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also investigate the tactics, techniques and procedures to make best use of these advanced systems.

Although our investments in countermine technologies and concepts are to meet a military requirement, we recognize that they may also be useful in doing other tasks such as detecting and clearing unexploded ordnance. In 1994, with the strong support of Congress, we initiated a project to evaluate innovative systems and technologies for the detection, identification and remediation of buried unexploded ordnance. The project was managed by the U.S. Army Environmental Center while the U.S. Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division provided the technical lead. A 120 acre controlled test site containing inert ordnance, nonordnance and debris was established. Airborne, ground vehicle and man-portable systems were demonstrated. Sensor technologies evaluated included magnetometer, ground penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, and infrared sensors. Target detection software and remediation technologies were evaluated. The results confirmed the difficulty of detecting and identifying buried ordnance and mines with acceptable false alarms rates. The tests also reinforced the importance of testing proposed hardware and software before committing to acquisition.

Research in advanced sensors, sensor fusion and automatic target recognition is critical to improving our ability to detect and identify buried metallic and nonmetallic mines with fewer false alarms. We are also investing in research to improve our understanding of the physics of mine detection and neutralization. We recently released a Broad Agency Announcement, soliciting proposals from the university community for multi-disciplinary research to produce new technologies for remote, reliable detection and neutralization of mines during combat and operationsother-than-war. It is anticipated that this will result in at least one award of $1 million/year for up to five years.

We are working closely with our allies in this area through the NATO Defense Research Group and our partners in The Technical Cooperation Program, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. I am the United States' representative to both bodies.

The Department's program for the development, demonstration and transition of technology to counter the land and littoral mine threat is summarized in the DoD Detailed Technology Area Plan for Conventional Weapons, dated May 5, 1995. Working with the Joint Staff, Services and Agencies and building on the results of the ongoing Joint Warfighting Capability Assessments, we are also preparing the first Joint Warfighting Science and Technology Plan. contains our resource-constrained strategy and plan for providing the future joint warfighter with the technology and

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advanced systems to achieve twelve selected joint warfighting objectives. One of these is joint countermine.

In response to HR 104-131, dated 1 June 1995, we are in the process of selecting an existing organization to become the Department of Defense Executive Agent for area ordnance clearing. Our plans in this area are being strengthened as you requested. We are improving the focus and coordination of this important program with initiatives like Defense Science and Technology Reliance, our Technology Area Plan and the new Joint Warfighting Science and Technology Plan. Increased funding in this area since 1994 has allowed us to enhance the demonstration and evaluation of promising technologies from industrial and government laboratories. Research funding will sponsor this Nation's universities to seek breakthrough technologies to make faster progress.

Your continued interest and support for our countermine science and technology efforts are very much appreciated and essential to accelerating solutions to our forces.

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Mr. WELDON. Dr. Milton.

STATEMENT OF A. FENNER MILTON, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

Mr. MILTON. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittees, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss the Army's countermine science and technology program.

I am Fenner Milton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology. It is a privilege for me to represent the Army leadership and the men and women of the Army science and technology community.

I will provide an overview, while Brigadier General Beauchamp of the Army Materiel Command will provide programmatic details. Brigadier General Beauchamp is leading a technology integration cell that is examining the applicability of all levels of countermine technology to our challenges in Bosnia. He will discuss the support we are providing our forces in the field.

Because mine warfare is a casualty producer at all levels of conflict, we have protected our countermine science and technology investment in this era of declining resources. Our S&T investment includes research, exploratory development, and advanced development, including a joint advanced concept technology demonstration [ACTD], mentioned earlier.

Land countermining is one of the most difficult challenges we face. We firmly believe that no single technology will provide the answer. Only a system-to-system solution will provide adequate capability, and to that end, the Army has taken steps to concentrate its technology development efforts at the Countermine Division of the Communications-Electronics Command, where an integrated, mission-oriented approach is being being pursued. This avoids compartmentalization by technology.

The Countermine Division is part of the Night Vision and Electronics Sensors Directorate, so that this group has easy access to the most sophisticated sensor technology for the particularly important mine detection and neutralization problem.

Mr. MILTON. Dr. David Heberlein, who heads this division, is here today to help answer questions. Other Army research and development centers and laboratories are called upon to provide component technology support.

The Countermine Division is, however, responsible for determining the applicability of these technologies, those provided by other services and agencies and those developed specifically for demining and unexploded ordnance removal. This is important because at the basic technology level these efforts often overlap.

Dr. Heberlein is also responsible for the execution of the congressional special interest program and technology applicable to humanitarian demining in support of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for special operations and low intensity conflict. Mr. John Reingruber of that organization is here today to discuss humanitarian demining.

The Army S&T program in land countermine has always been closely coupled to that of the U.S. Marine Corps. This has involved a number of jointly funded efforts and joint technology evaluations.

For example, the Army and the Marine Corps have jointly funded the off-route smart mine clearance advanced technology demonstration of ATD and the vehicle-mounted mine detection ATD. Because of these circumstances, the Army is particularly pleased to participate in the joint countermine ACTD, which is seeking a system-ofsystems countermine solution and ties us even more closely to the Marine Corps and Navy efforts.

Within the countermine technology program, we also closely track the unexploded ordnance efforts being pursued by the Army Environmental Center in conjunction with the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division. All this work is for quite a different application than mine detection and neutralization. Our close interaction assures that promising unexploded Ordnance [UXO] technology can be evaluated in the countermine program.

The Army S&T program has been particularly successful in that it has transitioned important technologies to the project manager, mines, countermines, and demolitions for formal development.

For example, the stand-off airborne detection advanced technology demonstration [ATD] transitioned in fiscal year 1992 to the Airborne Stand-off Mine Detection System Demonstration and Validation of Demval Program.

Also, the explosive neutralization technology demonstration transitioned in August 1994 to the explosive stand-off minefield breacher demval program. In fiscal year 1996, the successful demonstration of the hand-held close-in man-portable mine detection system transitioned to the hand-held stand-off mine detection system demonstration validation program.

The transition of these successful technology efforts into formal development will enable the Army to put significant new capabilities in the hands of our operational forces.

I am joined here today by my colleague Brigadier General Beauchamp of the Army Materiel Command. He will provide additional information on the countermine during the course of our testimony this afternoon.

Thank you very much.

[The prepared statement of Mr. Milton follows:]

RECORD VERSION

STATEMENT BY

DR. A. FENNER MILTON

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY

FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ACQUISITION

BEFORE THE

MILITARY PROCUREMENT SUBCOMMITTEE

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ARMY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

RESPONSE TO THE LANDMINE THREAT IN BOSNIA
24 JANUARY 1996

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

UNTIL RELEASED

BY THE HOUSE

COMMITTEE

ON NATIONAL SECURITY

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