Many details about the unique modern development of POM-3 "Medallion" remain secret, some of them were revealed by employees of the "Scientific Research Engineering Institute" (NIIII) in an interview with the media. The innovative ammunition reportedly combines all the "pluses" of its predecessors and is free from their shortcomings. Let's first remember about POM-1.
At the final stage of the Vietnam War, American troops began to use the latest BLU-42 / B anti-personnel mines. This weapon made it possible to carry out remote mining of the terrain using appropriate aviation systems and thereby impede the movement of the enemy. Despite all the technical tricks of the developers, these mines eventually became the trophies of the North Vietnamese troops, who soon handed them over to Soviet specialists. A few years later, a similar ammunition appeared in the arsenals of the Soviet engineering troops, designed for use in similar purposes.
The Scientific Research Engineering Institute was engaged in the creation of a new Soviet mine. This organization has developed a number of types of mines of various classes over several decades and continues to deal with this topic to this day. The project, which started in the seventies, received the designation POM-1 - "Anti-personnel fragmentation mine, the first." In this project, it was planned to apply some of the ideas peeped in the BLU-42 / B project, as well as develop them and introduce new proposals. The result of this was the emergence of a domestic mine with a relatively high efficiency.
The POM-1 mine received an original and non-standard design for its time. Its main elements are two hemispherical halves of the body, inside and outside of which there are various parts, including the undermining system and target sensors. At the base of the hemispheres there is a slight thickening, with which they are connected during assembly. In this case, the hemispheres are applied to each other, and the thickening is pulled together with a metal tape. In addition, several curved protrusions are provided on the outer surface of the housing. There are also several holes: for target sensors, fuse and other parts.
Mina POM-1 in the transport position. In the foreground is a crosspiece holding anchors. Photo Russianarms.ru
When assembled, the POM-1 product has a maximum diameter of 80.4 mm and weighs about 750 g. Such small dimensions make it possible to tightly stack such mines in existing remote mining containers and thereby increase the number of simultaneously installed ammunition.
During assembly, a block of special electrical equipment, made in the form of a cylindrical body with several protruding tubes. These tubes are installed in the corresponding holes in the body and ensure the operation of various parts and mechanisms. The space between the cylindrical block and the spherical body is filled with explosive. The POM-1 mine charge consists of 100 g of TNT.
Inside the cylindrical body of the explosive device and its tubes are a pyrotechnic retarder, a hydromechanical mechanism for long-range cocking, a centrifugal fuse, a fuse, etc. All this equipment ensures the correct operation of the mine after being ejected from the cassette and after falling to the ground.
Each of the body hemispheres has four holes used by the target sensor. As the latter, eight nylon threads 6 m long are used, laid in compact skeins. At one end, the threads are fixed in the body, at the second end, special cylindrical weight anchors with a complex-shaped plate on the outer end are attached. Anchors are located inside small tubular shafts with springs for ejection. In the transport position, the anchors are held by special curved X-shaped crosses, in the center of which a rod is attached. The latter, in turn, enters the central hole of the body hemisphere.
Mine scheme. Picture A-popov.livejournal.com
Special consideration is the fuse responsible for determining the impact on the mine and undermining the main charge. Mina POM-1 does not have any pull pins or other parts that are usually used with a tension target sensor. On the contrary, it was proposed to detonate with a significant change in the position of the mine, caused by the tension of the thread.
The basis of the target sensor installed inside the mine is a dielectric plastic case, inside of which there are two rings connected to the electrical system of the mine. Between the rings is a metal ball, on which another ring is put on. A change in the position of the ball is perceived by the "brain" of the mine as a sign of the presence of the enemy. This produces an explosion.
Shortly after the basic POM-1, a modified POM-1C appeared, distinguished by the presence of a self-liquidator. The latter, at the beginning of the work of the mine, begins the countdown and undermines the charge after a specified period of time. The operating time can be set from 1 to 40 hours.
POM-1 anti-personnel mines can only be installed using remote mining systems. Manual installation is not provided, which is due to some features of the operation of the mine mechanisms in the process of cocking and preparing for work. POM-1 mines are installed using unified KSO-1 cassettes, etc. products. Eight minutes are placed in such a cassette, after which it can be dropped from mining aircraft or loaded into ground launchers.
