Minimising the threat from IEDs

Subject : Science

Section: Defence

Concept :

On the 26th of April 2023, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast led to the death of about 10 security personnel in the Dantewada region in Chhattisgarh while they were on an anti-Maoist mission.
Again on the 5th of May, five soldiers were killed in a gunfight with militants in the Rajouri-Poonch sector of the Jammu division and before the gunfight broke out an explosive device was triggered.

About Improvised Explosive Device (IED):

IED is a type of unconventional explosive weapon that can take any form and be activated in a variety of ways.
IEDs are used by criminals, vandals, terrorists, suicide bombers, and insurgents.
Because they are improvised, IEDs can come in many forms, ranging from a small pipe bomb to a sophisticated device capable of causing massive damage and loss of life.
IEDs can be carried or delivered in a vehicle; carried, placed, or thrown by a person; delivered in a package; or concealed on the roadside.
The extent of damage caused by an IED depends on its size, construction, and placement and whether it incorporates a high explosive or propellant.
The term IED came into common usage during the Iraq War that began in 2003.

Elements of an IED:

It consists of a variety of components that include an initiator, switch, main charge, power source, and container.
IEDs may be surrounded by or packed with additional materials or “enhancements” such as nails, glass, or metal fragments designed to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled by the explosion.
An IED can be initiated by a variety of methods depending on the intended target.

Materials Used as Explosives in IEDs:

Many commonly available materials, such as fertilizer, gunpowder, and hydrogen peroxide, are used as explosive materials in IEDs.
Explosives contain fuel and an oxidizer, which provides the oxygen needed to sustain the reaction.