ISSN2050-6732(Print)
ISSN2050-6740(Online)
Counter-IEDReport Winter2022/23 OPPORTUNITIESFORC-IEDCONCEPTUALEVOLUTION INLINEWITHEMERGINGTHREATS INNOVATION:KEYTOCOUNTERINGIEDTHREATS ANINSIGHTINTOIEDs INAFGHANISTAN THETHREATFROMBELOW:MINEANDIEDPROTECTIONANDDETECTION ETACSPROJECT–EODTRAININGINVIRTUALREALITY MOTORCYCLEVBIEDATTACKSTARGETING SECURITYFORCES,COLOMBIA USVIEDs INTHEBLACKSEA: WHENTHEIMPROVISEDBECOMESSTATEOFTHEART UKRAINIANDIGITALSCHOOL: ONLINETRAININGSUPPORTFORTOMORROW’STHREATS
Garrett’s AML (All Metals Locator) detector is trusted in many countries for mines, UXO, and IED searches. Low metal content targets to large metallic items are detected in ALL soils and shallow water with full detection capability.
Your quest is our mission Advance technology and highly versatile Optimum Detection
Uncover the Unseen™
Theopinionsandviewsexpressedintheeditorialcontentinthisreportare thoseoftheauthorsaloneanddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsofany organisationwithwhichtheymaybeassociated.Materialinadvertisements andpromotionalfeaturesmaybeconsideredtorepresenttheviewsofthe advertisersandpromoters.Theviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisreport donotnecessarilyexpresstheviewsofthepublisher.Whileeverycarehas beentakeninthepreparationofthereport,thepublisherisnotresponsible forsuchopinionsandviewsorforanyinaccuraciesinthearticles.
©2023.Theentirecontentsofthispublicationareprotectedbycopyright. Fulldetailsareavailablefromthepublisher.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthis publicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystemortransmittedin anyformorbyanymeans,electronic,mechanicalphotocopying,recording orotherwise,withoutthepriorpermissionofthecopyrightowner.
3 counteriedreport.com
MEDIAPARTNERS
REPORTCONTRIBUTORS
Counter-IEDReport PublishedbyDeltaBusinessMediaLimited 3rdfoor,207RegentStreet London,W1B3HH UnitedKingdom
Tel:+44(0)2071932303 info@deltabusinessmedia.com www.counteriedreport.com ISSN2050-6732(Print) ISSN2050-6740(Online)
CONTENTS IFC GARRETTMETALDETECTORS 5ICORTECHNOLOGY 7 AUNAV 9SENSYS 10 NOVODIGITALRADIOGRAPHY 11FOREWORD ByRobHyde-Bales,ConsultingEditor,Counter-IEDReport 14 SAFEPROGROUPINC. 15OPPORTUNITIESFORC-IEDCONCEPTUALEVOLUTION INLINEWITHEMERGINGTHREATS ByLieutenantColonelJoseMRufas,ChiefofAttacktheNetworksBranch, C-IEDCentreofExcellence 22BCBINTERNATIONALLTD 223DX-RAYLTD 4 COUNTER-IEDREPORT,Winter2022/23 CONTENTS
SERVING EOD/IEDD MILITARY AND POLICE WORLDWIDE! NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND OWNERSHIP, PROPARMS LIMITED HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY SUPPLIER OF WATERJET DISRUPTERS IN CANADA FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. DEPLOYED IN OVER 80 COUNTRIES, EOD EXPERTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD DEPEND ON THE NEUTREX DISRUPTER'S EASE-OF-USE, RELIABILITY, AND QUICK DEPLOYMENT TO RENDER SAFE IED THREATS OF ANY SIZE. SMART, STRONG, AFFORDABLE INTRODUCING OUR MOST ADVANCED ROBOT YET! KEY ADVANCED FEATURES: • IP MESH RADIOS TRANSMIT CRISP, CLEAR IMAGES • PRE-SET POSITIONS • REAL-TIME 3D AVATAR POSITIONING • IMPROVED LASERS AND INTEGRATED LIDAR • TOUCHSCREEN CCU INTERFACE • PRECISE CONTROL SAME ICOR RELIABILITY, AFFORDABILITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE Tel:+1.450.658.5207 | info@proparms.com | proparms.com Tel:+1.450.658.5207 | info@proparms.com | proparms.com
