Ukrainian engineering company XTI Engineering has unveiled a new de-mining tractor, the latest in a new trend of domestic manufacturing: Three years ago, the country produced no equipment to remove land mines. Now there are many kinds from several local producers.
XTI Engineering’s HART 5100 remotely operated system, made with 80% local components, is significantly more affordable than foreign alternatives, the company said.
“A year ago, I visited the plant where these machines are made,” said First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, as reported by state-media Ukrinform.
“Back then, it was just an idea. Today, it’s a finished product already working in the field. Mass production is ahead,” she added. “And this is not just the story of one manufacturer. It’s a sign of how fast the entire sector is developing. In 2022, Ukraine had no domestic de-mining machines. Now, there are nearly a dozen manufacturers producing various types of machines and equipment.”
Ukraine still receives such equipment from foreign partners. Ukrinform also reported on Wednesday that Estonian developer of robotics and autonomous systems, Milrem Robotics, has sold six “THeMIS” unmanned ground vehicles to the French company CNIM Systèmes Industriels, which will in turn deliver them to Ukraine, thanks to funding via the French government.
“The agreement with CNIM allows us to continue to support Ukraine. Our partnership demonstrates the strength of European defense cooperation and our commitment to providing Ukraine with important capabilities,” said Kuldar Varsi, Chairman of the Board of Milrem Robotics.
That machine can be operated remotely from up to 600 meters (656 yards) away, ensuring the safety of the operator. With a signal repeater, the safe control range can be extended to over one kilometer (0.6 miles). The system is equipped with wide-angle cameras for improved visibility.
The HART 5100 de-mining machine is priced at approximately $500,000. A leasing option has been introduced in partnership with a Ukrainian bank, allowing de-mining operators who cannot afford an upfront purchase to acquire the equipment through installment payments.
The domestically made robot operates at a working speed of 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) per hour and can clear over two hectares of land contaminated with explosive hazards in a single daylight shift. The demining depth reaches 300 mm (12 inches), and its interchangeable tools allow it to adapt to different soil types.
As of April 2023, just more than a year into the full-scale invasion, it was estimated that approximately 174,000 square kilometers (67,182 square miles) of Ukrainian territory were contaminated by landmines. According to the United Nations, from February 2022 to July 2023, 298 civilians, 22 of them children, had been killed due to unexploded ordnance, with a total of 632 civilian injuries.