Artillery Mining Systems RAAM and ADAM. M718, M741, M692, M731 Shells

Modern warfare requires quick and effective solutions to create obstacles in the path of the enemy. Artillery mining systems RAAM (Remote Anti-Armor Mine) and ADAM (Area Denial Artillery Munition) are cutting-edge technologies that allow rapid deployment of minefields at long distances using conventional artillery. Their main advantage is the capability for remote mining, which does not require sappers to be physically present in the conflict zone, thus significantly reducing risks to personnel.

RAAM and ADAM are designed to perform a wide range of tasks, from slowing the advance of enemy forces and blocking key routes to protecting strategic positions. Their integration with artillery systems provides flexibility, enabling commanders to adapt tactical decisions depending on the situation on the battlefield. These systems are an integral part of modern military strategy aimed at maintaining the mobility of friendly forces while disorganizing the enemy.

This article examines the operating principles, tactical advantages, technical characteristics, and practical aspects of using RAAM and ADAM systems. Special attention is paid to their contribution to enhancing the effectiveness of artillery support, as well as their role in modern military operations.

ADAM and RAAM are delivered using 155 mm howitzers. No special modifications or adaptations are required for the firing system. The mines are placed inside the shell and ejected while the shell is in flight. The effective firing range for the M109 howitzer is 17,500 meters, and for the M198 it is 17,740 meters.

Placement of ADAM and RAAM

M692 (long-duration) and M731 (short-duration) are ADAM projectiles that deliver anti-personnel mines with different self-destruction (SD) times. Each ADAM shell contains 36 mines. The M731/M731A1 shell contains M72 AP mines with a 4-hour self-destruction time; the M692/M692A1 shell contains M67 AP mines with a 48-hour self-destruction time. The self-destruction time is set during production and cannot be changed.

The wedge-shaped ADAM mine is a fragmentation mine that deploys up to seven tripwires at a distance of 6 meters from the mine. After impact with the ground, the wires are tensioned, and the mine becomes fully armed. The ADAM mine has a metal casing filled with 21 grams of A5 explosive as the main charge. A liquid explosive charge is located at the bottom of the sphere after ground impact. If the mine is tilted, moved, or if one of its wires is triggered, it will detonate.

Pressure of at least 0.4 atmospheres causes the canister to rise to a height of 0.6 to 2.4 meters and explode. The lethal radius is from 6 to 10 meters.

M741 (short-duration) and M718 (long-duration) RAAM shells are anti-tank mines delivered by artillery. Each RAAM shell contains nine mines. M741/M741A1 shells contain M70 AT mines with a 4-hour self-destruction time; M718/M718A1 shells contain M73 AT mines with a 48-hour self-destruction time. The self-destruction time is set during production and cannot be changed. The RAAM mine uses an SFF warhead, has a magnetic fuze, weighs 1.7 kg, and features a small cylindrical body (12 cm in diameter and 6 cm high).

New ADAM and RAAM mine models (designated with the A1 suffix) have a 45-second activation time; older models have a 2-minute activation time. The new RAAM model has a built-in feature that prevents the mines from being deactivated by mechanical mine-clearing devices.

Usage

The ADAM and RAAM systems are designed for flexible and rapid mine deployment. These systems enable the maneuver commander to emplace mines directly in front of the enemy, behind them, or on the enemy’s positions. This is one of their greatest advantages. Their rapid response allows quick mission execution and provides the commander with the ability to effectively influence the rapidly changing battlefield environment. They also allow minefields to be placed while maintaining maximum distance from the target. Their deployment does not require advancing any ground or air forces forward.

ADAM and RAAM systems can be used for the following purposes:

• Defense:
  • Creating targets for long-range anti-tank weapons.
  • Sealing gaps and routes in obstacles.
  • Delaying or disrupting the actions of attacking forces.
  • Preventing unrestricted use of selected areas by the enemy.
  • Disrupting movement and the use of second-echelon reserves.
  • Disrupting the enemy’s logistics, including medical support and troop concentration areas.
  • Reinforcing existing obstacles.
  • Complicating or delaying river crossings.
• Offense:
  • Enhancing flank reconnaissance and security forces to protect flanks.
  • Suppressing and disrupting enemy security elements after contact.
  • Complicating the enemy’s withdrawal.

Deployment

ADAM and RAAM minefield missions are requested through standard artillery support channels. For example, the brigade artillery chief will plan in advance for the use of remote mining shells and issue commands for their employment. The actual number of shells may vary depending on the unit and the mission, but a representative baseline for an infantry battalion is approximately 32 ADAM mines and 24 RAAM mines (with a short self-destruction time) per artillery salvo.

NOTE: Shells with a long self-destruction time are typically used for preplanned targets based on a specific task.

There are two critical aspects to using ADAM and RAAM minefields:

• Planning the minefield to achieve the required effect.
• Ensuring the technical resources are available to create the minefield.

Below are general recommendations for designing a minefield to achieve the desired effect and determining the required size to assess its impact on maneuvers.

ADAM and RAAM minefields can be employed to achieve disruption, fixation, destruction, and blocking of the enemy’s personnel and equipment. The brigade (battalion) engineer service is responsible for deciding on the required location, density, size, layout, and duration of the minefield, based on the obstacle plan provided by the chief of staff.

Density and Dimensions of RAAM and ADAM Minefields

 1 Density by area = mines per square meter.  2 Linear density = mines per meter.

Details of Minefield Calculations

The fire support element (FSE) determines all technical aspects of minefield delivery, such as the number of shells needed for each mining point, the number of target points, the size of the safety zone, and the time required for mine emplacement. A wide range of factors influences the determination of shell quantity, safety zone size, and emplacement duration. These factors include:

• Distance to the target.
• The angle from the battery to the minefield.
• The firing method (adjustment or meteorological data accounting for VE).

The FSE must assess whether the mining mission is feasible. This depends on the availability of shells, the indirect fire scheme, and the availability of artillery tubes.
The engineer focuses on two aspects:

• Safety zone.
• Time to emplace the minefield.

The engineer also considers battlefield mobility and the impact of the minefield on maneuvers. The safety zone is marked on the tactical map to identify the requirements for minefield marking if the unit leaves the area before the SD time expires.

Density

Density is typically expressed as either linear or area-based. For conventional mines, linear density is often used, expressed as the average number of mines per meter of the minefield’s front. In SCATMINE systems (the main remote mining system name), area density is used, expressed as the average number of mines per square meter.
Because SCATMINE systems typically employ a predefined mix of anti-tank (AT) and anti-personnel (AP) mines, area density takes both types into account. For example, a dispersed minefield with an area density of 0.006 mines/m² might include 0.004 AT mines/m² and 0.002 AP mines/m². Due to the variety of minefield configurations created by different devices, it is not possible to determine the exact density of a scattered minefield. However, an estimate of average density can be calculated using the following formulas:

• Linear density equals the number of mines divided by the minefield’s front:

• Area density equals the number of mines divided by the area of the minefield:

• Converting area density to linear density is done by multiplying the area density by the minefield’s depth:

linear density=area density×minefield depth
Note: Converting area density to linear density is not always exact due to spacing between the mine strips.

Table: Characteristics of SCATMINE Anti-Personnel Mines (AP SCATMINE)