Dropla Tech secures €2.4M to scale AI-powered battlefield threat detection
A Danish-Ukrainian defense startup is advancing edge-based AI that can spot mines and ambush drones in real time, addressing NATO’s critical requirement for offline battlefield intelligence.
KYIV, Ukraine — 19 August 2025
Dropla Tech, a Danish-Ukrainian defense technology company, has raised €2.4 million in pre-seed financing to accelerate deployment of its edge-based explosive threat detection systems. The round was co-led by Danish investment firm Maj Invest and the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), with participation from venture investor Final Frontier.
Founded in 2023 by four Ukrainian entrepreneurs — V’yacheslav Shvaidak, Dmytro Zarubin, Maksym Tkachenko, and Illarion Karnaukh — Dropla develops AI-enabled solutions designed to detect mines, unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices, and ambush drones directly on the battlefield. Its flagship system, BLUE EYES, operates entirely offline through ruggedized compute nodes integrated into drones or ground units. By embedding AI at the edge rather than in the cloud, the platform maintains sovereignty of battlefield intelligence while working in contested electromagnetic environments. The system delivers sub-15cm precision accuracy and eliminates the connectivity dependencies that compromise mission effectiveness in modern multi-domain operations.
The company’s private testing range in Ukraine contains more than 170 confirmed explosive targets, making it Europe’s most comprehensive dataset for mine detection. This real-world validation underpins investor confidence.
“In active conflict environments, we are delivering immediate life-saving capabilities by reducing the risk of loss of life and injuries from explosive threats and ambush drones deployed within the FEBA zone, this is the way we contribute,” said Shvaidak, co-founder and CEO.
Dropla employs a 35-person team split between Denmark and Ukraine. Through the Ukrainian government’s BRAVE1 defense tech cluster, the company has gained access to real combat data, military testing grounds, and direct engagement with Ukrainian Defense Forces. Shvaidak credited these partnerships with ensuring the company’s technology was designed around battlefield requirements.
The humanitarian applications are equally central to Dropla’s mission. Alongside BLUE EYES, the company is developing DROPLA VISION, a multi-sensor mapping system for demining and post-conflict recovery. Dropla also works with Demine Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Association for Humanitarian Demining on non-technical and technical surveying programs.
The investment is also tied to Denmark’s broader support for Ukraine. EIFO has a €550 million program dedicated to strengthening Ukrainian innovation, and Denmark has committed over DKK 60 billion in military aid.
“Dropla Tech delivers life-saving innovation with real-world impact. Their edge-based threat detection technology not only strengthens Europe’s defense capabilities, but also addresses Ukraine’s urgent needs. Defense is one of EIFO’s strategic focus areas, and we’re proud to support a company that combines world-class technical excellence with critical geopolitical relevance,” said Louise Flyger, investment manager at EIFO.
Maj Invest echoed that view. “We are proud to back Dropla and its life-saving, AI-based explosive threat detection capabilities. This investment reflects our dedication to investing in, and strengthening, the Danish and European defence sector,” said Jeppe Christiansen, CEO of Maj Invest.
Looking ahead, Dropla aims to expand its deployment footprint. “Next stop: NATO nation integration and scaling production to meet urgent operational demands in Ukraine,” Shvaidak said.
He also emphasized the company’s broader mission: “The future of threat detection isn't in Silicon Valley's cloud — it's at the edge, where it matters most.”
