PFM-1 (Russian: ПФМ-1, short for противопехотная фугасная мина - anti-infantry cluster landmine; NATO name: Blue parrot, also known as butterfly mine) is a land mineofSoviet production, very similar to BLU-43 US Army landmine. Both devices are very similar in shape and principles, although they use different explosive.
PFM-1 is a chemically activated mine. The mine is basically a plastic bag containing explosive liquid, which detonates when the pressure is applied. The liquid is chemically activated, so unarmed mine is safe to transport. The charge is usually nonlethal, although sighificant for traumatic amputation of the foot. A variant of the mine, PFM-1S, self-destroys after 24 hours.
The mine can be deployed both from helicopters and by infantry. In the latter variant, a number of mines is spared over a circle with a diameter of ~15 meters.
PFM-1 was mainly used during Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan to prevent groups of insurgents from using certain roads. Unfortunately, civilians often fell its prey. One of unforeseen results of its military application was a high amount of casualties among children. Due to its unusual shape the mine was often mistaken by kids for a toy. As the mine self-destructed, it often resulted in hand and head trauma, often lethal. This made this particular type of land mine a principal target for International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Although Russia hasn't signed Ottawa Treaty and thus still has this type of landmines at their disposal, it never has seen any action ever since, despite claims made by some Chechen rebels.
