UK Air Force to Deploy Bomb Disposal Troops to Afghanistan

The UK Royal Air Force will deploy troops from its 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron in Afghanistan in March 2010 to counter the growing use of improvised explosive devices (IED) and other explosives.

Currently, the troops are undergoing specialised training to reduce the number of casualties from IEDs in Afghanistan, according to upi.com.

The UK defence authorities are giving high priority to reducing the number of Afghan civilian and British troop casaulties in the south of Afghanistan caused by IEDs used by the Taliban and other militants.

Joint explosive ordnance disposal and search assistant head Col. Robert Herring said there was no equipment solution, no technological solution or particular way of operating that would solve the problem.

According to UK defence officials, nearly 75% of British casualties in 2009 were the result of IEDs.