The U.S. Army is now shopping around for a countermeasure to a threat that seems somewhat incongruous -- the "anti-helicopter mine."

An anti-helicopter mine is a rarely used weapon not standard issue in many armies, including the U.S. Army. In its initial form, the anti-helicopter mine was simply an above ground mine attached to a short stave. The mine detonated when a helicopter hit it upon landing.

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Today's anti-helicopter mines are more sophisticated and lethal, especially those being sold on the world market by Bulgaria, the world leader in producing this weapon. The threat presented by the latest version of Bulgarian (and Russian) anti-helicopter mines has led the U.S. Army (the world's largest helicopter operator) to shop around for a countermeasure.

A new research proposal, "Anti-Helicopter Mine and Improvised Explosive Device Countermeasures," reveals the Army compares the threat faced by helicopters to those faced by infantry and vehicles from IEDs or improvised explosive devices.

The research paper proposes a three step process to counter anti-helicopter mines. It starts with identifying what anti-helicopter mines and IEDs are on the market; their fuzing mechanisms and how they're employed.

A prototype countermeasure will be developed that addresses these issues. The Pentagon will then decide whether to go ahead and build the countermeasure.

Anti-helicopter mines seem to have been developed because shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles are ineffective against helicopters flying below 100 meters.

Bulgaria's sophisticated and purpose-built anti-helicopter mines are giving the U.S. Army pause. Among the plethora of these mines made by Bulgaria are the 4AHM-100, AHM-200, AHM-200-1, AHM-200-2, PMN-150 and PMN-250.

The Bulgarian directional fragmentation mines marketed by Khan Asparuh Trade, Ltd can be used with proximity fuzes in their anti-helicopter mines.

The above ground AHM-200, for example, has an acoustic sensor that arms the weapon when it detects the sound of the helicopter as far away as 460 meters. A Doppler radar that's part of the system tracks the target.

When the helicopter gets within 100 meters, the mine or mine network detonates. The warheads are either explosively formed projectiles or explosive charges packed with steel balls.

Tagsanti-helicopter mine, U.S. Army, Bulgaria, Anti-Helicopter Mine and Improvised Explosive Device Countermeasures, Khan Asparuh Trade, Ltd.