The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) launched a drone-based AI landmine detection system on April 11, 2026. GICHD Director Alexander Kott announced the pilot at a Brussels press conference.
The system integrates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and machine learning. Teams tested prototypes in Ukraine and Syria in March 2026. According to GICHD data, field trials detected 92% of buried explosives within 50 cm soil depth. Drones scan 10 hectares per hour.
Drone Geophysics and AI Integration
Drones carry GPR sensors manufactured by GroundView AS. The sensors emit electromagnetic pulses that penetrate soil up to 2 meters. AI algorithms analyze reflected signals to identify metal and plastic mines.
ETH Zurich developed the machine learning models. Neural networks trained on 50,000 simulated mine signatures reduced false positives by 75%, ETH Zurich researchers stated in a technical report. The system flags suspicious targets for human deminers.
Drones deploy fluxgate magnetometers to detect ferrous metals. All data feeds into a central AI platform hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers. Field operators access feeds via tablet interfaces. GICHD estimates each flight costs less than 500 USD.
Deployment in Ukraine begins the week of April 15, 2026.
Landmine Clearance Statistics
Landmines killed 5,000 civilians across 60 countries in 2025, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) reported. UNMAS estimates more than 110 million landmines remain uncleared from past conflicts.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports 500,000 mines laid since Russia's 2022 invasion. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates Syria contains 10 million mines.
UNMAS reports manual demining clears 1 square meter per hour at a cost of 50 USD per square meter. The International Committee of the Red Cross called the system "a significant step toward improved humanitarian access" in an April 11, 2026, statement.
Funding and Market Projections
The European Union allocated 45 million EUR from its Horizon Europe program on April 11, 2026, to fund two-year pilots across five countries. GICHD announced private investors contributed an additional 20 million USD.
DeepTech Ventures led a 12 million USD Series A funding round for GroundView AS, a company statement said, valuing the Norwegian firm at 75 million USD post-money.
MarketsandMarkets projected the AI demining market will reach 2.3 billion USD by 2030 in a report dated March 15, 2026.
AeroVironment Inc. (AVAV) shares rose 3.2% to 145 USD during Nasdaq trading on April 11, 2026.
AI Landmine Detection Pilot Plans
Pilots commence April 15, 2026, in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Ten drones target 1,000 hectares with support from Ukrainian Sappers Corps ground teams.
Yemen pilots launch in May 2026 under United Nations Development Programme oversight. Cambodia trials achieved 85% accuracy on plastic mines, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre confirmed.
Drones upload data nightly. The AI retrains weekly on fresh mine signature datasets.
Sector Impacts
Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) provides Jetson modules for edge computing. NVDA shares rose 1.8% to 1,120 USD on the NYSE during April 11, 2026, trading.
Operational Challenges
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations cap flights at 400 feet. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency granted waivers for humanitarian operations.
EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires anonymization of geolocated scan data. Rain degrades GPR signals; multispectral cameras offer backup detection.
Drones cost 25,000 USD apiece. World Bank loans enable leasing. GICHD schedules training for 200 operators in Geneva next month.
Clearance Goals and AI Landmine Detection Impact
The 164 States Parties to the Ottawa Treaty pursue total mine clearance. The U.S. State Department allocates 50 million USD annually to global demining, a spokesperson stated.
Google.org awarded 10 million USD to scale AI landmine detection systems. Microsoft Azure hosts the models free of charge.
GICHD projections forecast 20,000 fewer casualties by 2028 and 5 billion USD in land value from clearances enabled by AI landmine detection. Stakeholders gather in Geneva on April 20, 2026.
