A remote drone-based mining system was demonstrated in Germany
The German company Dynamit Nobel Defence has unveiled the Eggbox modular system, which allows drones to deploy anti-tank mines remotely without the need for on-site sappers. The system is designed to rapidly create minefields in complex or dangerous areas. It was showcased at the Eurosatory 2026 international defense exhibition in Paris.
Germany has demonstrated a new remote-mining technology that effectively shifts part of the work of engineering units to the air. This is the Eggbox modular system, developed by Dynamit Nobel Defence, which allows drones to deliver and deploy AT2+ anti-tank mines at designated locations.
The presentation took place during the Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition in Paris, where a heavy-lift drone capable of carrying several mines at once in special modules was showcased. According to the demonstration, the drone carried four munitions, though the company emphasizes that the number depends on the payload capacity of the specific drone.
The essence of the system is that, instead of manually planting mines or using ground-based equipment, the drone delivers the modules to the target area and deploys them with high precision. The developers say this significantly reduces the time required to set up minefields and minimizes risks to personnel.
Dynamit Nobel Defence emphasizes that Eggbox is particularly effective in challenging terrain—for example, in the mountains, on narrow passes, or near bridges, where quickly blocking lines of movement can be critical. At the same time, the company acknowledges that creating large minefields in this way is limited by the technical capabilities of drones, and in such cases, traditional systems remain more effective.
Structurally, the system consists of small modules measuring approximately 12 by 12 centimeters and 25 centimeters high, each of which houses an AT2+ mine with a deployment mechanism. The weight of a single such module, including the munition, is about three kilograms, making it suitable for transport by various types of UAVs.
Analysts note that the emergence of such systems is linked to the active development of drone technology in modern conflicts, particularly the experience of using them for remote mining. At the same time, it is emphasized that AT2+ anti-tank mines have already been used in Ukraine since 2022 as part of military aid, and the effectiveness of such weapons was demonstrated during combat operations in the south of the country, according to Defence Network.
Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training, and Education Center (JATEC) have announced an innovation competition called “Persistent Airfield Denial,” aimed at finding solutions for the sustained denial of enemy airfields.
