Drones and magnetometers in demining operations: Ministry of Defence deploys advanced technologies for land clearance

Specialists from the mine clearance units of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine are being trained to search for explosive hazards using UAVs and specialized magnetometers capable of detecting changes in the Earth’s magnetic field. This enables the detection of concealed metal objects from the air while reducing risks to personnel.

The training was conducted as part of a specialized course at the Ukrainian Training and Testing Complex (UTTC), which focuses on the development of advanced technologies in mine action, civil protection, and environmental safety.

From mission planning to UAV piloting: sapper training in practice

During the course, the service members trained across the full cycle of operations involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In particular, the participants mastered:

• the deployment, operation, and technical maintenance of UAVs and sensor systems;
• the use of ground control systems;
• planning and monitoring flight missions;
• hands-on piloting of different drone platforms.

A dedicated, and most important, component of the training focused on the use of magnetometers — advanced systems that scan the ground surface and detect concealed explosive ordnance, significantly reducing personnel risks.

 

Protecting people and clearing Ukrainian territory

The technological skills acquired will help mine clearance specialists more efficiently clear de-occupied areas of explosive remnants resulting from russian aggression. The scope of the effort remains immense: since February 24, 2022, the mine clearance units of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine have already surveyed and cleared 460,189 hectares of liberated territory.