Mina in the cut. Photo Russianarms.ru
The number of mines ready for installation depends on the type of mining system used. For example, the VSM-1 helicopter mining complex includes 4 containers with 29 launchers for KSO-1 cassettes. Thus, one helicopter per flight can install up to 928 POM-1 mines. The order of mining, the size of the plots, etc. features of the helicopter operation are determined in accordance with the existing situation.
According to some reports, POM-1 mines can also be placed in small cargo air containers. The KMGU product holds 192 such mines and can be dropped by aircraft of various types. A similar method of mining was worked out and, possibly, was used in practice, but is not in the governing documents.
During the installation of a minefield with the help of POM-1 mines, a helicopter or a ground mining system throws cassettes with mines onto a given area. At a certain height, the cassettes open, after which the mines fall freely to the ground, and their explosive devices are cocked.
When the mine leaves the cassette, a special cord removes the pin from it. After that, the ammunition falls to the ground, rotating around its axis. Rotation is facilitated by curved protrusions on the outer surface of the housing. After removing the checks, the centrifugal fuse is unlocked and the pyrotechnic moderator is ignited. The retarder, burning out, releases the centrifugal fuse, which in the future does not allow the fuse to work and ensures the preparation of the mine for work.
Sectional diagram of ammunition. Picture A-popov.livejournal.com
The release of the centrifugal fuse leads to the unlocking of the crosses, which fly out to the sides and release the eight anchors of the target sensors. With the help of springs and centrifugal force, the anchors scatter to the sides and unwind the threads to their full length. In this form, the mine falls to the ground and stops rotating. Due to the stop of the mine, the centrifugal fuse closes the contacts of the fuse circuit, after which the mine is ready for operation. The complete process of preparing the POM-1 mine for work takes no more than 90 s.
When dropped in KSO-1 cassettes, eight POM-1 mines lie within an area up to 20 m long and 10 m wide. The length of the target sensor threads, which is 6 m, provides complete coverage of this area and some nearby area. The complex random interlacing of a large number of threads (64 threads in the case of 8 mines from one cassette) ensures reliable overlapping of the mining zone and makes it possible to guarantee the defeat of enemy manpower that has fallen into it.
When the fuse circuit is closed, the mine "remembers" the position of the rings and the fuse ball, and monitors its change. When exposed to one of the threads, the mine changes its position, as a result of which the ball is displaced and the circuits are closed or opened. At the same time, an undermining is performed.
POM-1 and POM-1C mines had a relatively small explosive charge - only 100 g. Targets are hit using a shock wave (at minimum distances) and a large number of hull fragments. The radius of continuous damage is 4 m. With increasing distances, the lethal effect of fragments may be reduced.
Anti-personnel mines of the POM-1 family have a limited lifespan. The operation of the electrical systems of the ammunition is provided by a small electric battery mounted in the explosive device. The battery charge is enough to work for 15 days. In the case of the POM-1C mine, the maximum operating time is set by the self-liquidator and does not exceed 40 hours. Thus, the self-destruction of the mine occurs several days before the battery runs out.
Diagram of the fuse position sensor. In the background, the initial position, in the foreground - before the explosion. Drawing Popmech.ru
POM-1 products are not equipped with special devices that make it difficult to remove or neutralize them. In addition, their design does not provide for the possibility of such procedures. It should also be noted that such anti-personnel mines pose a great danger in mine clearance. The mines scattered by the remote mining system are distributed over a relatively large area, and also cover it with their threads. As a result, the search and destruction of mines becomes a very difficult task.
Detection of mines using metal detectors or probes is almost impossible due to the threads they throw out, which, if hooked, can cause one or more ammunition to explode. Other methods of neutralization also cannot provide the required efficiency and safety. Passages in fields with POM-1 mines can be made using elongated charges or the passage of armored vehicles with a sufficient level of protection.
Full-scale production of POM-1 and POM-1C mines started in the second half of the seventies and continued until about the mid-eighties. During testing and operation, these ammunition showed interesting characteristics, but not without problems. POM-1 mines had a number of characteristic shortcomings, which eventually led to the abandonment of their use.
The main problem of the POM-1 product was the relatively small explosive charge. A mine equipped with 100 g of TNT has an efficiency at the level of hand grenades and is seriously inferior to other products of this class. It should be noted that this drawback can be compensated by the high density of mining and the theoretical possibility of simultaneously detonating several mines when their threads are touched with overlapping affected areas.
