The full-scale deployment of the 'new mine detector,' capable of detecting even wooden box mines, has begun.

Hanwha Systems (CEO Eoh Seong-cheol) announced on the 30th that it has successfully completed mass production of the "new mine detector" contracted with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration last October and has begun deliveries. The initial shipment of the new mine detectors has been supplied to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and a total of approximately 1,600 units are scheduled to be sequentially deployed in the future.

According to the international non-governmental organization International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), it is estimated that approximately 2 million landmines are buried in South Korea's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), giving it the highest density of landmines in the world. In particular, ankle mines are made of plastic and weigh less than 100g, making them highly susceptible to being washed away during heavy rains, while powerful wooden box mines float on water and are easily lost during floods, posing a threat to public safety.

The new mine detector can detect non-metal mines, such as wooden box mines and ankle mines, which could not be found by existing mine detectors, through a combined sensor of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Metal Detector (MD). In addition, detection performance has been dramatically improved, with a significantly higher detection rate and a lower false alarm rate, as underwater detection and the ability to visualize detected mines are possible.

It is highly versatile as it can be used appropriately in three operational modes, such as MD single detection, GPR single detection, and combined detection, and is ergonomically designed to significantly reduce operational fatigue, allowing for long-term detection. It is expected that this will enable faster and more efficient mine removal operations in future military mine removal operations.

Park Hyuk, Head of Surveillance and Reconnaissance Business at Hanwha Systems, stated, “We hope that through this deployment, our military will be able to safely conduct operations free from the dangers of landmines and contribute to the prevention of landmine accidents. In particular, the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), a core technology of the new landmine detector, possesses superior performance and excellent price competitiveness compared to advanced countries overseas, so we will actively explore export opportunities.”

In addition, Park Hyuk, Head of Surveillance and Reconnaissance Business Division, stated, “Hanwha Systems will also actively participate in humanitarian activities for mine removal for countries suffering from landmines.”