Sea drones and explosive-laden robots to help de-mine Strait of Hormuz

The potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping lane, hinges on the critical and dangerous task of clearing sea mines. Should a deal be struck to restore passage through the waterway, the US military and its allies are poised to employ a suite of high-tech equipment to mitigate the risks involved.

Underwater drones, robots equipped with explosives, and helicopter-mounted lasers are among the advanced technologies that could be deployed to reduce the danger to de-mining crews. Iran has strategically used the threat of naval mines to exert influence and control over the Strait, which previously handled 20 percent of the world's daily oil supply. The presence of these mines creates "danger zones" in this critical passage.

Experts emphasize the formidable challenges associated with mine clearing in the Strait of Hormuz. The exact number of mines Iran may have deployed remains unclear, but US intelligence estimated Iran possessed over 5,000 sea mines prior to the recent conflict. These arsenals range from older contact mines to more sophisticated versions designed to detonate via acoustic or magnetic triggers.

Specific Iranian-made mines, such as the Maham 3 and Maham 7, pose significant detection difficulties. The Maham 3, designed for deep water, is anchored and sits below passing vessels, detonating with up to 120 kilograms of explosives. The Maham 7, intended for shallow waters, uses a combination of sound and magnetic sensors. Both types are considered hard to spot, with the Maham 3 potentially obscured by deep water and the Maham 7 easily mistaken for seabed debris due to sediment cover, according to defense analysts.

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Even the threat of a minefield is enough to stop ships, especially commercial ships.