National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Office of International Affairs, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, Committee on Alternative Technologies to Replace Antipersonnel Landmines Alternative Technologies to Replace Antipersonnel Landmines

Annotation

This book examines potential technologies for replacing antipersonnel landmines by 2006, the U.S. target date for signing an international treaty banning these weapons. Alternative Technologies to Replace Antipersonnel Landmines emphasizes the role that technology can play to allow certain weapons to be used more selectively, reducing the danger to uninvolved civilians while improving the effectiveness of the U.S. military. Landmines are an important weapon in the U.S. militarys arsenal but the persistent variety can cause unintended casualties, to both civilians and friendly forces. New technologies could replace some, but not all, of the U.S. militarys antipersonnel landmines by 2006. In the period following 2006, emerging technologies might eliminate the landmine totally, while retaining the necessary functionalities that todays mines provide to the military.