Dropping crosses, ejection of anchors and threads. Drawing Popmech.ru
The second problem is the insufficient service life and high requirements for storage conditions. To maintain the required characteristics, POM-1 mines should not be stored in the cold, which may require heated warehouses. Even under ideal conditions, batteries will self-discharge over time and cannot be replaced. Because of this, the shelf life of anti-personnel mines does not exceed 5 years, but in practice it can be much less.
Another drawback of the POM-1 mine is associated with the target sensor with a closed circuit and a set of threads. On their threads, mines can hang on trees, bushes or tall grass and in this position move into a combat position. In this case, the wind, shaking branches or grass, can move the mine too much and provoke its detonation. Loose snow was also not the best surface for the installation of anti-personnel mines. Skipping under the weight of the ammunition, the snow can provoke its undermining.
The creation of the POM-1 and POM-1C mines made it possible to quickly equip the engineering troops with new anti-personnel ammunition with acceptable combat characteristics. At the same time, however, these mines could not be called perfect, since they had a number of characteristic flaws that made storage and operation difficult. However, these shortcomings could not close the way for mines to the troops, and these products went into series.
Serial production of POM-1 mines continued until the mid-eighties, after which it was stopped. For some reason, the production of such ammunition was smaller in comparison with other anti-personnel mines. stop production, and technical features electrical systems eventually led to the fact that a large number of POM-1 and POM-1C mines, which are unsuitable for operation due to battery discharge, can still be stored in warehouses. Their use, for obvious reasons, is not possible.
And now let's move on to the latest POM-3 mine.
The name "medallion" mine was due to the shape of the striking elements. They are shuriken or gear rings similar to the Japanese "asterisk", the teeth of which, after being triggered, scatter in different directions, while rotating around the center of mass, which ensures a more effective defeat of the enemy. At the same time, the level of scattering of elements outside the zone (for example, in POM-1, most of the fragments went into the ground - approx. "RG") is minimized.
POM-3 does not need any extensions or wires. According to Pavel Filippov, a military representative of the NIIII, the new mine, like previous samples, is equipped with a proximity fuse triggered by a seismic sensor. The latter shoots into the ground under the ammunition so as not to create unmasking signs. The mine is intended for remote installation, that is, it can be placed not manually, but only with the help of special equipment.
most main feature"Medallion" is responsible for all the work of the microchip - the electronic "brain". It is he who provides protection against false positives (for example, with the method widely used in Afghanistan with animals), and also prevents unauthorized neutralization.
According to CEO Research Institute of Igor Smirnov, even if the enemy succeeds alive, which is extremely unlikely, to get POM-3, no one will be able to understand how it works. The microchip cannot be hacked. The component base of the "brain" of the mine, by the way, is fully developed in Russia.
The head of the department of ammunition, systems and means of mining and demining of the institute, Mikhail Zhukov, explained that thanks to the electronic filling on the "Medallions" it is possible to remotely set the self-destruction time, change it or cancel it completely, returning it to the transport position mode.
The new mine will also receive another unique property - it will be able to independently distinguish between military personnel and civilians and will only work when armed people approach. Pavel Filippov assured that there are already developments in this area, and in the near future they will be put into practice.
Mine "Medallion" has already passed field tests, and in the near future it will be delivered to the troops. The exact dates are not yet known, however, according to available data, we are talking about several months.
sources
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201511121559-uxji.htm
http://topwar.ru/86765-protivopehotnaya-mina-pom-1.html
http://saper.etel.ru/
http://eragun.org/
http://saperka.ru/
http://oaoniii.ru/
http://lexpev.nl/
http://a-popov.livejournal.com/
Fear and horror
Fear and horror fill the heart of a soldier when his colleague is blown up before his eyes. The legs themselves grow to the ground and can no longer do next step when the realization comes that the unit has entered the minefield. Not an explosion with fragments, but fear is the main damaging factor of an anti-personnel mine. The fear of a constant and invisible threat of death is exhausting, makes you make mistakes.
