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Content:
  1. All kinds of equipment from all around the world
  2. Developing domestic production
  3. Machine operators trained by manufacturers
  4. Localization of foreign brands in Ukraine
  5. Why certification of demining machines is so important
  6. Not by machines alone: why sappers need mowers

Even as the war continues, Ukraine is already actively engaged in the humanitarian demining of land contaminated with explosive devices. Work is being carried out simultaneously in several areas. One is demining with the already available means and equipment. Another is the development of new technologies and machines.

In the first two articles in a special partnership project of LIGA.net and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, we first explored how the new humanitarian demining market was launched in Ukraine, and then how technologies in this field are evolving.

In our third article we take a look at the equipment used for demining Ukrainian land, discovering where it is manufactured and what makes it unique.

All kinds of equipment from all around the world

The first mine-clearing vehicles operated in Ukraine were provided by the country’s international partners. At the beginning of 2024, there were 30 of these machines, but by the end of the year there were over 150. Moreover, other equipment provided by Ukraine’s partners is also working in the fields: pickup trucks for transporting demining teams, tractors for transporting demining machines, and excavators. In addition, sappers need equipment such as metal detectors and personal protective equipment.

The total amount of international support for Ukraine in the area of humanitarian demining has already reached $1.07 billion. Ukraine’s partners allocate most funds to purchase machinery and equipment for demining operators.

"Today, Ukraine has all kinds of demining equipment from all over the world, from heavy industrial machines to light mobile robots," says Ihor Bezkaravaynyi, deputy minister of economy of Ukraine.

At the same time, domestic production of demining equipment is developing: Ukrainian companies are creating solutions that are unique to the country, and which are returning land to use more quickly.

The total amount of international support to Ukraine in the field of humanitarian demining has reached $1.07 billion.
The total amount of international support to Ukraine in the field of humanitarian demining has reached $1.07 billion.

Developing domestic production

The production of demining machines in Ukraine is developing in several areas at once. The first to introduce its product to the market was Intervybukhprom, a plant in Kryvyi Rih, which developed the Kryvbas demining machine.

"They rethought the technology that the Japanese used in Cambodia," says Bezkaravaynyi. "To work in dense vegetation, Japanese engineers developed a special small milling cutter that was attached to the arm of Hitachi excavator in place of a bucket. Ukrainian specialists created a similar design that successfully passed certification and paved the way for other manufacturers. However, for some reason, these machines did not become very popular – perhaps because of marketing or pricing."

The Kharkiv Tractor Plant was also among the first to start working in this area. Its first demining product was a machine based on the T-150 tractor. It was equipped with trawls that pressed the soil while driving, revealing detonated anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.

"The machine may not have looked very attractive, but it actually performed very well," says Bezkaravaynyi. "It is especially good when you have to work with tall vegetation, and it’s not clear whether there is a tripwire, a mine, or something else. This machine simply crushes everything underneath it, and sappers with metal detectors follow it to determine whether there is anything else in the ground."

After its successful launch, the Kharkiv Tractor Plant’s engineers continued to improve their design. They modified the control systems and eventually created a completely new platform from scratch – a demining machine in the classical sense.

Demining machine made by the Kharkiv Tractor Plant. Specifications
  • 320-horsepower engine
  • caterpillar tracks
  • speed: from 0.5 to 1.5 km/h
  • productivity – up to 0.25 hectares per hour, depending on the type of soil
  • hammer working tool penetrates the soil to a depth of 30 cm
  • can withstand at least 5 blasts
  • remote control at a distance of up to 613 m

An innovative development of RoverTech – the Zmiy (Ukrainian for "snake") machine – is attracting special attention in the market. This is a new subclass of demining vehicles that can clear fields of shrapnel and high-explosive munitions – the types of ammunition that cause most injuries to sappers. The machine is designed to work in low and medium vegetation, destroying anti-personnel mines, removing tripwires, and even withstanding the detonation of anti-tank mines. And unlike traditional demining machines, which are large and heavy vehicles, the Zmiy is lightweight and mobile.

