The Ukrainian manufacturer PJSC "Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant" has developed the remotely operated demining system «Germina»
Today, in Kyiv region, the National Mine Action Operator — UDS (Ukrainian Demining Services) conducted a demonstration of this demining system and presented the capabilities of the new Ukrainian unmanned vehicle.
The «Germina» was developed with maximum involvement of Ukrainian humanitarian demining operators as practitioners. Specifically, UDS shared their experience in using remotely operated systems from the Slovak manufacturer Bozena.
When creating the «Germina» efforts were made to account for the specific features of Ukrainian humanitarian demining, namely:
- The large scale of contamination;
- Climatic conditions that complicate year-round operation of machines;
- Soil and vegetation characteristics;
- Types of threats and UXO (unexploded ordnance) that have contaminated Ukrainian soil due to Russian aggression.
💬 "Thus, the manufacturer managed to create a machine with high productivity, passability, ease of maintenance, that can withstand explosions equivalent to 10 kg of TNT, and ensures the highest percentage of mine and UXO destruction/neutralization. Such a machine will allow for much faster demining of agricultural lands," said UDS Technical Director Eduard Drach.
«Germina» can clear 10,000 m² per hour. It requires maintenance every two hours and can clear up to 5 hectares of land per shift.
The system has a high localization percentage (more than 60%) and is equipped with a modern economical Caterpillar engine (USA), Italian-made Track One crawler chassis, and hydraulics from the best European manufacturer Danfoss (Denmark).
The system is equipped with operational tools: detonating chains with hammers, a milling cutter, a manipulator, and a multifunctional bucket for moving soil. This set allows for fast and safe demining of positions, trenches, buildings, and also performs effectively in forests and woodlands.
The remote control operates at a distance of up to 1 km.
During the demonstration, UDS sappers showed the machine's traversal of 100 meters of agricultural land with training models of UXO (models of TM62, PFM, PTM4, RGD5, and RGO grenades). The machine successfully demonstrated the destruction of all models. The machine's movement speed was 1 minute 35 seconds per 100 meters, with a passage width of 2 meters 70 cm.
In the first half of this year, UDS plans to receive 5 "Germina" machines from KZVV for humanitarian demining tasks in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions.
Currently, the first prototype is undergoing operational testing under a contract between KZVV and UDS.
The warranty period is 3 years.
The manufacturer "Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant" will provide technical maintenance and repairs of the machines throughout their service life.The cost of the "Germina" demining machine will be half the price of similar foreign-made machines, while its productivity is 300% higher.
At the demonstration event, representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Defense, State Emergency Service, State Service for Special Communications, the Center for Humanitarian Demining, and major mine action operators were present.