Broswarm: Pioneering European Drone Tech for Safer Demining

Broswarm is a Lithuanian deep-tech startup tackling one of modern warfare’s oldest scourges – landmines – with a cutting-edge drone-based solution. Founded in 2023 amid the urgency of the Ukraine war, the company has swiftly drawn international attention by developing “X-Ray Eagle,” a revolutionary sensor payload that can see buried explosives in striking detail. Mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles, Broswarm’s multispectral sensor system produces high-resolution 3D images of objects concealed beneath the ground, enabling faster and safer mine detection than traditional methods.

This novel approach earned Broswarm first place in NATO’s 2024 Innovation Challenge, outshining global competitors with its promise to remove human deminers from harm’s way. Beyond its technical achievements, Broswarm embodies Europe’s drive for strategic autonomy in defense technology. By developing a homegrown alternative to legacy demining tools – often reliant on foreign suppliers – the startup contributes to reducing dependency on non-allied sources and strengthening NATO’s collective security.

The following analysis delves into Broswarm’s strategic-technological profile, examining how this young company’s innovations align with European defense priorities and the quest for greater technological sovereignty. Company Profile: Broswarm is a private deep-tech startup (Vilnius, Lithuania) specializing in drone-mounted mine detection sensors. Founded in 2023 by Ernestas Žvaigždinas and partners, it operates at the nexus of autonomous systems, advanced sensors, and AI-driven data analysis.

The company’s core product, the X-Ray Eagle sensor, merges ground-penetrating radar with miniaturized synthetic aperture radar and proprietary imaging algorithms to produce clear 3D visuals of buried landmines. Strategic Technology Alignment: Broswarm’s technology spans multiple European Emerging and Disruptive Technology (EDT) priorities. It leverages autonomous systems & robotics (unmanned drone swarms) and advanced sensor technologies enhanced by AI/ML for target recognition.