The fear of mines can slow down or even stop the advance of the infantry. Even trained soldiers are afraid to take a step forward, but in reality, far fewer people suffered from mines in hostilities than from bullets, shells and bombs. The probability of even a non-lethal defeat of a fighter by an anti-personnel mine is ten times less than the probability of dying from a bullet. But knowing that there is a minefield ahead, the soldiers will refuse to attack or, realizing that they are in a minefield, they will lie down and prefer to become stationary targets for enemy machine guns than to rush forward or retreat back. A soldier, like any person, is afraid of bullets and shells. This is fine. But he understands that there is a similar soldier on the other side and they are also firing at him. There is a war of destruction. Who is more skillful, experienced, brave, fast, and more likely to win and stay alive. Everything is wrong with the mine - she does not enter into confrontation, she just quietly waits. Waiting for his goal. The realization that you yourself set your killer in action deprives a person of courage and paralyzes his will. Therefore, we can say that the impact of an anti-personnel mine on an ordinary soldier (we do not consider special forces in this situation) is more moral than physical. Attention, mines! Despite all the horror stories described earlier, the mine is not an offensive, but rather a defensive weapon. Its task is not to let the enemy pass in a given direction, or at least seriously slow down his advance. Agree that even a simple sign with the inscription "Attention, mines!" and a few empty boxes thrown on the road from under them will stop the advance of an infantry unit at least until the sappers arrive. In general, the history of the use of mines goes back several hundred years. And in general, the word "mine" itself came into our language from French from the time of siege wars: mine - "undermining" or "mine". Then “mine” was called a mine equipped with barrels of gunpowder, for example, under the fortress walls, and “sapper” came from saper - “undermine”, and military engineers were engaged in all this. A lot has changed since then. Mines have occupied their stable and important niche in military affairs. The scope of their application has also expanded and now captures all three elements: earth, water and even air, and engineering troops are responsible for the "work" with mines. Now we will talk about a very narrow, but probably the most important segment - anti-personnel mines.
Code "Medallion"
In Balashikha near Moscow, among the tall fir trees, there are rather inconspicuous buildings in which "mine masters" work. There is the Research Engineering Institute JSC (NIIII), which is part of the NPK Tekhmash JSC, the Rostec State Corporation. This institute has existed since August 1941 and has simply incredible experience in the development of various types of ammunition and devices for the engineering troops of our country. Here, as part of the development work with the code "Medallion", a new Russian anti-personnel fragmentation mine of the POM-3 remote installation was developed.
This advanced engineering ammunition is a further development of the line of domestic anti-personnel mines. The design of the mine is based on the original developments of the Research Institute, which made it possible not only to increase the overall effectiveness of the ammunition, but also to reduce its danger to its own troops, and also to make it impossible for the enemy to neutralize it. The newest mine is intended for organizing minefields and defeating enemy manpower. To increase the efficiency of hitting a target, the mine is equipped with an ejected fragmentation warhead. In addition, it is equipped with an electronic system that searches for targets and is responsible for undermining the warhead. An important feature of the new project is the use of new, secret equipment that improves both the operational and combat characteristics of the mine. Externally, the POM-3 mine in the transport position is a metal cylinder with a diameter of about 6 - 7 cm and a height of 20 cm. The dimensions of the ammunition are standard, which allows install them on the ground using remote mining systems, which include universal mine cassettes that can be used by various remote mining systems, both ground and aviation. All this greatly increases the flexibility of using new ammunition.
The main element of the new mine is a cylindrical body, inside and outside of which all other parts are mounted. So, on its outer surface, an orientation system is installed, made in the form of six spring-loaded supports. In the transport position, these parts are located along the hull, and when cocked, the mines open and set the hull vertically or at a slight angle, depending on the terrain. This ensures the optimal position of the mine for more effective target engagement.
Also on the outer surface of the housing is a tubular casing of the pin of the seismic target sensor. When cocking a mine, the pin goes deep into the ground. With its help, the electronics of the mine monitors the situation and determines the approach of various objects, including enemy manpower. Similar systems have already been used on some domestic anti-personnel mines, such as NVU-P Okhota, and their effectiveness has been proven in real combat conditions, for example, in Afghanistan.
Mina POM-3 "Medallion" is equipped with a special electronic unit responsible for processing signals from a seismic target sensor and controlling the warhead. Electronics receives signals about the vibrations of the soil under the mine and compares them with the signatures in the memory. If the vibrations are similar to those caused by human steps, and also have sufficient amplitude, indicating the approach of the target, a command is given to trigger the ejected warhead.
At the command of the electronic unit, the expelling charge is detonated, after which the warhead of the mine “jumps” to a height of about 1-1.5 m above the ground. At this height, the main charge is detonated, which is responsible for the dispersion of fragments and the defeat of enemy manpower.
The striking elements of the POM-3 anti-personnel mine have an original design: instead of a fragmentation jacket or ready-made striking elements, semi-finished fragments are used. The main explosive charge and the fuse are installed inside a structure assembled from a large number of special, toothed rings.
