Countermine System

The Countermine System (CMS), also known as Venom Darts, Venom Penetrators[1] and GBU-61,[2] is an anti-land-mine system consisting of chemical or explosive projectiles released from modified GPS-guided bombs. The darts are used to detonate or deactivate land mines in beach and surf zones. The system was developed by the United States (U.S.) Navy and Boeing at an initial cost of US$153-million. The CMS is expected to be field ready by 2016.[3][4][5][6]

Diagram depicting the operation of the Countermine system

Description

The CMS typically consists of 4,000.[3] 50-caliber darts containing the chemical Diethylenetriamine (DETA)[1] or a small amount of explosive, carried by 2,000-pound (910 kg) GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) systems. The tungsten tipped darts, each about 5.9 inches (15 cm) long,[4][5] are clustered in multiple layers within a 7-foot (2.1 m) tubular canister contained within the JDAM.[7]

The system uses data from the Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) system to locate surf zone mines. This positional data is used to program JDAM Assault Breaching System (JABS) bombs, which are dropped over mine fields from Air Force or Navy aircraft from an altitude of about 1,000 feet (300 m).[8] The JDAM bombs, identical in form to BLU-109 bombs,[9] are equipped with a corkscrew mechanism that releases the inner canister with a rotational motion, causing panels to separate and the payload of darts to deploy in a 60 foot (18 m) diameter circular pattern. The darts penetrate the soil, or water and sand, at a velocity of 300 metres (980 ft) per second. The darts, capable of penetrating more than 10 feet (3.0 m) of water or 2 feet (0.61 m) of sand, either detonate or deactivate the land mines. Remaining unactivated darts eventually become inert.[7]

Each CMS unit has a projected cost of $300,000 to $360,000.[2]

Development

The system was developed by the U.S. Office of Naval Research to address the problem of 70 million hidden land mines, some which have killed or maimed more than 13,000 U.S. soldiers since 2001.[7][9] In 2008, the Naval Surface Warfare Center awarded a $153-million contract to Boeing to design and develop the system, along with a project team of defense contractors including Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Nammo-Talley Defense Systems. The CMS is expected to be field operational by 2016.[3][10][11]

See also

References
  1. Hill, Brandon (January 25, 2007). "U.S. Navy Announces "Venom Penetrator" Countermine Projectile". DailyTech. Archived from the original on October 4, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  2. "CMS - Countermine System". US Navy. October 31, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  3. Hanlon, Mike (August 10, 2008). "JDAM Countermine System shoots 4000 darts". Gizmag. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  4. David Hambling (January 18, 2007). "Cloud of darts could neutralise buried landmines". New Scientist. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  5. Hambling, David (October 1, 2009). "4 High-Tech Weapons That Clear Underwater Naval Mines Read more: 4 High-Tech Weapons That Clear Underwater Naval Mines". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  6. White, Charlie (January 24, 2007). "Serious Weapons: Navy Uses Poison Darts to Neutralize Surf Mines". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  7. Carey, Bjorn (April 23, 2007). "Beach Cleanup". Popular Science. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  8. Kreisher, Otto (April 2013). "In the Surf Zone". Seapower. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  9. "The Countermine System (CMS) GBU-61" (PDF). Fact Sheet. US Navy - Program Executive Office, Littoral Combat Ships. August 15, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  10. "Boeing Awarded $153 Million U.S. Navy Contract for Countermine System". Boeing. August 8, 2008. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  11. "Boeing Develops JDAM Based Countermine Weapon for the US Navy". Defense Update. August 10, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
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