Description
The first positive confirmation that the former Soviet armed forces had within their inventory an antipersonnel scatter mine system came shortly after their invasion of Afghanistan. The former Soviets employed a small plastic mine designated PFM-1. This mine consists of a pressure-fuzed liquid explosive in a green or sand-brown plastic case and has been used extensively to interdict trails and resupply routes within Afghanistan. The PFM-1 mine is a reverse-engineered copy of the US BLU-43 mine used in Southeast Asia and is an extremely effective casualty-producing item.
A self-destruct variant of this mine, the PFM-1S, is intended to randomly self-destruct over a period of time. While the nominal period for 85% self-destruct is 40 hours, the mines remain functional for far longer. PFM-1S mines are known to continue to randomly self-destruct for weeks after deployment.
The mine is green or sand-brown plastic.
Functioning
No information about functioning.
Hazardous Components
No information about hazardous components.
See Also
Submunition Canister, Mine Dispensing, KPFM-1
Source(s)
Explosive Ordnance Guide for Ukraine, First Edition (2022)
Explosive Ordnance Guide for Ukraine, Second Edition (2022)
Afghanistan Ordnance ID Guide, Volume 1 (2004)
