Broswarm secures €800,000 for game-changing landmine detection tech
Summary
Broswarm, a defence tech startup specialising in mine detection, has secured 800,000 in funding from ScaleWolf, a hybrid accelerator and fund for defence tech.This funding will accelerate the development of Broswarms proprietary X-Ray Eagle sensor, which enhances mine detection by providing clear, 3D visualisations from up to 10 metres above ground.I spoke to Ernestas vaigdinas, co-founder and CEO of Broswarm, to learn more.Despite substantial investment in demining efforts, outdated technology hinders progress in conflict zones. Most mine detection systems rely on basic sensors that need to be almost at ground level to detect objects accurately, making them prone to false positivesa significant drain on time and resources.The companys challenges with existing sensors made them realise they needed a better solution. They hired a globally recognised physicist.The physicist had deep expertise in radar, and the company realised:We could combine Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) with a synthetic aperture reader used in satellites. With obviously difficult mathematics and algorithms, we could combine all the data and see every possible angle.In response, the X-Ray Eagle is a sensor that uses advanced radio waves to create 3D images of buried objects. Mounted on drones, the sensor can detect items up to 0.5 metres deep while operating from greater heights than traditional technology allows.X-Ray Eagle has the potential to significantly reduce false positives and provide reliable visual data for faster, more effective mine clearance.Significantly, the company believes that the sensor, made locally in Lithuania, will be available at a price point comparable to the existing sensors on the market.Broswarm has signed a contract with the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence to collaborate on demining technology, and the company took first place at a NATO challenge:The company plans to deploy its drones to Ukraine in the future, where over 30 percent of the land is suspected to be mine-contaminated, and dense vegetation and uneven terrain exacerbate these limitations.With more than 2 million landmines impacting agricultural areas and critical infrastructure and limiting the mobility of Ukrainian forces, the need for a breakthrough in mine detection technology has never been more urgent.Edvinas Skerza, Managing Partner at ScaleWolf and former Vice Minister of Defense of Lithuania, said:With this funding, the company plans to accelerate R&D, refine and patent the X-Ray Eagle technology, ultimately achieving a field-ready prototype for large-scale deployment.