Operational Procedure for High-Energy Laser Disposal of Unexploded Ordnance-ShangHai RunQia Electronics Technology Co.,Ltd.

Operational Procedure for High-Energy Laser Disposal of Unexploded Ordnance

The disposal of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) with high-energy laser is a highly procedural and precise operation. Compared with traditional ordnance disposal methods, it minimizes personnel risks through the precise control of optoelectronic technology.

The following is the standard disposal procedure based on portable fiber laser EOD systems (1500W–2000W class):

Phase 1: Site Reconnaissance and Rapid Deployment

Once unexploded ordnance is discovered, the EOD team first defines the safety cordon radius, which is normally set according to the explosive equivalent of the ordnance, before entering the deployment phase.

Site Selection and Setup: Select an open and unobstructed operational position, usually 30 to 300 meters away from the target. With the equipment weighing approximately 55–60 kilograms, two operators can complete the assembly of the tripod, laser emitter and pantilt platform within 5 minutes.

Power Self-Check: Activate the built-in lithium battery system and run a self-diagnosis on the laser module to ensure sufficient power for multiple continuous irradiation missions.

Environmental Assessment: Observe wind speed and air humidity. Laser energy is barely affected by wind, yet heavy rainfall or dense fog will attenuate laser output; accordingly, power output shall be adjusted based on weather conditions.

Phase 2: Target Acquisition and High-Precision Focusing

This phase determines whether laser energy can accurately act on the vulnerable position of the ordnance.

Remote Reconnaissance: With the built-in 6-megapixel high-definition camera, operators zoom in and inspect the ordnance on the handheld terminal to identify ammunition type, fuze position and corrosion status.

Laser Ranging: Activate the integrated laser ranging module to obtain the exact distance between the target and the laser emitter. Based on the ranging data, the system drives the optical focusing assembly via servo motors to ensure the minimum laser spot (approx. 10 mm) lands precisely on the ordnance surface.

Strike Point Locking: Fine-tune the laser beam through the high-precision pan-tilt. Operators usually select the thinnest part of the shell or avoid reinforced ribs to improve ablation efficiency.

Phase 3: Thermal Ablation and Controlled Physical Destruction

The core principle of laser disposal is not blasting apart the ordnance, but burning through it.

Initiate Irradiation: The operator issues the firing command, and a continuous laser beam at 1064 nm wavelength is projected onto the target. This wavelength is highly absorbable by metals, instantly raising the shell surface temperature to thousands of degrees Celsius.

Physical Ablation: Laser energy melts and vaporizes the metal shell. For steel shells with a thickness of 4mm–6mm, complete penetration is normally achieved within 3 to 5 minutes.

Induced Reaction:

Heat Conduction: High temperature penetrates the shell and transfers heat to the internal explosive charge.

Energy-Releasing Deflagration: The explosive reaches its autoignition point and undergoes violent combustion. As pressure relief holes are burned into the shell by the laser, internal pressure releases gradually through the openings, rather than rupturing the shell instantly and causing violent detonation. This mode greatly reduces the power of secondary explosion.

Phase 4: Status Monitoring and Effect Evaluation

Whole-Process Video Recording: Real-time monitoring of ordnance changes such as smoking, flame emission and shell discoloration via the high-definition camera.

Damage Confirmation: Disposal is deemed successful when obvious flame ejection or shell cracking is observed, followed by a gradual decline in thermal infrared signature.

Cooling and Observation: After disposal is completed, maintain position and conduct stationary observation for no less than 15 minutes to rule out risks of secondary ignition and re-combustion.

Phase 5: System Retraction and Site Clearance

System Shutdown: Power off the laser after the cooling fan stops running completely.

Rapid Retraction: Utilize the modular quick-plug structure to pack up the equipment and evacuate the operational area within 5 minutes.

Debris Disposal: After confirming full safety, EOD personnel enter the site to collect residual fragments. Laser disposal mostly results in burnout rather than violent blast fragmentation, leaving relatively concentrated and safe remnants on site.

Procedure Summary: Three Core Advantages of Laser EOD

1.Non-contact Operation: Personnel remain outside the explosive hazard zone, achieving absolute safety in physical terms.

2.High Certainty: Laser ranging and automatic focusing ensure every joule of energy acts precisely on the target, eliminating uncertainty from manual focusing.

Low Collateral Damage: The energy-releasing deflagration mode induced by thermal ablation minimizes ground vibration and fragment scattering, protecting surrounding facilities and infrastructure.

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