How Drones Are Transforming Landmine Removal

By John Oncea, Editor

Drone technology combined with AI is revolutionizing landmine clearance, making it faster, safer, and more cost-effective while overcoming challenges of accuracy and terrain limitations.

More than 100 million landmines are currently buried in more than 60 countries, according to Minesweepers, an international robotic competition on humanitarian demining that aims to motivate researchers and developers to work on innovative solutions for this serious problem.

The HALO Trust, a humanitarian non-government organization working to clear landmines and other explosive devices left behind by conflicts, reports that landmines “can remain functional in the ground decades after they were laid. Contrary to how they are often portrayed in films, a landmine usually operates instantly: standing motionless will not stop detonation. Injuries caused by a landmine can range from the loss of a limb to death.”

The United Nations concurs, adding that in 2021 – the last year that data was available – more than 5,500 people were killed or maimed by landmines, most of them civilians, half of whom were children.

Removing landmines, a task typically performed by mine disposal experts, dogs, and wheeled vehicles, is a dangerous and tedious process. It is costly as well. While mines cost between $3 and $30 to produce, the cost of removing them is $300 to $1000, according to Minesweepers, which adds, “If demining efforts remain about the same as they are now, and no new mines are laid, it will still take 1100 years to get rid of all the world’s active land mines.”

Millions of people live in areas where landmines and unexploded ordnance pose a daily threat to their lives. Left-behind landmines also impact the ability of these people to use their land for farming, construct infrastructure, and access basic resources like water and firewood.

Egypt As A Case Study

Egypt is the most landmine-contaminated country in the world, with an estimated 23 million landmines, accounting for over 20% of all landmines globally, Minesweepers writes. The majority are concentrated along the North Coast and the Sinai Peninsula, areas affected by military conflicts from World War II and subsequent wars with Israel.

These contaminated regions cover about 22% of Egypt’s total land area, significantly hindering economic development, agriculture, and resource extraction. For example, the North Coast, rich in oil and natural gas, contributes only 14% to Egypt’s total production due to the dangers posed by landmines.

Landmines in Egypt are found in fields, around water sources, and near infrastructure, making vast tracts of land unusable or accessible only at great risk. This restricts agricultural expansion and limits access to potable water, roads, and other vital resources.

The problem is exacerbated by the challenging terrain – deep sand, mud, and rough landscapes – making detection and removal extremely difficult. Many mines are buried deeply or have shifted due to wind and weather, further complicating clearance efforts. The lack of accurate maps and the degradation of mine casings over time add to the uncertainty and danger faced by deminers.

Despite the urgent need for mine clearance, Egypt has not signed the Mine Ban Treaty, citing security concerns related to its extensive borders. International support has included equipment and training, but the scale and complexity of the problem remain daunting. Clearing Egypt’s landmines is crucial for unlocking the country's economic potential, enhancing safety, and enabling the use of valuable land for agriculture and development.

Despite the efforts of The HALO Trust and other organizations like it to clear and destroy landmines, millions are still buried, and new conflicts continue to introduce additional contamination. As a result, there is still a significant amount of work to be done to ensure a world free of landmines.

There is also a need for new technologies to assist, if not outright replace, the efforts of the people putting their lives at risk to free the world of buried landmines, including drones.

History Of Landmine Clearance

Traditional demining methods have changed little since World War I, with humanitarian deminers typically using metal detectors and mine probes to painstakingly clear areas inch by inch, DroneXL writes. This approach not only exposes deminers to significant risk but is also incredibly time-consuming.

Demining efforts evolved by World War II, when the first systematic mine clearance operations began, according to FAE USA. Initially, this process relied on manual techniques that were effective but slow and hazardous. 

The introduction of mechanical demining equipment in the latter half of the 20th century represented the first major advancement in the field. However, these machines were often heavy, difficult to transport, and caused severe damage to farmland. The development of more sophisticated detection technologies, such as ground-penetrating radar, gradually improved the accuracy and safety of demining operations.

The concept of using drones for landmine detection began to gain traction in the early 2010s. In 2013, the Mine Kafon Foundation, established by Afghanistan-born Massoud Hassani, pioneered the development of drone technology for demining. The Mine Kafon Drone (MKD) was designed to map areas for landmines, detect them, and then detonate them remotely. This innovation marked a significant shift in demining approaches, leveraging aerial technology to reduce human risk.

Current Status Of Drone-Based Demining

Today, drone technology has become an integral part of modern demining operations, particularly in heavily mined regions like Ukraine, James Madison University writes. The HALO Trust logged over 85,800 drone flight minutes in 2024, identifying over 11,000 hazards, including landmines, rockets, and grenades. With three regional teams and over 100 drones, they use high-resolution cameras and AI tools to create detailed maps and analyze images.

Recent technological advancements have significantly enhanced drone capabilities for mine detection, reports DroneRacingLife. As of October 2024, Safe Pro AI’s SpotlightAI has processed over 757,516 drone images in Ukraine, confirming the presence of more than 6,151 explosive remnants of war across 3,135 hectares (over 7,700 acres). Utilizing AWS’s hyper-compute technology, SpotlightAI processes each image in less than 0.2 seconds, dramatically outperforming traditional methods that rely on human analysts.