The ZMIY ground robotic clearance system. Specifications
  • weight: 950 kg
  • dimensions: 2770 x 1600 x 850 mm
  • principle of operation: rotary mechanism with weights for mine activation
  • types of mines that can be activated: TM-62 anti-tank mines, PNM-2, PNM-4, PMF anti-personnel mines, OZM-72 and MON
  • tripwire mines demining speed: 2-2.5 hectares per day
  • resistance to electronic warfare (EW)
  • means protection against bombs dropped from drones, and from attack by FPV drones
  • deployment time of 15 minutes or less
  • ability to be controlled remotely at a distance of up to 2.9 km

"In the case of the Zmiy, we’re talking more about the format," says Bezkaravaynyi. "Most demining machines are made to be large, and massive, and ‘digest’ everything underneath them. But the guys from RoverTech made the Zmiy small and light, which is a different concept. In fact, that’s why it is unique. When detonating, for example, an anti-tank mine, it does not get blasted to bits, but simply flips over."

Bezkaravaynyi says work is currently underway to reorient the country’s international partners to working with Ukrainian manufacturers, so that equipment for demining operators is purchased domestically. To encourage the purchase of Ukrainian machinery and energy equipment, the government has launched a compensation programme: buyers of Ukrainian-made equipment – including that used for demining – will get a discount of around 15%.

"We’re also working with donors to finance ideas," Bezkaravaynyi says. "But not just ‘pure’ ideas: people have come up with something before asking us for money. It means that they’ve already done something, they have a prototype, and are looking for funding to test it and further improve it."

Most demining machines are made large and heavy. The Zmiy, made by RoverTech, is in contrast small and light
Most demining machines are made large and heavy. The Zmiy, made by RoverTech, is in contrast small and light

Machine operators trained by manufacturers

Each type of machine used in demining has its own peculiarities in operation and maintenance. So the specialists who work with them are trained directly by the manufacturers.

Since much of the equipment in Ukraine is foreign-made, training can take place both in Ukraine and abroad. And when an international partner buys demining machines, it pays not only for the equipment, but also for a set of spare parts and training for the teams that will work with these machines.

"Representatives of the manufacturing companies come to Ukraine to conduct the training, or Ukrainian specialists travel abroad for training," says Bezkaravaynyi. "For example, to work with Croatian DOK-ING equipment, training was initially conducted in Croatia, and later, when the company opened a representative office in Ukraine, training began to be conducted here. To master the Japanese Nikken equipment, Ukrainian rescuer workers flew to Cambodia and Japan for training."

In future, the training process is planned to be unified, and standardized procedures for operator training will be developed. However, the specifics of working with each particular machine will still have to be learned separately.

When Ukraine’s international partners buy demining machines for the country, they pay not only for the equipment, but also for the training of the teams that will work with it
When Ukraine’s international partners buy demining machines for the country, they pay not only for the equipment, but also for the training of the teams that will work with it

Localization of foreign brands in Ukraine

Along with developing its own products, Ukraine is actively setting up domestic production of foreign demining machines. Localization involves transferring the production of certain parts of the machine and its assembly to Ukraine's territory. This makes it possible to promptly resolve issues related to equipment maintenance and repair, and to quickly deliver components.

"So far, the Croatian company DOK-ING has achieved the greatest success in localization," says Dmytro Panshyn, head of the Humanitarian Demining Directorate at the Ministry of Economy. "The Ukrainian company A3Tech carries out the assembly of their machines and manufactures their working tools. Specifically, all parts, except for hydraulic motor components, intake valves, and drive chains, are manufactured in Ukraine. These elements are still manufactured in Croatia, as their production requires specific equipment and certification."

Localized production has been launched for the DOK-ING MV-4 and MV-10 mechanized demining machines. They have already been certified in Ukraine, and the share of localization of their production is currently almost 30%.

Cooperation has also been established with the Danish company HYDREMA, which produces high-tech earthmoving equipment and demining machines. A memorandum on cooperation stipulates that Ukrainian companies will produce equipment components not only for the domestic market but also for export.

