Exposure: The World’s Deadliest Arms Race, ITV Monday, 17 October 2011, 10:35-11.35pm

14th October 2011

'The World's Deadliest Arms Race' tells the real story of how roadside bombs, built in back street village workshops, have become the Taliban’s ‘perfect weapon’ in their war against the coalition in Afghanistan.

Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, are the biggest killer of British and American troops in Afghanistan. They cost just a few pounds to make but they are frustrating the best efforts of a super power now spending billions of dollars trying to beat them. Frontline troops and journalists describe what it's like to be caught up in deadly attacks. And in footage obtained by the programme, Afghan Taliban sympathisers talk about what's involved in making IEDs and why they believe the coalition cannot defeat them.

Using roadside bombs the Taliban have fought the British and American led coalition to a stalemate.

As American officers and defence contractors explain in the World’s Deadliest Arms Race, the coalition’s electronic counter measures can block out their own force’s radios. Coalition armoured personnel carriers are so heavy they break down in the Afghan countryside. Today they are being replaced by lighter vehicles. But the Taliban make bigger IEDs to destroy them. Despite the billions spent on IED counter-measures, former soldiers describe how they have had to search for IEDs lying face down on the ground, digging them up with their hands. 

Head of Production ANDREW McKERLIE

Production Manager CARRIE PENNIFER

Film Editor ADAM RICHARDSON

Researcher ED HANCOX

Executive Producer BRIAN LAPPING

Produced and Directed by ED HARRIMAN