Army to procure 4,000 ‘top-attack’ mines

The Indian Army has projected a requirement for 4,000 advanced “top-attack” anti-tank mines to enhance its capability to deal with hostile armoured vehicles. These mines are used to protect important areas, act as a deterrent against aggression and slow down enemy advances.

Advertisement

The employment of several types of anti-tank mines has been witnessed during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war by both the sides, especially along major roads and logistical corridors.

India last laid mines during Operation Parakram in 2001-02, in the wake of a terrorist attack on Parliament, when large tracts along the International Border with Pakistan were heavily mined.

“Top-attack mines are a crucial element of modern defensive warfare, offering effective area denial capabilities and battlefield superiority against advancing mechanised forces,” a request for information issued by the Ministry of Defence on June 5 states. They are more effective against modern tanks with improved frontal armour and can also be deployed in various terrains.

At present, mechanised warfare is not only the domain of plains and deserts as in areas like Punjab and Rajasthan but has also become a part of high-altitude operations in Ladakh and the North-East.

The Indian Army has deployed T-90 and T-72 tanks, along with BMP-2 mechanised infantry combat vehicles, in high-altitude areas along the Line of Actual Control. China also has armoured and mechanised elements on its side.

These mines are advanced land-based munitions designed to engage and neutralise armoured vehicles by targeting their most vulnerable area — armour plates on top of the vehicles. Unlike traditional bottom-attack mines that detonate upon direct contact with the vehicle’s tracks or wheels, top-attack mines utilise advanced sensors and warhead technology to strike from above.

The top attack mines employ a combination of seismic, acoustic and infrared sensors to detect and classify approaching targets. Upon detection, the mine launches a sub-munition or Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) in a near-vertical trajectory to penetrate the vehicle’s top armour. Some variants use explosively generated shock waves or shaped charges to achieve the same effect.

Offering increased lethality and versatility, these are capable of defeating heavily armoured vehicles that may be resistant to traditional underbelly mines. These can be deployed in a variety of terrains, including open fields, forests, deserts and urban environments.

Advanced mines can also be activated, deactivated or self-destructed remotely to reduce the risk of civilian casualties after cessation of hostilities. After Operation Parakram, the army spent months in de-mining operations, manually removing mines.