Funding Round attributes
Lithuanian defense tech startup Broswarm has raised €800,000 in funding from ScaleWolf, a hybrid accelerator and fund specializing in defense technology. The funding will support the development and deployment of Broswarm’s cutting-edge landmine detection system, X-Ray Eagle, which aims to enhance safety and efficiency in demining operations by providing high-resolution 3D visualizations of buried landmines and other explosives.
Broswarm’s X-Ray Eagle sensor technology is designed to overcome key limitations in current landmine detection solutions. Traditional systems, which often rely on ground-level magnetometers and infrared cameras, face challenges in accurately identifying non-metallic mines and operating in dense vegetation. X-Ray Eagle, in contrast, is mounted on drones and uses advanced radio waves to generate clear 3D images from up to 10 meters above ground, detecting objects as deep as 0.5 meters underground. This capability allows drones equipped with X-Ray Eagle to cover larger areas more efficiently, reducing false positives and minimizing risks for demining personnel.
Ernestas Žvaigždinas, co-founder and CEO of Broswarm, emphasized the potential of X-Ray Eagle to transform demining operations by providing “functionality for the human eye,” enabling clearer visual assessments of buried threats. He highlighted the company’s innovative approach, which integrates Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and synthetic aperture technology typically used in satellite imaging. “With complex algorithms, we can combine data from multiple angles, producing visuals almost like photographs that provide demining teams a safer and faster method to detect and clear landmines,” Žvaigždinas explained.
The X-Ray Eagle technology recently earned top recognition at the NATO Innovation Challenge, where it received first place due to its clarity and reliability in threat detection. This success has led to further partnerships, including a collaboration with the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence to refine and field-test the technology. Broswarm aims to deploy the X-Ray Eagle-equipped drones in regions with high landmine contamination, such as Ukraine, where conflict has left over 30% of the landmine-susceptible terrain, impacting agricultural land and infrastructure.
Edvinas Skerza, Managing Partner at ScaleWolf and former Vice Minister of Defense of Lithuania, emphasized the urgent need for innovative solutions like Broswarm’s in global demining efforts. “Governments are prioritizing landmine detection, and Broswarm’s technology can provide critical support not only for safe landmine clearance but also to enable troops to navigate mine-infested areas more securely,” Skerza stated.
With the new funding, Broswarm plans to accelerate research and development, finalize the X-Ray Eagle prototype, and pursue patent protection. The company also aims to conduct extensive field testing over the next year to validate the technology in various terrains and operational conditions.
Broswarm’s local production approach for X-Ray Eagle in Lithuania aims to ensure that the technology remains cost-effective and accessible for international deployment. As the company continues its development and scaling, Broswarm’s innovative sensor technology could play a significant role in advancing global demining initiatives, enhancing safety for both civilian and military operations in mine-affected regions.
