Improvised explosive devices - IEDs
New equipment includes thousands of all-terrain Mine Resistant Ambush Protected trucks designed specifically for Afghanistan. The number of units assigned to clearing bombs from roads also has doubled in the past six months to 75, Oates said. In coming months, the number of blimps with sophisticated cameras to keep watch over roads will increase from 13 to 64, he said. Ref. Source 1
As IEDs multiplied in Afghanistan, detection rates improved
Troops in Afghanistan encountered soaring numbers of bombs hidden in paths and roads over the last year, but international forces patrolling on foot became far better at finding them, the latest Pentagon figures show. Ref. Source 2
A single step, then everything changed
Click. Boom. Sgt. Collin Raaz has heard that terrible sound before. Like most Marine infantrymen, his two tours in Afghanistan have included several run-ins with the insurgent weapon of choice - the improvised explosive device. Ref. Source 8