ByColonelHRNaiduGade–IndianArmyVeteran
ByAndrewHowellMBE,ManagingDirector,
23INNOVATION:KEYTOCOUNTERINGIEDTHREATS
31IDEX2023 32 IDEF2023 33ANINSIGHTINTOIEDs INAFGHANISTAN
ByShafUllahAhmadzai,programdepartmentlead attheMineClearancePlanningAgency(MCPA) 38 DSEIJAPAN2023 39THETHREATFROMBELOW: MINEANDIEDPROTECTIONANDDETECTION
6
CONTENTS
BCBInternationalLtd 45DEFENSEANDSECURITY2023 46POLSECURE2023
COUNTER-IEDREPORT,Winter2022/23 CONTENTS
47ETACSPROJECT–EODTRAININGINVIRTUALREALITY
BySecondLieutenantDavidSlatkovsky,EODOffcer ofEODTechnologiesDepartment,NATOEODCOE 51EDEX 2023 5211TH ANNUALJOINTCIVIL&DODCBRNSYMPOSIUM 53MOTORCYCLEVBIEDATTACKSTARGETINGSECURITYFORCES,COLOMBIA
ByChiefSuperintendent(ret.)MichaelCardash 68BEHAVIOURALANALYSIS2023 69USVIEDs INTHEBLACKSEA:WHENTHEIMPROVISED
BECOMESSTATEOFTHEART
ByChiefWarrantOffcer(CWO)AngelPeiro, militaryC-IEDanalyst,NATO 78UKRAINIANDIGITALSCHOOL: ONLINETRAININGSUPPORTFORTOMORROW’STHREATS
ByLieutenantColonelJoseMRufas,ChiefofAttacktheNetworksBranch, C-IEDCentreofExcellence OBCSCANNAMSCLTD
8 COUNTER-IEDREPORT,Winter2022/23
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
ByRobHyde-Bales,ConsultingEditor,Counter-IEDReport
Themostdestabilisingglobaleventof2022has beenthewarinUkraineanditsconsequenteffect ontheglobaleconomy.On24FebruaryPresident PutinorderedRussiantroopstoinvadeUkrainefrom theNorthandtheEast.Nearly12monthslaterRussian troopsremainboggeddownintheUkrainianwinter. AfterinitialgainsintheEastandtheSouth,Russian troopshavebeenpushedbackbystalwartUkrainian resistancebackedbymodernweaponryandtraining fromtheWest–inparticular,fromtheUSandtheUK.
Thehighintensitynatureoftheconfict,the presenceofforeignfghtersandtheabundanceof deadlyweapons,includingMANPADs,carryan additionalriskofthemfallingintothehandsof extremistsandcriminalgangs. Thereisalsoagrowing concernabouttheproliferationofknowledge,TTPs andimproved,battlefeld-testedimprovisedweapons suchasexplosive-ladenUAVs/ABIEDs.
On29October2022,Ukraineconductedanattack ontheRussianBlackSeaFleetbaseinCrimea, openinganewchapterinasymmetricnavalwarfareby usingsophisticatedunmannedsurfacevessels(USV) assuicidedrones,theimplicationsofwhichhavebeen expertlyexaminedinthiseditionbyChiefWarrant Offcer(CWO)AngelPeiro,NATOC-IEDAnalyst. Thereisalsoacontinuingtrendofcarbombingsand theuseofIEDstargetingpro-Russiancivilianoffcials inRussian-occupiedterritoriesofUkraine.Thiscomes ontopofthegrowingcontaminationofSouthernand EasternUkrainewithexplosiveremnantsofwar (ERW)andboth,anti-personnel(AP)andanti-vehicle
(AV)landmines.LandmineMonitoron17November 2022inareportidentifed277civiliancasualtiesof minesandexplosiveremnantsofwar(ERW)inthe frstninemonthsof2022.InDecember,atleastsix Ukrainianbombdisposaltechnicianslosttheirlives duringclearanceoperationsinDonetskand Khersonregions.
