– Prodrone, a Japanese industrial drone producer, plans to supply Ukraine with its drones for humanitarian demining. Tokyo has previously assisted Kyiv in mine clearance efforts. Japan delivered four ALIS systems to search mines and 50 metal detectors.
Additionally, Ukrainian experts have undergone demining training in Japan.
Prodrone intends to supply Ukraine with drones capable of operating 50 cm above the ground. Ukrainian specialists will develop its mine detection technology, which is expected to incorporate artificial intelligence, allowing a drone to mark detected mines on an interactive map. The Japanese company aims to begin drone deliveries to Ukraine next year.
Prodrone manufactures unmanned aerial vehicles for high-resolution aerial surveillance of specific land areas (for construction and mining), inspection of infrastructure objects (bridges, dams, and tunnels), as well as logistics and cargo transportation.
Earlier, Japan’s new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, delivered his first policy speech to parliament, warning that “today’s Ukraine could be tomorrow’s East Asia” and expressing concerns about an increasingly divided world.
Ishiba expressed support for creating a regional military alliance similar to NATO, stating that the security environment in Asia was “the most severe since the end of World War II.”
The mine detection technology will be developed by Ukrainian specialists and, as expected, with the introduction of artificial intelligence, thanks to which the drone will be able to place detected mines on an interactive map of the area.
The Japanese company expects to start supplying drones to Ukraine next year. Prodrone’s website states that it produces unmanned aerial vehicles for high-resolution imaging of individual land plots (for construction, mining, etc.), inspection of infrastructure facilities (bridges, dams, tunnels, and other structures), as well as logistics and transportation of goods.
Tokyo has previously provided assistance to Kyiv in demining issues. Japan handed over to Ukraine four ALIS installations, which allow finding mines with great accuracy, as well as 50 metal detectors. In addition, Ukrainian experts have completed demining training in Japan .
Sources: Euromaidan; Ukrinform;