Ukraine Tests New Smart Mine That Strikes Only When Operators Choose

Ukraine-based defense technology company Skylab has completed testing of a new directional anti-personnel mine known as the SHTORM-UA, according to the company’s announcement published on June 2.

According to Skylab, the system is designed to protect defensive positions and engage personnel approaching from a designated direction. Unlike conventional fragmentation mines that disperse explosive force in all directions, the SHTORM-UA concentrates its blast and fragmentation effect within a controlled sector.

“SHTORM-UA is designed for reliable position protection and effective engagement of the enemy,” the company stated.

According to Skylab, the mine uses a C-4 type explosive charge and can be mounted on various surfaces. The company says the system is capable of operating in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +50°C.

The manufacturer reported a continuous lethal coverage sector measuring approximately 30 meters wide, 20 meters deep, and 2 meters high. Skylab also highlighted operator-controlled activation as a key feature of the system.

“The main advantage is full operator control. The line can remain active for an unlimited period of time, and detonation is carried out exactly when necessary,” the company said.

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Directional mines focus explosive energy and metal fragments toward a specific area rather than dispersing them uniformly. According to Skylab, this approach is intended to increase effectiveness against targets in a defined sector while reducing fragmentation hazards behind the device.

The company said the SHTORM-UA is intended for perimeter defense, protection of military positions, and blocking narrow approaches or likely avenues of enemy advance.

Earlier, Ukraine’s defense technology company BlueBird Tech launched a dedicated design bureau to develop and mass-produce Ukrainian-made guided aerial bombs (KABs). According to the company, the initiative aims to expand Ukraine’s precision-strike capabilities and support the domestic production of long-range air-delivered weapons.

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