Smart mine
Encyclopedia
Smart mine refers to a number of next-generation land mine
designs being developed by military
forces around the world. These include mines designed to self-destruct or self-deactivate at the end of a conflict, and mines designed to re-deploy themselves if its neighbors detonate or are removed. The development of smart mines began as a response to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines as a way of reducing non-combatant
and civilian
injury.
Critics claim that new technology is unreliable, and that the perception of a "safe mine" will lead to increased deployment of land mines in future conflicts. Current guidelines allow for a 10% failure rate, leaving a significant number of mines to pose a threat. Additionally, in the case of self-destructing mines, civilians still are at risk of injury when the mine self-destructs and are denied access to land which has been mined.
As mines are inherently non-discriminate weapons even smart mines may injure civilians during a time of war. Many critics believe this to be unacceptable under international law. The human security
paradigm is outspoken on the issue of the reduction in the use of land mines due to the extremely individual nature of their impact - a facet that is ignored by traditional security concerns which focus on military and state level security issues.
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
designs being developed by military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
forces around the world. These include mines designed to self-destruct or self-deactivate at the end of a conflict, and mines designed to re-deploy themselves if its neighbors detonate or are removed. The development of smart mines began as a response to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines as a way of reducing non-combatant
Non-combatant
Non-combatant is a term in the law of war describing civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities, as well as persons such as medical personnel and military chaplains who are regular soldiers but are protected because of their function as well as soldiers who are hors de combat ; that is, sick,...
and civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
injury.
Critics claim that new technology is unreliable, and that the perception of a "safe mine" will lead to increased deployment of land mines in future conflicts. Current guidelines allow for a 10% failure rate, leaving a significant number of mines to pose a threat. Additionally, in the case of self-destructing mines, civilians still are at risk of injury when the mine self-destructs and are denied access to land which has been mined.
As mines are inherently non-discriminate weapons even smart mines may injure civilians during a time of war. Many critics believe this to be unacceptable under international law. The human security
Human security
Human security is an emerging paradigm for understanding global vulnerabilities whose proponents challenge the traditional notion of national security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be the individual rather than the state...
paradigm is outspoken on the issue of the reduction in the use of land mines due to the extremely individual nature of their impact - a facet that is ignored by traditional security concerns which focus on military and state level security issues.