LIGHT-WEIGHT FIELD PORTABLE REMOTE EXPLOSIVES DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM

THE PROPOSED PROJECT ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR A SYSTEM TO DEPLOY EXPLOSIVES UNDERGROUND. THE SYSTEM WOULD BE BASED ON A GUIDED HORIZONTAL BORING TOOL CAPABLE OF MAKING EXCAVATIONS UP TO 400 FEET IN LENGTH AT DEPTHS UP TO 7 FEET. THE TOOL USES PRESSURIZED FLUID JETS TO CUT THROUGH A WIDE VARIETY OF SOIL TYPES. THE BORING TOOL COULD BE USED TO EITHER DROP AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AT A DESIRED LOCATION OR TO INSTALL A CONDUIT THAT COULD BE FILLED WITH PUMPABLE EXPLOSIVES. SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD HAVE SEVERAL BENEFITS OVER CONVENTIONAL EXPLOSIVESEMPLACEMENT TECHNIQUES. IT WOULD BE FASTER AND COULD EVENTUALLY BE FULLY AUTOMATED. IT ALSO WOULD OFFER SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED CONCEALMENT SINCE THE TUNNEL WOULD NOT BE VISIBLE IN THE SURFACE. THE GOAL OF THE WORK PROPOSED FOR PHASE I IS TO PROVIDE AN ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT TECHNOLOGY AS RELATED TO DEFENSE NEEDS AND TO IDENTIFY THE REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT AREAS FOR PHASE II.