scope:

Introduction

An IED is defined as "a device placed or fabricated in an improvised manner, incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic or incendiary chemicals, and designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass or distract. It may incorporate military stores, but is normally derived from non-military components"1. IEDs are tactical weapons that may have strategic effect; they can cause a high level of casualties and restrict friendly forces ability to manoeuvre at the tactical level, while also, particularly when combined with an information campaign, having a disproportionate effect on the conduct of operations at the operational and strategic levels. Moreover, they are often cheap and relatively easy to produce and normally present the operator with less exposure to the risk of decisive engagement by militarily stronger friendly forces than direct fire weapons.