Successful Swiss Product For The Disposal Of Mines And Duds: Denmark And Austria Are Also Buying From SM
The SM Swiss Ammunition Enterprise Corp. (domiciled in Thun) is successful all over Europe with its innovative new product for the destruction of anti-personnel mines and duds. About 3000 systems are currently being delivered to the Danish armed forces for the SFOR mission in Bosnia and for the KFOR in Kosovo. Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg have also ordered first deliveries. Evaluations in Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and France are nearing completion.
In the field of Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, SM has developed a considerable know-how over the years. The EOD20 system, which can be used to destroy anti-personnel mines and duds, is based on the shaped-charge principle. Except for a copper insert and the explosive charge, its components are made of plastic.
Extremely safe By means of simple, contact-free handling procedures, the ignition devices and explosive charges of mines and duds can be separated without any explosion. Because only deflagration or possibly pulverization occurs, the effects on the environment are kept to a minimum. This "Low-Order-Method" decisively reduces the danger to operating personnel and makes it possible to safely destroy mines in built-up areas as well. The EOD20 system also offers an excellent price/performance ratio. It reduces the cost for the destruction of an anti-personnel mine to about 20 Swiss Francs, whereas other products/procedures cost more than 100 Swiss Francs.
Extensive technical trials have confirmed that SM's mine disposal system, which fits into a small case, offers a reliability of more than 95%.
No transportation restrictions SM's EOD products comply with international standards and may be exported all over the world. Due to their high safety, EOD20 and EOD33 have been classified as industrial products by the authorities responsible for the transportation of dangerous goods. Therefore they can be shipped by regular airfreight to operational areas such as Bosnia, Kosovo or Laos. They are not subject to the Federal Law on the Export of War Materials or to the Federal Law on the Control of Dual-Use Goods.
SM offers the foreign customers of EOD products (exclusively governments, armed forces and international organizations) as well as the Swiss Fortification Guard and the Service for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (Kamibes) a training programme for EOD experts. Courses for the correct handling of the mine destruction system last merely two days.
Swiss Armed Forces using EOD for humanitarian missions Of course the Swiss Armed Forces have also recognized the advantages of the EOD product range for mine disposal and for the destruction of duds and have placed orders accordingly.
So far 40 countries, with Switzerland in the lead, have ratified the international ban on anti-personnel mines. With its EOD products SM is making an important contribution to the destruction of the banned anti-personnel mines. International organizations estimate that there are still roughly 100 million anti-personnel mines buried in the fields and paddies of 70 countries throughout the world.
Four SM products for general mine disposal In addition to the EOD20 for the destruction of anti-personnel mines and duds, SM also manufactures the EOD33 for the destruction of mines and duds which have been buried or are under water, the EOD67 for mines with electronic locks and the EOD190 to destroy bombs down to a depth of 4.5 metres.
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Successful Swiss Product For The Disposal Of Mines And Duds: Denmark And Austria Are Also Buying From SM
