Quick links -
click here for:

Manufactured mines generally comprise the following components:

• Case
• Explosive
• Fuze (switch) and Sensor
• Safety and Arming Unit
• Sometimes, a power source

Mines are generally grouped in terms of their function, i.e. anti-personnel and anti-tank (vehicle) mines.

Both manufactured mines and IEDs can be detonated by contact or pressure; remotely by command wire; or remotely by radio signal. Both of the latter could be referred to as command detonation.

Caution is required when translating the Russian word mina - depending on context, the correct translation could be mine, demolition charge, mortar bomb, or other more obscure meanings.

Common terms:

• Fugas - blast bomb
• Bezobolochnoye vzryvnoye ustroystvo - literally caseless, but preferred translation is IED
• Inzhenernaya razvedka - engineer sweep (typically on foot ahead of the passage of a convoy)

See also:

• Minomet - mortar

• Further reading on IEDs