

Why: Theimmediateareahasbeenthesiteof ongoingIAFVengagementsbetweentheCDGand CDN.Thecartelforceshavewitnessedmany casualtiesandburnedoutIAFVsasaresultofthe clashes.Itisspeculatedthattheimprovisedantivehicleminemayhavebeenriggedasaboobytrapby oneofthecartelsagainsttheother.

IncidentNo.2.SEDENAPersonnelInvestigatingIncident Scene,5October2021.

Source:MartínJuárezTorres(@MartinJuarez64),Twitter.

IncidentNo.2.CloseUpofthePVCPipeFilledwith Explosives,5October2021.

Source:MartínJuárezTorres(@MartinJuarez64),Twitter.

IncidentNo3.–Apatzingán,Michoacán (31January2022)

Inthethirdincident,takingplaceonMonday,31 January2022atapproximately1030hours(10:30 am),aMexicanArmy(SEDENA)convoytravellingon adirtroadinaremoteareanearApatzingándrove overalandmine.Thevehiclewasreportedlya ‘SandCat’lightarmoredvehicle(LAV).Atleastone andpossiblyuptofourormoresoldiersweresaidto beinjured.Onesoldierlikelyhadseriousspine injuries.Theareawheretheincidentoccurredis reportedlyinterritorycontestedbythe Cártelde JaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG)andthe Cárteles Unidos (CU).Thedirectattackagainststateforces hasstrategicsignifcance.Theexactdetailsofthe targetingremainunderinvestigation,withthe detonationmethodundisclosed.TheIAVMmayhave possiblybeenammoniumnitratebased.Itisalso unknownifthe EjércitoMexicano (MexicanArmy) convoywasexplicitlytargetedorwhetherthetarget wasoneofthecompetingcartelscontestingthe proximateregion.

Who: CárteldeJaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG) or CártelesUnidos (CU).

What: Anundisclosedtypeofimprovisedlandmine whichdamagedaMexicanArmy(SEDENA)‘SandCat’ lightarmoredvehicle(LAV)andinjuredmultiple soldiers.Thetypeofexplosiveanddetonationmethod havenotbeendisclosed.

When: OnMonday,31January2022at approximately1030hours(10:30am).

Where: Onadirtroadinaremoteruralareawithlow hillsandscrubnearApatzingán,Michoacán.

Why: Whetherthetargetoftheattackwasan opposingcartel–eitherCJNGorCU–orifthetarget wereSEDENAorotherstatesecuritypersonnelis presentlyunknown.

IncidentNo4.–ElAguaje,Michoacán (12February2022)

ThefourthincidenttookplaceinthehamletofEl Aguaje,inbetweenTepalcatepecandAguililla, Michoacán.A79-year-oldfarmerdrovehistruckover alandmine(IAVM)thatdetonated,killinghimand

IncidentNo.3. EjércitoMexicano (MexicanArmy)Vehicle InvolvedinMineAttack,January2022.

Source:SEDENA.

injuringhis45-year-oldsonwhowasapassengerin thevehicle.Confictingreportsstatethatthefarmer steppedontotheminebutimageryofhisdamaged truckhasbeenreleased.Thefarmerwaseither arrivingatorleavingthefeldshewascultivating.The hamletisinacontestedregionwiththe Cártelde JaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG)or CártelesUnidos (CU)fghtingoverit,withLosViagrasasthelocalCU factionfghtingagainstCJNG.Whilethetypeof improvisedminewasnotreported,recentcartel designpatternssuggestthataPVCpipeflledwith explosivesandpressuresensitivefuzingmayhave beenutilized.Additionally,roundmetalplateand conicalmetalcapcomponentsforblastchanneling andfocusingmayhavebeenincorporatedintothe IEDdesign–asseenwithothermorerecentcartel IAVMs–butthisispresentlyspeculation.

Who: CárteldeJaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG) or CártelesUnidos (CU).

IncidentNo.4.DamagedPick-UpTruckthatDetonatedIVAMinElAguaje,Michoacán,February2022. Source:MexicanNewsMedia.

What: Alandmine(IAVM)ofunknowndesign;Likely PVCpipeflledwithexplosives;pressuresensitive fuzing.Speculativeroundmetalplateandconical metalcapcomponents.

When: OnSaturday12February2022.

Where: InthehamletofElAguaje,inbetween TepalcatepecandAguililla,Michoacán,byafarmer’s felds.

Why: Whetherthetargetoftheattackwasan opposingcartel–eitherCJNGorCU–orifthetarget wasSEDENAorotherstatesecuritypersonnelis presentlyunknown.Thefarmerandhisson,as civilians(non-combatants),werenottheintended targetofthelandmine.