InAfghanistan,thesecuritysituationhas deterioratedinmajorcitiesinthepastmonths. Targetedattacksandsuicidebombingshaveoccurred acrossthecountrytakingthelivesofsecurityoffcials andcivilians.Accordingtomediareports,ISKP (ISIS-K)knownasIslamicStateinKhorasanProvince, hasincreaseditsattackssincetheTalibanregained powerinAugust2021.
InAfrica,carbombsandsuicidebombingattacks continuetotakeplaceinNigeria,BurkinaFaso, Somalia,MaliandKenyawithdevastatingeffectson thecivilianpopulation.
InTurkeyatleasteightpeoplewerekilledand81 othersinjuredwhenanexplosionhitIstanbul’spopular pedestrianIstiklalAvenueon13November2022. Nogrouphasclaimedresponsibility,however,Turkish offcialsbelieveKurdishseparatistsfromthe KurdistanWorker’sParty(PKK)andtheDemocratic UnionParty(PYD)weremostlikelybehindthe deadlybombattack.
InIraq,explosiveviolencecontinuestargetingthe country'ssecurityforces,andexplosiveremnantsof wararestilltakingthelivesofinnocentpeople andchildren.
FOREWORD
11 counteriedreport.com
Yemenisbelievedtobeoneofthemostheavily contaminatedcountriesintheworld.Thecontamination consistsofmines,improvisedmines,abandoned explosiveordnance,unexplodedordnance,improvised explosivedevices,clustermunitions,etc.Analysisof IEDsfoundthat70%ofthemareminesofan improvisednature.
Onthewidersecurityfront,thereweresome positivedevelopments.InDecemberMohammed Masud,aformerLibyanintelligenceoperative accusedofpreparingthebombthatbroughtdown PanAmFlight103overLockerbie,Scotlandin1988, appearedincourtinWashingtonDCafterbeing transferredfromLibya.Finally,on1December2022, thedeathofthethirdISISleaderAbuBakralBaghdadiwasannouncedbyISIS.
Inhisthought-provokingarticle–“Opportunitiesfor C-IEDConceptualEvolutioninLinewithEmerging Threats”,LieutenantColonelJoseMRufus,Chiefof AttacktheNetworksBranchattheNATOC-IED CentreofExcellenceexplainshowCounter-IEDis evolvingwithinNATOaftertheendofNATO involvementinconfictsinAfghanistanandIraq. DuringthoseconfictsthethreepillarsofC-IED comprisedPreparetheForce,AttacktheNetworks andDefeattheDevice.Timelyandactionable intelligencewaskeytoAttacktheNetworks.The authorstatesthattheWestandRussiadidnotenjoy comprehensivesuccessduringthe45yearsofwars inAfghanistanandIraq.Therewerevariousreasons forthis,butonewastheoveralllackofintelligencedrivenCounter-IED.Intelligenceisalwaysa potentiallycontroversialissuewhendealingwithIOs orNGOs.Requisiteneutralityfortheseorganisations meansthattheydonotwishtoparticipatein intelligenceoperationswithforeignmilitaries. However,giventheprodigiousamountsofopensourcereal-timeinformationandanalysisavailable, forexample,onthewarinUkraine,thisshouldnot poseaproblemtoday.Theauthornoteswithregret thereductioninC-IEDstaffatvariousNATOand nationalheadquarters.Finally,herecommends variouschangestothecurrentCounter-IEDconcept designedtomakeitmorerelevanttocounterthe
asymmetricthreatsposedbyvariousstateandnonstateactorstoday.
