IED - improvised explosive device or improvised explosive disaster?
January 5, 2008About 30% of fatalities of coalition forces in Iraq are attributed to IED (Improvised Explosive Devices). An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. They may be partially comprised of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery round, attached to a detonating mechanism.
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An IED is a bomb fabricated in an improvised manner incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemicals and designed to destroy or incapacitate personnel or vehicles. In some cases, IEDs are used to distract, disrupt, or delay an opposing force, facilitating another type of attack. IEDs may incorporate military or commercially-sourced explosives, and often combine both types, or they may otherwise be made with home made explosives (HME). An IED typically consists of an explosive charge (potentially assisted by a booster charge), a detonator, and an initiation system, which is a mechanism that initiates the electrical charge that sets off the device. An IED designed for use against armored targets such as personnel carriers or tanks will also include some form of armor penetrator, typically consisting of a copper rod or cone, propelled by the shaped explosive load. IEDs are extremely diverse in design, and may contain many types of initiators, detonators, penetrators, and explosive loads. Antipersonnel IEDs typically also contain shrapnel-generating objects such as nails or ball bearings (known as shipyard confetti after the metal waste found in the shipyards of Belfast). IEDs are triggered by various methods, including remote control, infra-red or magnetic triggers, pressure-sensitive bars or trip wires. In some cases, multiple IEDs are wired together in a daisy-chain, to attack a convoy of vehicles spread out along a roadway.
A new market study of HSRC 2008-2012 Global Counter-IED Markets and Technologies Forecast analyzes impact of IED on change of strategy in non-combatant countries which are mostly unprepared to deal with IED threat. According to HSRC forecast the aggregate 2008 - 2012 counter IED market will reach staggering level of $23.2 Billion. Where are the opportunities in Counter IED market?
- Prediction
- Detection
- Prevention
- Neutralization and Destruction
- Mitigation
Categories: Homeland Security |
January 5th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
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