AKP Phnom Penh, March 12, 2026 -- The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) today received 30 units of the latest-generation Advanced Landmine Imaging System (ALIS) mine detectors, valued at more than US$1.3 million, funded by the Japanese government.

The equipment, officially handed over on Thursday, represents Japan's continued support for CMAC's demining operations. The grant was approved by the Japanese government in early 2025, with the procurement process finalised following the standard timeline for acquiring such specialised technical equipment, which typically takes between one to two years.

The ALIS mine detector is a cutting-edge humanitarian demining technology developed through a long-standing collaboration between CMAC and Tohoku University in Japan, led by Professor Motoyuki Sato. The joint research and development initiative began in 2005-2006, culminating after more than two decades in this sophisticated and highly successful system.

ALIS integrates a metal detector with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), creating a dual-sensor system that functions as an advanced subsurface imaging tool. By providing a visual scan of underground objects, it significantly enhances both the safety and speed of clearance operations, allowing deminers to more effectively identify and neutralise landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

By K. Rithy Reak