The antimatter mine is a simple, no-frills weapon designed to be used in large numbers in order to
restrict or deny an area of space to enemy forces. The simplest form of mine is the command
model; this consists of a matter and antimatter charge held suspended in containment fields within
a small case which also holds a communications mechanism. This type of mine would be
deployed within the scan radius of a controlling vessel; the ship then monitors the area for the
approach of enemy vessels, detonating a mine by remote control when an enemy vessel
approached it. If a long duration minefield is required a sensor drone can take the place of the ship.
The Enterprise-D used such a minefield to force the surrender of a Cardassian fleet in the
McAllister Nebula in 2369.

Details

More complex and effective mines are each fitted with their own sensor system. Although this
makes the mines slightly more difficult to construct, such a minefield is not dependant on a single
drone to run it and is hence more resistant to countermeasures.
The better mines are essentially tiny drone spacecraft, fitted with their own independent sensors
and drive system, controlled by an artificial intelligence computer. The Federation Type 16 mine is
an example of this type - it constantly surveys space around it to a radius of five light seconds,
analysing anything which enters this zone and comparing it to a pre-programmed file of enemy
vessel types. The entire minefield can be networked together, allowing them to share sensor
information between them. If an enemy target enters the field the mines will determine which one
has the best possible intercept solution; this mine will activate its micro impulse drive at the
appropriate moment and track in on the target, detonating its warhead at the moment of closest
approach. The Type 19 mine operates in a similar manner but the mines are fitted with a small
warp engine to allow them to engage targets using warp drive. At this level the mine is essentially a
photon torpedo capable of lying dormant for long periods.

The most recent development in Federation mine technology is the Type 21 mine developed by an
engineering team on Deep Space Nine under Chief Miles O'Brien. At one metre in diameter this is
one of the smallest mines in use by the Federation. It contains a photonic charge equal to several
hundred grenades rather than a matter/antimatter charge, along with a micro impulse system and
sensor system capable of scanning out to a radius of two thousand kilometres. This very limited
range and destructive capability is more than offset by the use of both a cloaking device and a
replicator system on the mines; when a target is detected the mines calculate the number required
to destroy it, and allocate that number to the task. Once the target is destroyed the mines in that
area latch onto the wreckage of both mines and target and use it in their on-board replicators to
construct new mines. This allows the field to actually increase in size and density substantially
whenever a target is attacked. This type of minefield is exceptionally difficult to clear; the use of a
cloaking system on the mines means that an enemy can never be sure that every mine has been
destroyed in a weapons barrage. Should only a handful survive to destroy another target, hundreds
or even thousands more mines are quickly replicated and the field can be back up to full strength
within hours. Such a minefield was deployed at the Bajoran Wormhole to block access by
Dominion forces, triggering the Federation-Dominion war. The Dominion forces which captured
DS9 at the outbreak of the war struggled several months to disable the minefield without success.