When the main charge is detonated, these rings are torn apart in thin sections and crumble into many triangular or trapezoidal fragments. The latter, rotating around their axis, scatter in different directions and form a vast affected area.
Due to the large number of fragments of a special shape and their correct orientation, an effective defeat of manpower is ensured within a radius of at least 8-12 m from the point of detonation. Unprotected enemy fighters are guaranteed to be injured at distances up to 12 m, those with bulletproof vests - up to 8 m.
By the way, they say that the design work received the code "Medallion" for the shape of the rings of the striking elements of the mine - they look like medallions.
The electronic filling of POM-3 is also interesting. After all, it is she who gives the new ammunition a number of rather unique properties. We asked Sergey Bachurin, head of the department of NIIII JSC, to tell us about this.
- Sergey Pavlovich, what is the novelty of the POM-3 anti-personnel mine?
- Anti-personnel, remote-mounted cluster mine POM-3 is a new, innovative development in the segment of anti-personnel engineering ammunition. Unlike previous products, this mine does not have any contact sensors that have an indiscriminate effect and, most importantly, unmask the ammunition. The new mine uses a non-contact, selective seismic sensor, which allows you to determine and, moreover, identify an object at a distance of up to 12 meters.
- The previous modification of the mine, when installed, fired a "web" around itself - such thin, almost imperceptible threads, catching on which the object caused an explosion.
- As already mentioned, a contact sensor - a thread - an experienced fighter can notice and, accordingly, respond to a mine, bypass it, for example. In the new modification, the mine does not give itself away, since there are no threads, and the fuse sensors determine the target, and when the enemy enters the zone of action, the fuse brings the mine from standby mode to combat mode and at the right time destroys the target.
- And how does the “brain” of a mine determine who is next to it: an animal, a person, or even more difficult case civilian or military? Is this mine dangerous for civilian population?
“We have carefully and comprehensively studied the movement of various objects and the physical fields surrounding them. Special attention was given to a civilian adult and a member of the armed forces. The latter carries a certain ammunition on himself, and his movement has its own, special specifics. The step algorithm of a serviceman differs from the walk of a civilian, for example, a farmer. Fuze sensors take into account all these factors and rank targets, i.e. action is highly selective.
- How is the mining of the area carried out?
- A standard cassette is used, which can accommodate all types of mines: from anti-tank and anti-amphibious to anti-personnel. These containers are carried by planes and helicopters, minelayers. It is also possible to mine without the use of equipment by the forces of the sapper unit. Remote mining is carried out using a portable mining system, which works on the principle of a mortar. The expelling charge fires a set of min. Once on the ground, the mines open the petals of the orientation system and take a vertical position. After that, the fuse sensors are activated, and the mine "waits".
- The area is mined, but fighting moved to another place, what happens to the minefields? Do they pose a danger to the civilian population in the future?
- The mine has a self-destruct mode. When laying minefields, a timer is set. After a predetermined time, the mines go into safe mode, and the area becomes free for the movement of any equipment, military and civilian population.
— Are there any foreign analogues or similar systems?
— We do not have information about similar developments in the world.
— Among the developments of the institute there is an interesting development that combines the combat properties of a smart anti-personnel mine and a grenade. Troop employees special purpose praised this unique engineering ammunition. Tell about it.
- This is a multifunctional engineering ammunition "MIB", which operates in grenade mode and in mine mode, i.e. he can "wait" for the enemy. The principle of operation in mine mode is similar to that discussed earlier, however, sensors are used previous generation- with contact threads. This ammunition, when used in mine mode, stands on the orientation device and scatters contact threads around itself. Everything, the site is mined.
Imagine that a reconnaissance unit is evading pursuit behind enemy lines. Soldiers do not need to waste time mining the escape route - multifunctional engineering ammunition does it on its own. In the case of direct contact, it is used like ordinary grenades. Thanks to this versatility, the number of weapons and ammunition necessary to complete a combat mission is reduced, and their weight is reduced. As a result, the unit operates much more efficiently.
- Is it planned to modernize this ammunition by analogy with POM-3?
- At present, we have not been given such a task, but if necessary, we can complete it as soon as possible. There are already developments on the POM-3 product and in fact they just need to be adapted to the multifunctional ammunition.
