[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense video] The Tank to Remove Frontline Mines Is

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Interest in bounding mines is rising as the frontline General Outpost (GOP) barbed wire fence has been washed away and North Korea has released water from the Hwanggang Dam without permission. There are concerns that mines buried underground may have been displaced due to the increased water levels.

The military authorities estimate that the minefield area in the southern side of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as well as the northern and southern sides of the Civilian Control Line (CCL), is about 40 times the size of Yeouido. This area contains bounding mines as well as M-14 and M-16 anti-personnel mines, and M-15 anti-tank mines, with an estimated total of 2 million mines.

Various countries are actively developing technologies for mine clearance. A research team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel discovered a method to detect mines using fluorescent bacteria. This method involves bacteria that emit light when they come into contact with explosives, enabling mine detection. At the State University of New York, a technology was developed that uses drones equipped with infrared cameras to locate mines.

Domestically, LG Uplus has already developed technology to remotely control excavators by applying 5G, the fifth-generation mobile communication technology. Using the 5G network offers the advantage of fast response times for excavators. An obstacle-clearing tank, which removes mines and various obstacles at the front lines and secures maneuvering routes, is also planned to be introduced.

In the domestic defense industry, Hyundai Rotem recently received an additional production contract worth 300 billion KRW for obstacle-clearing tanks from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. This is the second contract following the 236.6 billion KRW order in November last year. The obstacle-clearing tanks ordered this time are scheduled to be delivered to the military by 2023.

The obstacle-clearing tank is equipment being introduced domestically for the first time. It removes mines and various obstacles at the front lines and secures maneuvering routes. Using a mine-clearing plow at the front of the vehicle, it overturns the soil to expose buried mines, thereby removing anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. It can also remove magnetic influence mines by emitting a magnetic field. The excavator arm mounted on top of the vehicle can be equipped with excavation kits or crushers to remove various obstacles such as trenches and barriers. The excavator arm can also be used as a crane to move heavy equipment. Additionally, one passage marking device equipped with a marker rod launcher for safe zone indication is installed on each rear side of the vehicle to secure safe maneuvering routes for military personnel.

The obstacle-clearing tank was developed over about four years after Hyundai Rotem was selected as the system developer in 2014. The obstacle-clearing tanks ordered by Hyundai Rotem last year are currently in production and are expected to be operational by December this year.