ASELSAN YENER Modern Mine Detection System
The YENER Modern Mine Detection System, developed by ASELSAN, was publicly used for the first time in an actual exercise by the Turkish Armed Forces during the EFES 2024 Exercise. Within the exercise scenario, mines and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) detected by YENER were neutralized using ASELSAN's ÇAKI Interrogation Arm System, mounted on the KİRPİ-II Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) vehicle.
The first announcement that the ASELSAN YENER Modern Mine Detection System had entered the Turkish Land Forces Command inventory was made during the weekly press briefing held by the Ministry of National Defense on November 23, 2023. During the meeting, it was disclosed that 2x AW119Kx Basic Training Helicopters (the 9th and 10th helicopters of the initial order package of 15), 4x Mobile Counter Mortar Radars, 8x Armored Anti-Tank Vehicles, and 17x Armored Combat Vehicles with 25mm NEFER Turrets, along with 1x ASELSAN Modern Mine Detection System, were delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command.
At the IDEF 21 and IDEF 23 fairs, the Modern Mine Detection System was showcased in a scaled model at the ASELSAN stand. This system is integrated into an OTOKAR ARMA 8x8 Armored Vehicle and consists of different types of Ground-Penetrating Radar antennas and the ASELSAN RF Jammer System.
ASELSAN initiated the development of the YENER Ground Penetrating Radar in 2015, aiming to detect and identify underground metal/plastic mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as part of counter-terrorism efforts. This new-generation radar is equipped with specially developed imaging algorithms and can be used on both manned and unmanned vehicles. Subsequently, the 8x8 Armored Vehicle was chosen as the carrier platform, and within this scope, the OTOKAR ARMA 8x8 was selected for the prototype vehicle application.
The YENER System is capable of detecting and marking the locations of various types of wired and wireless IEDs and mines. Once these mines and IEDs are detected, they are neutralized by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams. The system also has an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) configuration and operates in the Ultra-Wide Band, providing the sensitivity needed to detect IEDs, IED trigger wires, metal mines, and plastic mines. YENER, with its multi-target detection and Synthetic-Aperture (SAR) capability, employs specially developed next-generation algorithms. These algorithms enable the system to detect changes in the soil and present high-quality MRI images on the operator's screen. The prototype of the YENER Modern Mine Detection System was put into service with the Turkish Land Forces Command on an ARMA 8x8 Armored Vehicle in November 2023 for testing purposes.
The antenna located at the front of the vehicle is sensitive enough to detect the primers or firing pins, which is the only metal part in modern plastic mines, at a certain distance and depth. It is noted that the system has proven its effectiveness over time by being tested against various types of detection scenarios and threats from all types of IEDs and mines. Due to the heavy weight of the antenna, a set of wheels is placed immediately behind it on both the left and right sides to balance it. Additionally, two smaller antennas are mounted on either side of the vehicle to detect and identify mine and IED threats within culverts. The YENER Modern Mine Detection System is reported to be capable of detecting different targets compared to the Husky 2G Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector (VMMD) System currently in service with the Turkish Land Forces Command and offers a higher vehicle speed in mine detection compared to the Husky 2G.
A contract was signed between STM and Critical Solutions International (CSI) for the procurement of 4x Husky 2G Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector Systems and 2x R-Visor Talon remote-controlled mine detection robots to meet the Turkish Land Forces' needs for vehicle-mounted mine detection systems, which were delivered to the 2nd Army Command in Malatya in August 2013 (making Türkiye the first user of this vehicle).