Note: ThefeldjournalistIoanGrillowhofocuseson theMexicancartelshasmentionedthatanother incidenttookplaceinFebruary2022inMichoacán–presumablyintheTepalcatepecandAguilillaareaof operations–inwhichagroupofcowswereblownup byalandmine.Nospecifcdetailswereprovided.

IncidentNo5.–GreaterTepalcatepecand AguilillaRegion,Michoacán (Mid-February2022-EarlyApril2022)

Theffthincidentisrepresentativeofanongoing deminingcampaignundertakenbySEDENA(Ejército Mexicano;MexicanArmy)ExplosiveOrdnance Disposal(EOD)unitsandforceprotectionforces supportedattimesby SecretaríadeSeguridadPública deMichoacán (SSP–Michoacán)and Guardia Nacional (GN)personnel.Theongoingoperationtook placefrommid-February2022throughearlyApril2022 whenthisincidentoverviewwaswritten.Initialreports of250landmines/IAVMscleared(demined)bylate February2022havenowrisentoover500landmines/ IAVMspotentiallycleared(demined)byearlyApril 2022.AtleastfourIVAMdesignsareevidentinincident imagerywithmanymorevariationslikelygiventheir artisanal(improvised)nature.Atleastthreemore designexamplesexistinrelatedincidentimagerybut couldnotbefullyverifedforinclusionintheinitial

USEOFIMPROVISEDLAND(ANTI-VEHICLE)MINESINMEXICANCRIMEWARS

designnumber.The CárteldeJaliscoNueva Generación (CJNG)hasbeenidentifedastheprimary deployeroftheseimprovisedlandmines(IAVMs).

Who: CárteldeJaliscoNuevaGeneración (CJNG); Limited CártelesUnidos (CU)IAVMswerealsolikely present.

What: 250landmines/IAVMsinitiallycleared (demined)withmorerecentreportsofover500land mines/IAVMspotentiallycleared.

When: Thedeminingoperationwasongoingfrom mid-February2022andthroughearlyApril2022.

Where: GreaterTepalcatepecandAguilillaRegion; ClustersfoundinAguililla,asthefocusoftheconfict,

aswellasTepalcatepec,Buenavista,Coalcomán,and Tomatlán.

Why: CJNGisunderincreasingpressurefrom bothCUandlocaldefenseforcesattacks(either alliedorcompromisedbythatcartel),aswellas Mexicansecurityforcesoperationsdirectedatthe cartelconductedbySEDENA,GN,andSSP–Michoacán.AsCJNGfallsbackintoadefensive posturetoprotectthetownsandvillagesunderits control,itisresortingtoincreasinguseofIEDsand IAVMstoaugmentitsfxedfeldfortifcationsand staticandmobileresponseelements.

CURRENTPATTERNS&FUTUREPOTENTIALS

Intheaforementionedarticle(See Counter-IEDReport, Spring-Summer2021),itwasnotedthat“Anabsence oflandmines;neitherimprovisedormilitarygradeantipersonneloranti-vehicularlandmineshavebeenused bythecartelsinMexico”existed.Thenewfourthphase ofcartelIEDutilization–ausepatternthathad previouslybeenidentifedandwastobeexpected–hassincefullyalteredthatpreexistingpatternofillicit weaponryandtechnologyusebytheMexicancartels. PresentpatternsandinteractionsofthisfourthIEDuse phase–mostspecifcallyrelatedtoCJNG–withother Mexicancrimewarstrendsareasfollows:

•OverlapswithCJNGweaponizeddroneutilization (See Counter-IEDReport,Winter2021/22)related toIEDconstructionarereadilyapparentwhich suggeststhatthesameweaponeersareinvolvedin bothprograms.Thiscanbeviewedbycomparing thedistinctPeribán,Michoacán(2March2021) dronebombletfragmentationbodieswiththose recoveredatElAguaje,Michoacán(Mid-February 2022).Thesetwotownsareabout90kmbyroad fromoneanotherandbothwellwithinCJNG areaofoperations.Additionally,thegrowing sophisticationofthisweaponry–alongwith improvisedCJNGmortarsystemsrecoveredin September2021–suggestthatthecartelisgetting externalhelpinitsdesignsandproduction.Eithera keyindividualand/orasmallteamofindividuals havejoinedthecartelorarenowonitspayrollfor weaponryR&Dandartisanalfabricationpurposes.

•Unlikecartelweaponizeddroneusewhich graduallyproliferatedoveramulti-yearperiod

(fromOctober2017throughmid-late2021),IAVM deploymentwasunheardofpriortoJanuary2021 andbyFebruary2022wasinextensiveuseby CJNG.Weaponizeddronesprovedmorediffcult forthatcartelto‘workout’fromanacquisition, development,anddeploymentperspectivethan IEDs.GiventhegreatersimplicityofIEDsandthe facttheMexicancartelshavebeenutilizingthem offandonsincetheearly1990s,itisoflittle wonderthattheymassivelyproliferatedwithover 250(over500–ifrecentreportsareaccurate) individuallandmines(IVAMs)nowdeminedby SEDENAinthegreaterTepalcatepecandAguililla regionofMichoacán.

