In the growing landmine crisis in Ukraine, Japanese drone manufacturer Prodrone is reportedly planning to supply specialized drones to help detect landmines scattered across the war-torn country. This endeavor, set to launch in fiscal 2025, underscores a broader international effort to address the lasting impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has left vast swathes of the country contaminated with unexploded ordnance.
According to a recent report by Nikkei, Nagoya-based Prodrone will collaborate with Padeco, a Tokyo-based development consulting firm, to bring this demining project to fruition. Prodrone, known for its cutting-edge drone technology, aims to commercialize this initiative by 2025, providing Ukraine with drones equipped to tackle one of the country’s most pressing challenges: landmine detection.
The drones that Prodrone intends to supply will be designed to fly just 50 cm above the ground, utilizing artificial intelligence to detect buried landmines. These drones will not only identify the location of explosive devices but will also create interactive maps to guide demining teams. However, Prodrone will outsource the development of the mine detection technology itself to local Ukrainian firms, fostering greater collaboration with Ukraine’s growing tech sector.
Prodrone’s entry into the Ukrainian market is not an entirely new development. Earlier in May 2024, the World Bank commissioned Prodrone to conduct drone inspections of Ukraine’s power grid, which is operated by the state-owned transmission company UKRENERGO. This previous engagement provided Prodrone with valuable experience working in Ukraine’s challenging conditions and strengthened its ties with local authorities and organizations.
The company’s current project further cements its presence in Ukraine, highlighting its growing expertise in delivering advanced technological solutions in conflict zones. Given the widespread devastation of critical infrastructure across the country due to the ongoing conflict, the use of drones for both surveillance and demining has become essential in reconstruction efforts.
While the company has not officially disclosed the exact drone models to be deployed in Ukraine, there is speculation that the Prodrone Scan drone could be a prime candidate for the mission. This model is specifically designed for surveying and inspection tasks in a variety of sectors, making it well-suited for the challenging conditions in Ukraine.
Key specifications of the Prodrone Scan include a total weight of 20 kg, which accounts for both its batteries and the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system used for high-precision mapping. The drone’s foldable design, with a compact size of 800 mm x 800 mm, makes it easily transportable and deployable in difficult terrains.
In terms of performance, the drone boasts a flight duration of up to 30 minutes, depending on weather and flight conditions, withstanding wind speeds of up to 10 meters per second. Operating within a temperature range of -10°C to 40°C, the drone is capable of functioning in Ukraine’s diverse climate conditions. Communication is facilitated through a 2.4 GHz radio control system, with the SIYZ MK32E controller offering intuitive handling and reliable connectivity over extended distances. For extended operations, the drone can be upgraded with a 22,000 mAh battery, further improving its flight capabilities.
The urgency of Prodrone’s mission in Ukraine is underscored by the sheer scale of the landmine crisis in the country. According to estimates by the Ukrainian government, approximately 23% of Ukraine’s territory is currently contaminated with landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). This equates to nearly one-quarter of the country, or roughly 139,000 square kilometers, posing an immediate and long-term threat to civilians, particularly in eastern Ukraine where fighting has been most intense.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, landmine-related incidents have claimed the lives of more than 900 civilians, with many more suffering debilitating injuries. Over six million Ukrainians now live in high-risk areas, where even basic daily activities such as farming, traveling, or walking pose grave dangers.
While military demining efforts are ongoing, experts believe that clearing Ukraine of landmines and ERWs will take years, if not decades. The explosive remnants of war are not limited to anti-personnel mines but also include unexploded ordnance, cluster munitions, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) left behind by retreating forces.
Prodrone’s initiative is part of a broader trend of Japanese involvement in supporting Ukraine’s demining and reconstruction efforts. Since the onset of the conflict, the Japanese government has played an increasingly active role in providing humanitarian aid and technical support to Ukraine.
In July 2024, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) delivered four advanced mechanized demining machines to Ukraine. These machines, developed by Japanese construction equipment manufacturer Nikken, are among the most advanced of their kind, designed to detect and neutralize landmines. Their versatile capabilities allow them to be repurposed for other tasks, such as debris removal and tree trimming, by simply switching attachments on the mechanical arm. By the end of this year, Japan is expected to supply Ukraine with around 20 such units, significantly enhancing Ukraine’s demining capabilities.
Japan’s contribution extends beyond heavy machinery. Earlier this year, the Japanese government provided 50 compact, state-of-the-art landmine detectors to Ukraine. Developed by Professor Emeritus Motoyuki Sato of Tohoku University, these detectors, known as ALIS (Advanced Landmine Imaging System), integrate metal detection technology with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). This allows demining teams to visualize the location of buried landmines on a tablet screen, making detection more accurate and reducing the need for manual digging, which can be time-consuming and dangerous.
To ensure that Ukraine can effectively utilize the equipment it receives, Japan has also focused on building the country’s technical capacity. JICA has organized multiple training sessions for Ukrainian personnel, enabling them to operate and maintain both the mine detection equipment and the heavy demining machinery. To date, 50 Ukrainian staff members have been trained under these programs, which are critical to sustaining demining efforts in the long term.
In a further sign of its commitment to Ukraine’s recovery, JICA recently placed an order for humanitarian demining equipment from Ukrainian manufacturers, emphasizing the importance of local production and capacity building. This partnership with local firms is not only aimed at addressing immediate demining needs but also at fostering Ukraine’s ability to develop and maintain its own demining technologies in the future.
The demining mission in Ukraine faces significant challenges, even with the influx of international support. The sheer scale of landmine contamination, coupled with the ongoing conflict, makes demining operations extremely dangerous. Additionally, Ukraine’s harsh winter weather, rugged terrain, and damaged infrastructure present logistical hurdles for deploying and maintaining the necessary equipment.
Prodrone’s drones, with their AI-powered detection systems and the ability to fly close to the ground, offer a promising solution to overcome some of these obstacles. By creating detailed maps of mine locations, the drones can provide essential data to demining teams, enabling them to operate more safely and efficiently. However, much will depend on the successful integration of local Ukrainian technologies into Prodrone’s systems and the effectiveness of collaboration between Prodrone, Padeco, and Ukrainian firms.
The commercialization of Prodrone’s demining drones by 2025 could mark a turning point in how countries approach post-conflict reconstruction, particularly in terms of leveraging drone technology for humanitarian purposes. As Ukraine continues to battle the remnants of war, these drones may serve as a critical tool in clearing the path to a safer and more prosperous future.
