Groundbreaking mine clearance vehicle unveiled in Ukraine
4:31 PM EDT, October 28, 2023
On October 27, Ukraine's State Emergency Service endorsed a first-of-its-kind preliminary soil mine clearance machine, produced in the Kharkiv region. This unique device is vital for the safety of local communities, both now and in the future.
The machine's development was funded by the Kharkiv regional budget. It is designed to prepare the ground for demining and will be operated by specialists from the Interregional Humanitarian Mine Clearance and Quick Response Centre of the State Emergency Service. The cost of this self-propelled vehicle was around $164,000.
The essential role of mine clearance equipment in Ukraine
In the Kharkiv region, there are already eight similar vehicles in use. This latest addition marks the ninth such vehicle, but is the first to be entirely built within Ukraine. All previous machines were either donated by, or purchased from, other countries. Over a testing period of four months, the Kharkiv prototype safely cleared over 300 anti-infantry mines left behind after regional conflicts. Along with unexploded ordnance, these residual mines represent a significant ongoing threat to Ukrainians.
The vehicle has now been granted a certificate of compliance, allowing it to be mass-produced and widely used in demining operations. A second unit is expected to be delivered to Kharkiv's rescue team by the end of November.
The Kharkiv mine clearance machine in action
The machine, built on the chassis of a locally-produced crawler tractor, is remotely operated. It is designed for easy use, manufacture, maintenance, and repair, with virtually any part quickly replaceable. This efficiency means it can swiftly return to operations, even after sustaining damage from anti-tank mines. The vehicle weighs 16 tonnes (approximately 35,274 lbs) and operates at a speed between 3-4 kilometers per hour (approximately 2-2.5 mph).
The device can be remotely operated from up to 300 meters away (approximately 984 feet). Operator training lasts several weeks, after which the equipment will be deployed to mine-threatened regions of the Kharkiv Oblast. According to the manufacturer, the machine is capable of removing 95% of all mines in its operating area.
