Buried mines detection and classification: advanced technologies and signal processing

In order to improve the mine countermeasures capability, there is a need to investigate new techniques which would enable the detection, localisation and classification of buried mines. This paper deals with results obtained in France, under a sonar program involving GESMA and three academic laboratories. An experimental approach has been preferred. Two techniques are under evaluation: the low frequency synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) mounted on a platform as a side scan sonar dedicated to buried mines detection and a sonar mounted just below a platform, looking vertically at the seabed, dedicated to buried mines classification.