Very near future
Development speed modern species armament is simply amazing. There are unmanned vehicles with the beginnings of artificial intelligence, new guided missiles and bombs, but what's there! Guided bullets have already appeared! Progress in the mine business does not stop either. What will it be like - engineering ammunition of the future? Perhaps it will be equipped with a friend or foe identification system, and our troops, attacking, will be able to pass through their minefields like a knife through butter, and retreating, hide behind a minefield that is insurmountable for the enemy. Fiction is it or not? The smell of cigars may be yes, but the rest ...
Mining of large areas will be carried out using modern and powerful systems salvo fire, which, having covered a certain area with one blow, completely immobilize the enemy and force him to surrender without bloodshed. Or maybe the engineering ammunition of the future will become quite smart and learn to distinguish the smell of whiskey and cigars and react accordingly?
Sweden has chosen the Rheinmetall grenade design as the next generation of its airburst hand grenades designed to engage enemy personnel in shelters within a radius of up to five meters. The reasons for the acquisition of Air Burst Hand Grenade (AB HGr) by Sweden were quite simply explained by Ian Kinley, head of the special ammunition development and production program at the Swedish Ministry of Defense: “We realized that a conventional fragmentation grenade has a serious drawback due to its very low probability of hitting a target.It has a spherical shape of fragmentation.Exploding on the ground, half of the fragments of a grenade scatter into the air while the other half goes into the ground without being able to hit military targets.And a few fragments - just a few, will scatter for surface level and only they lead to the expected effect.
As a result, in 2010, the Swedish Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions ARGES for the production of AB HGr grenades. The final qualification took place in March, and the first serial deliveries began at the end of 2011.
Kinley said, "This grenade looks like a normal hand grenade and should be handled like a normal hand grenade. You throw them like normal grenades." However, this is where the similarity ends. He continued: “These grenades roll on the ground and when fully stopped, self-cock, bounce to a height of 1.5-2 meters and explode. the probability of hitting it. In addition to the above, there is another trick. When a hand grenade bounces from the ground, we know exactly its orientation. At the time of the explosion in the air at the top of its trajectory, knowing where its top and bottom, allowed us to create a design that guides all fragments down in the most favorable direction. This allows for a higher density of fragments, which led to an increase in the probability of hitting the target. "
The more fragments directed in the desired direction, the less risk for the grenade thrower, as well as the less risk for the civilian population. Another design feature that enhances safety factors is the use of aerodynamically braked fragments. Such fragments, flying outside the affected area with a radius of 4-5 meters and effective in this area even against bulletproof vests, rapidly reduce their speed, becoming practically harmless already at a distance of 30 meters. The AB HGr grenade also has a small upper fragmentation cone.
The user can turn this grenade into a normal grenade by first pulling out the screw plug. The AB HGr grenade is used in the same way as any other hand grenade with a pin and a trigger, a pyrotechnic fuse with three delay systems.
The grenade has a special conical shape of the body that guides the fragments down the conical shape of dispersion, thus providing a close safe distance.
On tests in accordance with the STANAG 4190 standard, the AB HGr grenade was detonated at a height of 2 meters and a distance of 2 and 4 meters from a control bench measuring one square meter covered with a Kevlar vest. Tests have shown the loss of level 1 of the first target and level 0.96 of the target at a distance of 4 meters. A level 0.9 incapacitation is considered a severe level of damage sufficient to incapacitate the target.
In tests with a grenade explosion at a height of 1.5 meters, 98 percent of all fragments were found within a radius of 5 meters from the explosion, and the remaining two percent were in the range of 5-10 meters, no fragments were found outside this zone.
In a safety test in which fragments were fired at a target measuring two square meters at a distance of 30 meters, there was not a single penetration of a 0.8 millimeter thick aluminum sheet.
As part of the upgrade of the hand grenade arsenal, Sweden also acquired the newly developed Rheinmetall "Expandable Hand Grenade 08" (Expandable Hand Grenade 08, EHGR 08). The EHGR 08 offensive grenade was developed by Rheinmetall to destroy bunkers and caves. It consists of the main fuse connected then with three charges. One charge provides an overpressure of 0.9 kg/cm2 (13 psi), two charges of 1.2 kg/cm2 (17 psi) and three of 2 kg/cm (28 psi).
The company also developed a demolition charge based on the same architecture to interrupt structural elements. It can be attached to a target with magnets or sticky tape. It is able to make a hole with a diameter of 30 mm in steel with a thickness of 15 mm.
