Research

• Studies for Countering Biological Terrorism
• Project Guardian
• Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Detection Study
• Shaping Science and Technology to Serve National Security
• Transitioning DARPA Technologies
• Far Future Warfare
• Division Internships
• Dual Use Research Project
• International Space Station Commercialization Study
• MARITECH Review
• Out of the Box and Into the Future
• Technology Reinvestment Project Development Study
• Information Infrastructure
• Alternatives to Anti-Personnel Landmines

Alternatives to Anti-Personnel Landmines

Anti-Personnel Land Mine Alternatives Task Force
In reaffirming and clarifying the U.S. position on anti-personnel land mines (APL), the President stated that: the United States' goal is to end use of APL outside of Korea (including self-destructing APL) by 2003; alternatives are to be ready to replace APL in Korea by 2006; and mixed systems of self-destructing anti-personnel (AP) submunitions and anti-vehicle (AV) submunitions are necessary to meet security requirements. Accordingly, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) has directed the Department of Defense (DoD) to undertake an aggressive program to achieve alternatives; this is the long-term goal also known as "Track 2."

The Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is responsible for executing "Track 2," focusing on the program objective of developing and implementing alternatives to meet the requirements currently met by APL (non-self-destructing and self-destructing), particularly in Korea. DARPA was directed by the Undersecretary of Defense to form a task force to review potential technology alternatives to anti-personnel land mines. This task force will investigate maneuver denial approaches that may be more innovative and/or take advantage of advanced technologies.

The Potomac Institute has been asked by DARPA to assist the DoD in its efforts to find alternatives to anti-personnel land mines. The Institute has been working with DARPA to form and conduct this task force. The task force's initial report is due to the Undersecretary on 14 November 1997