Large areas of Azerbaijan affected by past conflict remain contaminated by landmines and other explosive hazards, limiting safe access and delaying reconstruction. Clearing these areas is a prerequisite for the return of displaced populations and for the restoration of infrastructure and land use.

In June 2022, Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) signed a contract with Azerbaijan's Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) to supply mechanical demining capability in support of clearance operations in the NagornoKarabakh region. The agreement covers the delivery of four GCS-200 platforms together with associated equipment and support services. Shipment of the systems has already commenced from GCS facilities in Stockach, Germany, en route to Baku.

Addressing large-scale contamination

Following the 2020 conflict, liberated areas in and around Nagorno-Karabakh were left heavily contaminated with antipersonnel and antitank mines, as well as unexploded ordnance (UXO). This contamination presents ongoing risks to civilians and has resulted in injuries, underlining the urgency of systematic clearance.

Humanitarian demining is a critical enabler for reconstruction and resettlement. The Government of Azerbaijan has therefore prioritised efforts to reduce explosive risk and to enable the safe return of internally displaced people (IDPs).

Introducing mechanical clearance capability

Until now, clearance activities conducted by MES have relied primarily on manual deminers and mine detection dogs (MDDs). While effective, these methods alone are insufficient to address the scale and density of contamination across the affected areas.

The introduction of the GCS-200, a remotely operated, multipurpose mechanical demining platform, is intended to significantly increase clearance productivity and safety. The system was previously deployed to Azerbaijan in 2021 for demonstrations and testing, where it demonstrated its ability to process difficult terrain and withstand high-threat conditions typical of large minefields.

By integrating mechanical assets into existing clearance workflows, MES can accelerate land release while reducing direct exposure of personnel to explosive hazards.

Equipment package and support

In addition to the four GCS-200 platforms, the contract includes:

• working attachments such as tillers and flails

• spare and wear parts

• storage solutions

• mobile workshop systems with tools for field maintenance

This configuration is designed to support sustained operations in remote areas and to ensure that systems can be maintained and repaired locally.

Capacity building and sustainability

For the first time in Azerbaijan, GCS is delivering a comprehensive capacitybuilding and enhancement programme alongside the equipment. The programme focuses on:

• operator and maintainer training

• technical support

• long-term sustainability of the MES mechanical explosive hazard clearance capability

This approach reflects GCS's emphasis on combining platforms with training, service and lifecycle support to enable national authorities to operate and sustain clearance assets independently over time.

Enabling recovery and return

Mechanical demining will play an important role in supporting Azerbaijan's broader recovery objectives by enabling safer access to land, infrastructure and agricultural areas. By strengthening national clearance capacity through equipment, training and support, GCS contributes to reducing explosive risk and accelerating the return of affected communities.