Japanese firm Prodrone tests landmine-detection drone in Ukraine

Japanese company Prodrone has conducted field tests in Ukraine with a drone designed to detect anti-personnel landmines from the air. The tests were reported by NHK and Ukrinform on Wednesday.

Japanese drone manufacturer Prodrone has carried out field trials in Ukraine with an unmanned aerial vehicle built specifically to locate anti-personnel landmines from the air, according to reports by NHK and Ukrinform published on Wednesday.

The testing marks a notable step in efforts to deploy technology for humanitarian demining in one of the world's most heavily mined territories. Ukraine has been left with vast areas of contaminated land following years of intense ground combat, making safe and efficient mine detection a critical priority.

Prodrone's aerial mine-detection system aims to survey large tracts of land more quickly and safely than traditional manual methods, reducing the risk to human deminers working on the ground. The company has not yet disclosed the full technical specifications of the drone or a timeline for potential deployment at scale.