The POM-3 is a new type of anti-personnel mine designed for remote mining, which until now was delivered to the target by the remote mining engineering system "Zemledeliye" ("Agriculture"). The mine is sometimes called "Medallion" ("Medallion").
Designed to engage enemy manpower. Unprotected fighters are guaranteed to be wounded at distances of 13 meters, and those wearing body armor are guaranteed to be wounded at distances of up to 8 meters.
The POM-3 mine is a metal cylinder with a diameter of 60 mm and a height of 183 mm. The main element of the new mine is a cylindrical body, inside and outside of which all other parts are mounted. Thus, an orientation system is installed on its outer surface, which is made in the form of six spring supports. Also on the outer surface of the body is a tubular casing of the target seismic sensor pin. The mine is equipped with a special electronic unit responsible for processing signals from the target seismic sensor and controlling the warhead. In order to increase the destructive power of fragments and reduce dead zones, the POM-3 mine is equipped with a warhead equipped with semi-finished defeat elements. The main charge of explosives and the detonator are installed inside a structure assembled from a large number of special rings, which in shape resemble gears.
When the mine is erected, the orientation system, in the form of six spring supports, unfolds and sets the body vertically or at a slight angle to the vertical, depending on the characteristics of the surface on which the ammunition has hit. This ensures the optimal position of the mine during operation and more effective destruction of targets. When the mine is erected, the pin of the seismic target sensor is deepened into the ground. With its help, the mine electronics monitors the situation and determines the approach of various objects, including enemy manpower.
To increase the effectiveness of hitting the target, the mine is equipped with an ejection fragmentation warhead. In addition, it is equipped with an electronic system that searches for targets and is responsible for detonating the warhead. The electronic unit receives signals about vibrations of the ground under the mine and compares them with the signatures in memory. If the vibrations are similar to those caused by human steps and also have sufficient amplitude, indicating the approach of the target, a command is given to trigger the warhead. At the command of the electronic unit or the operator's remote command, the ejection charge is detonated from the control panel via a radio signal, after which the warhead of the mine "jumps" to a height of about 1-1.5 m above the ground. At this height, the main charge is detonated, which is responsible for scattering fragments and damaging enemy manpower. When the main charge is detonated, the metal rings break into thin sections and scatter into many triangular or trapezoidal fragments. The latter, rotating around their axis, fly apart in different directions and form a large area of damage. Due to the large number of fragments of a special shape and their correct orientation, effective damage to manpower is ensured within a radius of at least 8-13 m from the point of detonation.
Seismic target sensor
At the end of the set period of operation, the mine self-destructs.
Mines are laid using remote mining systems, which include KPOM-3 cassettes. Standard cylindrical metal cassettes can be used by various remote mining systems, both ground-based (PKM-1, UMP, UMP-K) and helicopter-based VSM-1. The cassette contains 4 POM-3 mines. The figure shows the operation of the KPOM-3 cassette.
Demining is prohibited. The seismic target sensor and the electronic unit of the mine make it impossible to neutralize it. Any unauthorized attempt to approach the mine will be stopped. Having approached a distance of several meters, the sapper will trigger the mine to activate. An attempt to move it from its place using a cable will also end in detonation. Thus, a detected POM-3 mine can be destroyed in various ways (although not without risk for sappers), but all attempts to neutralize it and take it whole are impossible. Currently, work is underway to improve detonators with seismic target sensors, as a result of which the mines should gain new capabilities. So, an additional magnetic sensor should be installed in the mine. In this case, the seismic target sensor should be responsible for searching for people, and the magnetic one will search for metal objects (weapons, helmets, second-hand). Demining is prohibited.
The color is green, protective. The marking is standard, applied with black paint on the mine body and contains: − POM-3 – mine code; − 582-RF-1-11 – manufacturer’s code – batch number – year of manufacture (the numbers may be different).