•Theintensityofcartelgroundcombatoperationsin Michoacánhasnowevolvedtothepointthatcartel offensivemobileunits(mountedinfantry)possess ImprovisedArmoredFightingVehicles(IAVFs)with .50cal.mainarmamentsand/ormediumand heavymachineguns;squadsofmenwithbody armor,helmets,andinfantrysmallarms(including launchedgrenades);anti-tankweapons(primarily RPGs);andIntelligence,Surveillance,and Reconnaissance(ISR)andweaponizeddrone capabilities.Onthedefensive,cartelpositionsmay nowutilize–inadditiontotherecentinclusionof anti-vehicularmines–interlockingfeldsoffre, primitivefeldfortifcationsandpillboxes,vehicle blockades,caltrops,earthenberms,anti-IAFV trenches,infantrysmallarmsandanti-tank weapons(primarilyRPGs),.50cal.anti-materiel/ sniperrifeoverwatch,andISRandweaponized dronecapabilities.

IncidentNo.5.ExplosiveDeviceRecoveredbyMexicanSecurityForcesinTepalcatepec,6April2022. Source:SSP-Michoacán.

ComparisonofFragmentationBodyofIEDsBuriedOutsideofElAguaje, AguilillaTownship,Michoacán,February2022withIEDBombletsSeized inPeribán,Michoacán,March2022.

Already,asaresultoftheseevolvingcartelground combatcapabilities,theMexicanArmy(SEDENA)is increasinglyfeldingitsforcesinMichoacánwithboth dedicatedEODunitsandanti-tankweaponsto supplementitsmountedinfantryelementswhichutilize lightarmoredvehiclesandweaponryincludingmedium andheavymachineguns.

FuturecartelIEDandIAVMpotentialsarepresently speculativegiventherapidlychangingnatureofthe confictinMichoacánstemmingfromCJNGaggression anditsshiftingfortunes.However,threefuture potentialsalreadyexist:

•Nomentionintheoffcialstatements,news reports,orsocialmediaexistswhichsuggestthat theIAVMsarebeingrandomlyboobytrappedwith

anadditionalmine(IED)placed underneaththem.Theexpectationisthat counter-deminingTactics,Techniques,and Procedures(TTPs)willbeimplementedby CJNGatsomepointifthishasnottaken placealready.GiventhatSEDENAEOD unitshaveonlyappearedwithinthelast twomonths,theCJNGleadershiphas likelynotyetrealizedtheutilityofthis counter-deminingTTP.

▪Itwouldmakeoperationalsensefor CJNGtodeployanti-personnellandmines inadditiontotheanti-vehicularones presentlybeingutilized.Thiswouldcreate additionalbarrierstocartelandFederal Mexicandismountedinfantryforces penetratingcarteldefensesandhelp createchannelingeffectsfordesignatedkill zones.ItwouldalsopotentiallymakeIAVM deminingoperationsmorecomplexfor EODunits–asanti-personnel(AP)mines couldbesituatedtoprotectthem.However, itispresentlyunknownifIAVMspossess anyformofpressurecalibrationfor detonationpurposes.Givenreportsofat leastonepersonandsomecowsbeing blownupbyimprovisedcartellandmines, theymaybesensitiveenoughtoalready befunctioningatAPminesensitivitylevels.

•ThefeldingofCJNGIAVMsisstillverymuchinits entrepreneurial(experimental)phaseaswitnessed withtheirearliershiftinweaponizeddroneutilization frompointdetonation(onetimedroneuse)to standoffbombardment(multiple-droneuse) capabilities.ThevariousCJNGIAVMsdesigns currentlybeingproducedareartisanal,likelyutilizing differentexplosivemixtures,andwithtriggering mechanismsderivedfrompressureactivation,cell phone(and/orradiosignal),andpossiblybinary chemicalreactionmethods(asreported).The expectationisthatsomebasicIAVMdesign(s)may becomestandardizedorthecartelwillatsomepoint simplyattempttobringinandutilizeforeignmade militarygradelandminesinstead.

ItistooearlytotellifthefourthphaseofcartelIED utilizationwillcontinuewellintothefutureorcould possiblyendsoon.AsseeninpastMexicancartel weaponryandtechnologyusepatterns,however,once military(andparamilitary)hardwaresuchasIAFVs, .50cal.anti-materielrifes,anti-personnelcarbombs, andweaponizeddronesaredeployedtheydonot completelydisappear.Instead,aswehavewitnessed overandoveragain,theyhaveaverybadhabitof comingbackwithavengeancesomeyearslater inwhathasincreasinglybecomenever-ending Mexicancrimewars.■

FURTHERREADING

RobertJ.BunkerandJohn P.Sullivan,Eds.,Illicit TacticalProgress:Mexican CartelTacticalNotes20132020.Bloomington:Xlibris 2021.

