Germany Acquires Thousands of Mysterious "Ghost Mines"

Germany has opted to purchase 2600 units of PARM DM22 anti-tank mines, with the possibility of ordering an additional 10 thousand. These intriguing mines have posed significant difficulties for Russians in Ukraine. Here's a closer look at their capabilities and functionalities.

The Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology, and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) of the Federal Armed Forces, as reported by Soldat & Technik, has announced the purchase of 2600 PARM DM22 mines, with an option to procure 10 thousand more.

The mines will be manufactured by TDW GmbH, under the MBDA consortium. The delivery is expected to be completed by 2027. Production is scheduled to begin in 2025, with the first batch due to reach customers by 2026.

The Peril of PARM Anti-Tank Mines for Russian Tanks

The PARM (Panzerabwehrrichtmine) DM22 is a system developed after the Cold War and was brought into service in 1990. Unlike conventional anti-tank mines, this system can be installed in the foliage beside the road, enhancing the security of paved roads.

Notably, this intelligent mine self-deactivates once its battery is depleted (with a lifespan of up to 40 days), thereby avoiding the risk of becoming unexploded ordnance. Yet, it can easily be reactivated by simply replacing the old battery.

The entire mine weighs 22 pounds, with 3.3 pounds allocated to the part housing the rocket engine and tandem-shaped charge head based on the anti-tank grenade launcher Panzerfaust-3. This feature allows the mine to target threats from several dozen yards.

The mine utilizes a 131-foot fiber optic as both its trigger and sight. This is activated when a vehicle crushes it, and the mine is engaged with a delay of five minutes after being set.

Germany has placed an order for the latest PARM DM22 mine variant with an extended range of up to 328 feet. This version uses a combination of an acoustic sensor and an infrared sensor that captures thermal images of the target.

This pair of features allows the mine to conserve energy due to the infrared sensor's substantial power consumption, which only activates upon detecting the sounds associated with heavy vehicles.

The newest model is even designed to identify and count vehicles, thus enabling it to ignore civilian vehicles while focusing attacks on tanks and armored vehicles. These advanced mines laid by Ukrainian special or reconnaissance units in enemy territories have been causing serious issues for Russians.