How Ukraine's demining robots could help U.S. open the Strait of Hormuz
Ukraine's advanced demining robots, like the TLK-150 sea drone developed by Toloka, are being considered as a potential solution for clearing Iranian-laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed since March 2026. The U.S. Navy currently lacks sufficient domestic mine countermeasure capabilities, relying on limited and less effective systems, while Ukraine has gained extensive recent experience in maritime demining since 2022. Experts highlight that locating mines is often more challenging than removing them, and Ukraine's innovations may offer a more viable approach in GPS-jammed or high-risk environments.
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World How Ukraine's demining robots could help U.S. open the Strait of Hormuz By Aidan Stretch Aidan Stretch Reporter Aidan Stretch is a CBS News reporter based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Read Full Bio Aidan Stretch April 29, 2026 / 4:53 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google KYIV, Ukraine — The TLK-150 is 8 feet long, weighs roughly 50 pounds and glides just below the surface of the Black Sea mapping out the minefields that lay below. Once it dips underwater, its rotors can churn for over 1,200 miles before needing a recharge. The sea drone, manufactured by the Ukrainian defense company Toloka, has sailed hundreds of missions off Ukraine's coast, searching for the mines laid underwater during Russia's invasion.
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