The Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive the American M131 MOPMS system: what is it and how will it help

The United States announced a new weapons package for Ukraine, which will include, in particular, ADAM anti-personnel mines, as well as quite specific remote mining systems M131 Modular Pack Mine System (MOPMS). The military-analytical portal Defense Express revealed what makes these systems interesting.

The M131 MOPMS complexes have been in service with the US Army since the early 1980s. Their first combat use occurred during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 against Iraq.

In simple terms, the MOPMS is a “suitcase” 70 by 50 centimeters and weighing 55 kilograms. Inside there are seven cassettes, three mines in each (a total of 21 mines). The set includes 17 M78 anti-tank mines with a magnetic sensor (mass of the cumulative charge is 585 grams) and four M77 anti-personnel mines (410 grams of explosive).

All these mines are fired from a container in one volley to a distance of 35 meters. A volley from one M131 MOPMS container creates a minefield 70 meters wide and 35 meters deep. Standard self-destruction setting – 4 hours after mine placement.

M131 MOPMS can be used both as the main means of remote mine placement and as an auxiliary means in conjunction with other available means.