Inamostinformativeandthought-provokingarticle, ShafUllahAhmadzai,headoftheprogramme departmentintheMineClearancePlanningAgency (MCPA)inKabulprovidesauniqueinsightfroma nationalperspectiveintodealingwithIEDs,andin particular,ImprovisedMines(IMs)intherecently proclaimedIslamicEmirateofAfghanistan.The countryisheavilycontaminatedwithExplosive Ordnance(EO)astheresultofsomefortyyearsof confict.LandmineMonitordescribesAfghanistanas thecountrywiththehighestnumberofcivilian casualtiesduetoEO.HistoricallytheMineAction ProgrammeinAfghanistanfacedgravechallengesin respectofIMclearance,duetoitspoliticalneutrality. However,asaresultofthechangeofgovernmentin 2021afterthewithdrawalofWesternForcesfromthe country,MAPAhasgainedaccesstopreviously inaccessibleareasforIMclearance.Sadly,thisnewfoundMineActionfreedomofactionhascoincided withasignifcantreductioninMineActionfundingdue tointernationalsanctionsonthecurrentgovernment. Theauthordescribesthedifferentactivationmethods forIMsandtheexplosivesusedintheirmanufacture. MCPAiscurrentlyundertakingthesurveyand clearanceoftheMaidanWardakportionoftheKabul toKandaharhighway.Hedescribestwofamilieswho haveeachlostsonstoIMsonthehighway.Finally,he describesthegroundsignsthathelptoindicatethe presenceofIMs.ItisclearthatthisIMclearanceis vitaltotherecoveryandregenerationofAfghanistan, anditistobehopedthatinternationalfundingwillbe forthcomingtopermitthis.
AndrewHowellMBEistheManagingDirectorof BCBInternationalLtd,acompanythathasbeen providingprotectiveandsurvivalequipmenttothe militarysince1854–animpressivetrackrecordby anymeasure.InhistimelyarticleonMineandIED ProtectionandDetection,heemphasisesthe continuingneedforsuchequipmentagainst backgroundofthehorrifcinjuriescausedbythese ubiquitousdevices.TheexperienceoftheAlliesin Afghanistaninthisrespectledtoanurgent
FOREWORD 12 COUNTER-IEDREPORT,Winter2022/23
operationalrequirementforindustrytodevisea protectiveundergarmentthatbalancesprotection, comfortandmobility.Thecallresultedintwo protectiveundergarments–onesilk-basedandthe othercalledBCB‘BlastBoxers®’whichincorporate anewspecialsoftandmalleableballisticformof Kevlar®.Astheresultofextensivecomparisontrials conductedattheendof2022andcertifedbyan independentballisticblasttestfacility,itwasfoundthe BCB‘BlastBoxers®’shortsoffersuperiorballistic protectiontothesilkversion.Theauthorgoesonto describealightweightman-portabledetectionkitfor minesandIEDs,theBCBPersonal(IEDand)Mine ExtractionKit–PMEK–specifcallydesignedfor dismountedinfantry.Itweighsjust400gramsand neatlyftsinaMOLLE(ModularLightweightLoad CarryingEquipment)beltpouch.Manythousandsof thePMEKshavebeenorderedbyMODUKaspartof itsnon-lethalassistanceprogrammetoUkraine. Inhisinformativearticle–“ETACSProject–EOD TraininginVirtualReality”2LtDavidSlatkovskyofthe NATOEODCentreofExcellenceinSlovakia describeshowtheCentrehasdesignedand developedanEOD/IEDDVR/XRTrainingandCombat SupportKit–ETACS.ThisKitisdesignedtoimprove thetrainingofEODoperativesandtosupportthemin thecompletionoftheirtasks.TheProjectisdivided intotwomainparts–VirtualRealityTrainingandan ExtendedRealityCombatSupportKit.Thesetwo elementsinconjunctionwithanewEODatabasewill formasupportinginstrumentintheformofadvanced softwarewhichwillbenefttheoveralltasksofEOD operatorsonthesuccessfulcompletionoftheProject. TheauthordescribesindetailVirtualRealityTraining insupportofEODtrainingandhowitcomplements andbeneftstraditionaltraining.Theseinclude,inter alia,limitlesstimeandarea,removalofmarginfor error,regularchangesandupdatestoscenarios designedspecifcallytoimproveoperators'skillsand removerepetitionandpredictabilityfromtraining.The Projecthasbeenrunningfortenmonths.Further plansfortheVRTrainingKitincludefulldevelopment oftheBetaVersionoftheKitthisyearwiththeaimof completingtheentireKitbytheendof2024.VRisstill
arelativelynewtechnology.Whilstitwillneverfully replacehands-onpracticaltraining,itssuccesscan provideabasisforthedevelopmentofothernew technologies–AugmentedReality,AIandSensor FusiondesignedtoimproveEODtrainingand subsequentoperationsinthefeld. ■
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.
