Miami-Dade Company Aims to Supply AI Drone Tech to Ukraine Military
By Ashley Portero – Senior Reporter, South Florida Business Journal STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Safe Pro Group may supply $5 million in demining equipment.
- Ukraine’s military requested 50 drone demining packages from Safe Pro.
- Safe Pro’s AI has analyzed 921,000 images in Ukraine.
Aventura-based Safe Pro Group (Nasdaq: SPAI) could supply $5 million worth of equipment to Ukraine’s State Special Transport Service.
The company, a maker of artificial intelligence solutions used in drone imagery, reports the military unit requested to purchase up to 50 of its drone demining packages. The packages include the company’s SpotlightAI threat detection system, a platform that provides 2D/3D mapping capabilities, demining hardware, protection gear and survey drones.
Safe Pro is engaging with government lobbyists, contractors and other stakeholders to facilitate the purchase, according to a news release.
The technology will be used to help the Ukrainian military identify and remove explosive landmines from its terrain. Ukraine has become one of the most mined locations in the world since 2022, when Russia began its full stage invasion of the country. According to the Landmine Monitor 2024 report, at least 580 people in Ukraine were killed or wounded by landmines in 2023 alone.
“Having worked in Ukraine for over two years, we have witnessed the massive reconstruction challenges facing the SSTS,” Safe Pro Group Dan Erdberg said in a statement. “Current methodologies and processes are not designed to address the magnitude of the landmine crisis in Ukraine and that is why we have worked with SSTS to modernize their demining survey capabilities.”
Safe Pro says its AI models have already been used in Ukraine. So far, its technology has analyzed more than 921,000 drone images to locate at least 16,540 explosive remnants of war, such as unexploded shells, grenades and bombs. The company reports its Spotlight AI system can analyze an image taken by a drone in less than 0.2 seconds, compared to several minutes each for traditional human analysis.
“SSTS has notified Safe Pro in writing of its need for this equipment and has officially requested Safe Pro’s assistance in securing [government/NGO assistance] to order the demining kits for its use,” a Safe Pro representative told the Business Journal.
Erdberg said Safe Pro Group is working to secure funding for the purchase of its demining kits for the SSTS, a specialized military unit in Ukraine focused on transportation and reconstruction projects.
In August Safe Pro became one of South Florida’s newest public companies after raising $5.1 million in an initial public offering. The business provides drone services to state and local governments, first responders, public utilities and telecommunication firms. The autonomous vehicles are used for everything from aerial mapping to storm and emergency response services.
Shares of Safe Pro were trading for $3.99 each early Thursday, up 4% from market open.
To read the article, please click here!