In addition, the production of the Slovakian company Way Industries, which manufactures Bozena-5 demining machines, and the Italian manufacturer FAE, which produces the PT-300 demining machine, will be localized in Ukraine.

Why certification of demining machines is so important

Mine action is a highly regulated area where human safety is paramount. For this reason, the certification of demining machines is a must, explains Kateryna Drozd, head of the Humanitarian Demining Department at the Ministry of Economy.

"During the certification process, the machine must be able to withstand explosions if it is to be classed as a demining machine," says Drozd. "We can't just take any old tractor, attach a roller to it, and give it to operators to work with. Humanitarian demining is about people’s lives in the first place. Therefore, all technologies, no matter how innovative, must be regulated. And it’s not possible to certify just any innovation – it must meet certain requirements."

"Currently, Ukraine has issued eight certificates for demining machines. These include both fully Ukrainian developments and partially localized machines. Among the certified equipment are machines manufactured by DOK-ING, which recently opened an office in Ukraine, and products made by the Italian company FAE. One of the latest to be certified was the Ukrainian machine, the Zmiy.

One of the main challenges in developing demining machines is the need for close cooperation with end users. Drozd cites a new development by Kharkiv Tractor Plant engineers, created in a process of constant interaction with operators and deminers, as a successful example of this approach. This is especially important because the machine has to be adapted to the Ukrainian environment: soil, landscape, and weather conditions.

"International partners might provide equipment that has not been tested in Ukraine, and we may face the fact that it simply won't work here," Drozd says. "That is why it’s important to understand the Ukrainian situation. It’s very important to cooperate, so that we have the engineering background, sapper experience, and humanitarian demining experience. Only together can we create something that will work."

The Ukrainian Zmiy demining machine has received official certification
The Ukrainian Zmiy demining machine has received official certification

Not by machines alone: why sappers need mowers

In addition to large demining machines, sappers have a significant need for special mowers to cut back vegetation. This request arose directly from the specialists working in the field, who spend a lot of time and effort clearing vegetation from the area with ordinary pruning shears.

Existing industrial solutions, such as Bobcat mowers, although effective, have a significant drawback – their high cost. At about $300,000, such machines often fail after triggering explosions of mines, and have to be written off. This has prompted a search for alternative solutions.

"Mowers significantly speed up the demining process," says Bezkaravaynyi. "When sappers don’t have to spend time manually mowing the grass, they can focus on their direct duties and clear the area of mines faster. This year, we held a hackathon where mower manufacturers presented their developments. One of the most successful models is a mower made by DROPLA costing about $10,000. If such a mower is blown up, it won’t be a catastrophic loss."

Along with the development of demining equipment, sappers' protective gear is also undergoing improvement. Personal protective equipment manufacturers, who are in constant contact with equipment users, are adapting their products to their users’ needs. Bezkaravaynyi cites the example of a Ukrainian manufacturer that, in early 2022, was supplying armoured vests from Poland, and later set up production of its own demining equipment based on feedback from sappers.

Along with the development of demining equipment, the protective equipment for sappers is also being improved
Along with the development of demining equipment, the protective equipment for sappers is also being improved

"They adapt their products after receiving feedback," Bezkaravaynyi says. "And, as I understand it, they have become completely different products in terms of comfort, quality, and protection. It’s not even difficult to put it on yourself, even though, as a rule, such equipment requires assistance when you’re putting it on. And when we went to an international exhibition and decided to look at the products of other manufacturers, we realized that there was nothing to see – everyone came to the Ukrainian stands to see what we were doing."

Ukraine has to rapidly master the technologies and equipment involved in humanitarian demining, and in parallel develop its own expertise, innovations, and production. From heavy machines made in Kharkiv, to the lightweight and mobile Zmiy, and from specialized mowers to modern protective equipment, Ukrainian developers are demonstrating the ability to meet the challenges of the times. Thus, Ukrainian innovations and experience are already transforming approaches to humanitarian demining at the global scale.

Credits: UNDP in Ukraine, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.