What is route clearance?

Route clearance is the process of removing or neutralizing obstacles and other potential hazards from a designated route, in order to facilitate the movement of military vehicles, personnel or other important resources. It involves a range of activities such as road repair and construction, mine removal, explosive ordnance disposal, vegetation clearing, and hazard assessment and mitigation. Route clearance operations are typically carried out by specialized units trained to identify and neutralize improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other dangerous obstructions along the way. These units may use a variety of technologies such as ground-penetrating radar, metal detectors, and robots to detect, classify, and disable potential threats. Route clearance is an important aspect of military operations, as it helps to minimize potential risks to troops and other personnel operating in hostile or challenging environments.