According to Trend Hunter, the latest drone systems for demining typically employ a multi-stage approach:

1. Mapping: Drones equipped with cameras survey and map the suspected hazardous area.
2. Detection: Using various sensors, including multispectral cameras, metal detectors, and infrared technology, drones identify potential landmines.
3. Marking: GPS coordinates of detected mines are recorded for subsequent clearance.
4. Neutralization: Some advanced systems can even deploy small detonators to safely trigger mines from a distance.

In Ukraine, which faces one of the world’s largest landmine contamination challenges, drone technology has become essential for demining efforts, Toolify.ai writes. Russian troops have mined vast areas during their occupation, creating extensive minefields that require meticulous detection and clearance. Drones equipped with cameras and sensors provide a more efficient and safer alternative to manual detection in these dangerous zones.

Problems And Challenges

Despite the promising advancements, drone-based demining faces several significant challenges, including technical limitations. One major challenge is the detection of buried landmines, particularly those with minimal metal content, according to Pix4D. Plastic-bodied landmines are difficult for traditional metal detectors to locate, resulting in numerous false positives that waste valuable time and resources. While thermal mapping using drones shows promise for detecting these mines, the technology still has limitations in certain environments.

The accuracy of AI-based detection systems also remains a concern, arXiv adds. A recent study comparing surface landmine object detection models found that while AI algorithms perform well under controlled conditions, their effectiveness decreases when drones fly at higher altitudes or in areas with dense vegetation. False positives in mine detection can be particularly problematic, potentially diverting resources from genuine threats.

Drone operations are affected by various environmental factors, including weather conditions, terrain, and vegetation density, according to the International Federation of Surveyors, FIG. In areas with thick foliage or complex terrain, drone sensors may struggle to penetrate the ground or accurately identify buried objects. Additionally, the precision of drone navigation is crucial for effective mine detection, with some systems requiring position accuracy within a fraction of a wavelength of the radar system.

The scale of contamination in conflict zones presents another significant challenge. In Ukraine alone, about 17 million hectares are contaminated with explosive ordnance, according to the Ukraine Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment Report. Surveying such vast areas requires substantial resources, coordination, and technological capacity.

While drone technology offers cost advantages over traditional methods in the long run, the initial investment can be substantial. Stability: International Journal of Security & Development writes that high-end drone systems with advanced sensors and AI capabilities require significant funding, which may be limited in many mine-affected countries. Additionally, the operation of sophisticated drone systems requires specialized training and expertise, which may not be readily available in all regions.

Future Outlook

The future of drone-based demining looks promising, with several innovative developments on the horizon. Kyodo News writes that AI and machine learning technologies are rapidly evolving to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of landmine detection. NEC Corporation has developed AI technology capable of predicting where landmines are most likely buried with about 90 percent accuracy. By incorporating data from drones and satellites, this technology can significantly reduce the time needed to identify probable landmine burial sites.

Morningstar adds that Safe Pro Group’s SpotlightAI is another example of AI advancement in this field. In a recent milestone, SpotlightAI performed 366 times faster in locating detections using AI-powered image analysis compared to human-based analysis of individual images. The system has analyzed more than 1,290,679 drone images in Ukraine, pinpointing over 23,286 explosive remnants of war across 5,338 hectares.

Quantum sensing technologies hold significant promise for landmine detection. Quantum Computing Inc.'s Quantum Photonic Detection and Ranging (QpDAR) technology has been validated in landmine detection tests, demonstrating the ability to detect landmines and unexploded ordnances from ground level to sub-surface depths of up to 30 inches. These quantum sensors offer faster, more precise, and more accurate measurements than conventional sensors, potentially revolutionizing the field of mine detection.

The future of demining likely involves integrated systems combining aerial drones with ground-based robots, according to LeoTronics Robotics. Autonomous demining robots can perform many of the same tasks as human sappers, such as surveying, mapping, and clearance, but with increased speed, accuracy, and safety. These robots can be equipped with sophisticated sensors, including ground-penetrating radar and metal detectors, along with advanced algorithms for analyzing collected data.

Recent developments include Draganfly's partnership with Autonome Labs to develop an innovative drone-based demining solution. This collaboration integrates Draganfly's Heavy Lift drone platform with Autonome's M.A.G.I.C. (Mine and Ground Integrated Clearance) mesh system, designed to safely deploy demining mesh that detonates and neutralizes landmines across hazardous terrains.

Market Growth And Investment

The drone market is experiencing significant growth, with the global market valued at $73.06 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $163.60 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.3%, Grand View Research writes. While specific figures for the demining segment are not widely available, the increasing adoption of drones across various industries, including humanitarian applications, indicates a positive trend.

Investment in drone-based demining technologies is also increasing, adds ReliefWeb. The HALO Trust recently received a $4 million package of support from Amazon Web Services to pilot artificial intelligence and machine learning in its work in Ukraine. Such investments are crucial for advancing the technology and expanding its application in mine-affected regions worldwide.

Faster, Safer, More Efficient Landmine Clearing

Drone technology, combined with AI and advanced sensors, is transforming landmine clearance, making it faster, safer, and more efficient. While challenges remain, particularly in terms of detection accuracy, environmental limitations, and accessibility, ongoing innovations in AI, quantum sensing, and integrated systems offer promising solutions. 

With continued investment and technological development, drone-based demining has the potential to significantly accelerate global efforts to eliminate the deadly legacy of landmines, potentially achieving in decades what would otherwise take centuries using traditional methods. As these technologies mature and become more accessible, they will play an increasingly vital role in creating a safer world free from the threat of landmines.