A group of four Russian engineers has developed and patented an aircraft for deactivating explosive devices installed on the ground, according to a publication in the Rospatent database. The invention is designed for remote impact on explosive objects and can be used for demining territories.
The apparatus is a solid-fuel jet aircraft with a rectangular wedge-shaped fairing and a stabilization system. When flying at supersonic speed, it creates a leading pressure wave that propagates to the ground surface. This pressure activates the initiators of mechanical explosive devices, neutralizing them without physical contact.
A similar technology exists abroad, described in an international patent: a device called a "sonic cannon" creates a localized high-pressure zone at a distance of up to 2000 meters using a high-energy speaker and a parabolic reflector. The patent explicitly states that this technology can be used to simulate the pressure of a soldier's step in a minefield, causing anti-personnel mines to detonate. However, the apparatus proposed by Russian engineers is distinguished by its compactness and autonomy, which makes it promising for rapid demining of local areas.
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