Parts of the Russian and Belarusian borders may soon be lined with anti-personnel “smart mines” that can network together, detect interlopers through vibrations, and be detonated remotely.
Polish company MBF Group and an Estonian partner, supported by Ukrainians, created a consortium to develop such minefields, Militarnyi reported. Prototypes have reportedly demonstrated that they work in real-world conditions.
The landmines will reportedly communicate with each other and operators through encrypted mesh radio networks. They will also feature seismic and acoustic sensors.
MBF Group is taking the lead on coordinating with Polish defense authorities and regulatory matters, with an eye towards rapidly scaling these mines once the technology is fully developed. Ukraine will help with engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
Ukrainian company Zmiyar has already developed similar tech to be used against the Russian invaders, although it’s not yet clear if it has been used in combat. The equipment consists of a smart fuse that can be added to a conventional mine. Up to 200 of Zmiyar’s fuses could be connected to the controller simultaneously.
Poland, Ukraine, and Estonia are among countries that in 2025 withdrew from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines.
Polish Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Bejda said last year that anti-personnel minefields will be deployed along the border with Belarus and Kaliningrad, as part of the Eastern Shield program.
Advantages
Conceptually, “smart mines” appear to offer more flexibility than conventional variants.
Instead of just exploding to take out whoever tripped them, the networked minefields may be able to use their acoustic and seismic sensors to detect people’s presence and alert friendly forces, who could deploy UAVs to get a visual.
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Remote detonation could afford greater control over enemy engagement and terrain-shaping operations. If the tech is robust, this could make the mines less of a threat to unintended targets.
The mines can also be set to operate autonomously.
Disadvantages
Electronically-fitted mines of this sort appear to have a much shorter functional span than conventional mines. Zmiyar was reportedly working on a way to allow the mines to operate "for 60 days," according to Militarnyi.
The use of wireless networking also opens the door to Electronic Warfare. While the mine developers can take steps to harden this tech against disruption, it will not be as immune as simple “dumb” mines.
Finally, the cost is likely to be higher. Ordinary landmines can cost under $100. Meanwhile, at least for Zmiyar’s tech, a set of three autonomous fuzes and a base station costs about $3,500. Each subsequent fuze costs about $300.