FOREWORD 13 counteriedreport.com
14 COUNTER-IEDREPORT,Winter2022/23 CALLFORPAPERS COUNTER-IEDREPORT Counter-IEDReporteditorialteaminvitesgovernmentbodies,armypersonnel,researchers,industryexperts tocontributetheirarticles,casestudies,whitepaperstothereport. Wearelookingfortheoreticalandpracticebasednon-promotionaleditorialcontributions.* Spring/Summer2023editiondeadlines: Abstractsubmission:28February2023 Fullarticlesubmissiondeadline:14April2023 Autumn2023editiondeadlines: Abstractsubmission:21July2023 Fullarticlesubmissiondeadline:11September2023 Winter2023/24editiondeadlines: Abstractsubmission:11November2023 Fullarticlesubmissiondeadline:11December2023 Abstractsandarticlesshouldbesubmittedbyemailto: editorial@deltabusinessmedia.com *Feesapplyforpublicationofarticlessubmittedbycommercialandfor-proftorganisations.Allarticlesaresubjecttoeditor’sapproval. Subscribeat: www.counteriedreport.com/subscribe +17864094030 info@safeprogroup.com www.safeprogroup.com Ballistics,EOD/UXO, HumanitarianDemining ServingtheneedsofGovernmentand MilitaryCustomersforOveraDecade PROTECTINGTHOSEWHOPROTECTUSALL
AMORPHOUS SILICON PORTABLE X-RAY SYSTEM For more infomation call +44 (0) 1509 817400 or visit www.3dx-ray.com Fully integrated amorphous silicon system c/w 150kV generator High penetration with sub-millimetre resolution Powerful image enhancement and analysis tools (ISC) www.bcbin.com www.ngoaid.com contains: 30cm PRODDER DAY & NIGHT ROUTE MARKER SETS TRIPWIRE FEELER AIDE MEMOIRE PMEK MAKE SAFE Personal Mine Extraction Kit MOLLE Pouch with one-hand clip-release for easy access to contents External seams Kevlar shields perineal area Mesh for cool comfort Extended inner leg protects femo Fit the best Fire Retardant Central Ballistic 2-layer Kevlar™ Lightweight (180 gm) Anti-Odour and Fast Drying Femoral artery protection External seams for comfort Low thermal burden best for : BALLISTIC PROTECTION HYGIENE & COMFORT protecting: Groin Perineal area Femoral arteries Central zone remains intact after extensive Blast Tests. Following extensive trials and independent tests, BCB designed Blast Boxers™ with Kevlar to protect the crucial zones of the groin and upper leg.
SCANSILC 1824 SCANSILC 2430 SCANSILC 3643 SCANSILC 8686 SCANXSCOUT-CRX-rayImagePlates SCANSILC-LightweightRuggedisedDRX-rayDetectors •Remotecontrolof yourx-raysourcewithoutreapproachusinganysizedScansilcDRx-raypanel. •Scansilcreducestimeontarget-Minimalcomponentsandsetup-getthejobdonequicklyande ciently. •Reliablewhenitcounts-Rugged,Resilient,Dust,DirtandWaterResistantinallconditions. •Flexibleplates–Truegroundlevelimaging.Slideplatesintotightareas andwraparoundobjects. •Fastgrabandgo-nocablesorwi-fitoconnect-sonodropouts. •Combinemultipleplatesingrid formattox-raylargetargets. X-raysystemsdesigned andbuilt forBombTechs DualDRandCRX-rayImagersinOneX-raysystem - Extendingyourx-raycapabilityacrossmultiplemissions. SCANX SCOUT Onecontrollerrunsboth CRandDRplates
To receive a full PDF version of the Counter-IED Report, please complete the online form.
Please provide a valid corporate, government or academic email address. We reserve the right to reject any application for a subscription at our discretion.
If you have any questions please email to: editorial@deltabusinessmedia.com
www.counteriedreport.com
Unique content │ Global reach │ In print and online
Counter-IED Report published by Delta Business Media Limited 3rd foor, 207 Regent Street, London, W1B 3HH, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7193 2303 info@deltabusinessmedia.com www.deltabusinessmedia.com
REQUEST
OF THE
YOUR COPY
COUNTER-IED REPORT
