Demining machines will be made from construction equipment
The Ukrainian machine-building industry has strong production and human resources capabilities to manufacture a significant amount of equipment for humanitarian demining.
The manufacturers have declared their readiness to produce several dozen heavy-duty pyrotechnic vehicles with a localization rate of 15% to 50% per year, as well as up to a thousand vehicles for transporting mine action teams.
This was discussed during a meeting of government officials with representatives of companies that manufacture such machinery and equipment. Among those invited to discuss the technical support for demining Ukrainian lands were representatives of Pozhmashyna, Practika Research and Production Association, Cherkasy Bus, Ukrainian Armor, and Kharkiv Special Machines Plant.
In addition, the domestic industry is ready to produce machines for transporting explosive items, trucks, armored forklifts, and, in particular, up to five units of demining machines per month to prepare land for plowing and sowing.
“Domestic manufacturers are capable of producing hundreds of units of machinery and other equipment for the destruction of explosive ordnance per year, as well as re-equipping civilian construction equipment for demining needs. We are determined to make the most of the capabilities of Ukrainian manufacturers to produce such machines and equipment,” said Yulia Svyrydenko, First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy.
The participants of the meeting agreed that the certification procedure for new special mechanized demining machines and especially for converted construction equipment for demining machines should be accelerated as a matter of urgency, which will speed up the production and delivery of finished products to government customers.
This month, the government is starting to work on preparing a draft budget for next year and will include funding for a budget program to purchase equipment from domestic manufacturers to meet the needs of demining the country’s territory.
According to rough estimates, more than 174,000 square kilometers of Ukraine are potentially contaminated with explosive ordnance. This year, it is planned to survey, clear and return to operation up to 35% of agricultural land out of 470,000 hectares identified for priority demining.
In the story of our colleagues from Internet radio, you can clearly see how the adapted agricultural machinery works in a minefield.
