| Rafael produced a minefield breaching system called 'Carpet' for the rapid and effective clearing of mine fields. The system is an implementation of
fuel-air explosive technology. It consists of an add-on kit that can be quickly fitted in the field to any armored vehicle.
The Carpet launcher weighs only 3.5 tons fully loaded. It can carry up to 20 x 265 mm rockets, each weighing 46 kg. . The system can be towed,
mounted on the rear of the armored fighting vehicle or installed inside an APC. Pre-programmed for automatic, semi-automatic or manual operation,
Carpet is operated remotely from inside the vehicle's compartment, under cover from enemy fire. The system can also be reloaded rapidly in the
forward area. Unlike the Vipers, firing line charges across the minefields, Carpet rockets contain only liquid fuel, which is flammable but not explosive in
regular operating conditions. Therefore, if Carpet rockets are hit in their canisters, they do not cause any danger to the system, vehicle or nearby troops.
For minefield breaching, up to 20 rockets are fired in a rapid sequence. The number of rockets used is tailored for the type of target engaged. At the
impact point, each rocket disperses a spray of fuel above the target area, to form the fuel-air explosive cloud. The detonation creates a strong blast
over a wide area, which triggers most mines, regardless of terrain, foliage or man-made obstacles. The explosion clears a safe passage, wide enough
for safe movement of all combat vehicles. Firing a salvo of rockets from a distance of 65-165 meters from the forward edge of the minefield, Carpet
enables breaching a considerable path in one minute.
Fully functional training rockets can also be fired with the system for training exercises, safely simulating the entire operation (without fuel-air explosion)
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