Kathmandu. The US Navy has begun removing landmines planted by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important sea lane.
Two U.S. destroyers, the USS Frank E. Peterson and the USS Michael Murphy, crossed the Strait on April 11 and began preparations to clear landmines. However, it is not easy to remove this tunnel. It is extremely dangerous and requires advanced technology.
What is a landmine in the sea?
There are two main types of landmines in the sea. One is the mud mines. Which are connected to the surface of the sea by wire or cable and are trapped near the surface of the water. The other is the lower tunnels. which occur at the bottom and explode with the ship’s magnetic field, sound or water pressure. They are removed using two methods.
The first is mechanical sweeping. That is, to cut and remove. In this, minesweeper ships pull special wires or cables that cut the tether of the mine. Once cut, the mine floats to the surface and is then safely detonated by firing or using small explosives.
The second method is effect sweeping. In this method, ships or drones pull special devices that produce magnetic, sound or pressure waves, similar to those of a real ship. This makes the mine believe that the ship is approaching and detonates itself. This method is safe. Because the real ship stays far away.
The entire process uses high-resolution sonar. Which creates images of the sea surface. Operators look for unusual objects, such as circles or wires. Remote-controlled underwater drones or robots then verify the mine and destroy it.
Today’s minesweeping is entirely based on science. Minesweeper ships are made of wood or fiberglass. So that their magnetic field is very low and the mine does not explode on its own. The U.S. has littoral combat ships (LCS). Which pulls unmanned surface vehicles.
These are equipped with AN÷AQUS-20 sonar. Which performs side-scan and volume search. Helicopters such as the MH-60S Seahawk use laser systems to detect mines and destroy them using a system called Archerfish. Underwater drones, such as the Knifefish UUV, detect buried mines underneath and detonate explosives using explosives.
This scientific process relies on sonar sound waves, magnetic simulation and remote detonation. In the past, MA-53EC Dragon helicopters were used. However, they are now retired. The whole process is very slow. This is because each mine can take hours to detect, identify, and destroy.
How is landmine removal done on the ground?
Clearing landmines is even more difficult and dangerous. Because the mines are small, hidden, and varied. The most common method is manual demining. Trained deminers detect mines using metal detectors. They are then carefully dug up or blown up with a controlled explosion.
Metal detectors detect metals. While the probes examine the ground. Mechanical methods use specialized machines, such as mine flares, rollers, or excavators. They detonate mines with a hammer or by pressing them into the ground. In some areas, dogs or rats detect mines by sniffing them.
In modern times, the use of small robots and drones operating from a safe distance is also increasing. The process is carried out very carefully on the ground. Because one mistake can be fatal. The area is first surveyed and then strip-by-strip cleared.
How will the U.S. remove landmines in Hormuz?
In April 2026, the US began deploying landmines in the Strait of Hormuz. Initially, two destroyers secure the area and the sonar scans. The actual work will be carried out by drones, LCS ships and helicopters. LCS ships such as the USS Canberra, Santa Barbara and Tulsa are equipped with mine countermeasure packages.
These unmanned systems use sonar to detect landmines and detonate them with impact sweeps. The depth of the water, strong currents and murky waters pose significant challenges in the Hormuz. The US removed its old Avenger-class minesweepers from Bahrain in 2025. Therefore, there is now more reliance on unmanned technology. Full clearance can take several weeks. Because each tunnel has to be handled individually. –Agency