ANNEX

ENDNOTES

1.Aone-offincidenttakingplaceinDecember2021linkedto a CártelPueblosUnidos prisonbreakinTula,Hidalgohas alsobeennoted.VariousIEDs/VBIEDsandamodifed LPG(LiquefedPetroleumGas)transporttruckusedfor gaterammingwerecomponentsoftheoperation.See DanielWeiszArgomedo,NathanP.Jones,JohnP. Sullivan,andRobertJ.Bunker,“MexicanCartelStrategic NoteNo.33:PueblosUnidosLaunchSophisticatedPrison BreakAllegedlyUsing CochesBomba (CarBombs)or IEDs.” SmallWarsJournal.20December2021.

REFERENCES

Incidentoverviewsandcontextweredirectlydrawn fromsomeofthefollowingresources:

RobertJ.BunkerandJohnP.Sullivan, CartelCarBombingsin Mexico.CarlisleBarracks:USArmyWarCollege, StrategicStudiesInstitute,August2013:1-71.

RobertJ.Bunker,JohnP.Sullivan,DavidA.Kuhn,andAlma Keshavarz,“UseofIEDsandVBIEDsinMexicanCrime Wars.” Counter-IEDReport.Spring/Summer2021:63-73

RobertJ.Bunker,“ImprovisedAnti-VehicleMine(IAVM)I&Win Mexico.” C/OFuturesCartelResearchNoteSeries Claremont,CA:14October2021:1-10.

JohnP.SullivanandRobertJ.Bunker,“MexicanCartel StrategicNoteNo.34:Anti-VehicleMineTargeting SEDENAConvoybetweenTepalcatepecandAguililla, Michoacán.” SmallWarsJournal.16February2022:1-7.

ABOUTTHEAUTHORS

Dr.RobertJ.Bunker istheDirector ofResearchandAnalysisofC/O Futures,LLC(www.cofutures.net) andaSeniorFellowwithSmallWars Journal-ElCentro.Aninternational securityandcounterterrorism professional,hewasFuturistin ResidenceattheBehavioralScience Unit(BSU)attheFederalBureauofInvestigation AcademyinQuantico,VA,MinervaChairattheStrategic StudiesInstitute(SSI)oftheU.S.ArmyWarCollege, Carlisle,PA,andhastaughtatClaremontGraduate University,theUniversityofSouthernCalifornia,andwith otheruniversities.Dr.Bunkerholdsdegreesinthefelds ofhistory,anthropology-geography,socialscience, behavioralscience,government,andpoliticalscience

andhastrainedextensivelyincounterterrorismand counternarcotics.Hehasdeliveredhundredsof presentations–includingU.S.congressionaltestimony –withwellover600publicationsacrossvariousfelds andformats.Email: docbunker@cofutures.net

DavidA.Kuhn isanAssociatewith C/OFutures,LLC(www.cofutures.net) andanAssociatewith SmallWars Journal-ElCentro.Heisasubject matterexpertinanalysis,technical instruction,andterrorismresponse trainingrelatedtostandoff weaponry(MANPADS,threat, interdiction,aircraftsurvivability,et.al),infantry weapons,smallarms,IED/ VBIEDs,WMD,andother threatandalliedusetechnologies.Heispresentlythe principalofVTACTrainingSolutionsandhascareerlongexperienceinsupportinggovernmental operationsandcorporateinitiativesinthefeldsof homelandsecurity,vulnerabilityassessment,technical operations,andprojectmanagement,withadditional focusandexpertiseinareasinvolvingfacilitythreat/risk assessments,underwateroperations,andvaried engineeringtechnologies.

Dr.JohnP.Sullivan isaSenior Fellowwith SmallWarsJournal-El Centro andanAssociatewithC/O Futures,LLC(www.cofutures.net). Hewasacareerpoliceoffcerandis anhonorablyretiredlieutenant withtheLosAngelesSheriff’s Department,specializinginemergencyoperations,transitpolicing,counterterrorism, CBRNresponse,andintelligence.Heisaninstructor withtheUSCPriceSafeCommunitiesInstituteandhas aresearchfocusontheimpactoftransnational organizedcrimeonsovereigntyinMexicoandother countries.Dr.SullivanholdsaB.A.inGovernment,M.A. inUrbanAffairsandPolicyAnalysis,andaPh.D.in InformationandKnowledgeSociety.Hehashundredsof publicationsandnumerousbookspublishedascoauthorandco-editor.