It was shown at the forum "Protection of civilian objects from attacks by unmanned systems and commercial operation of UAS" in St. Petersburg.
ST. PETERSBURG, October 8th. /tass/. The KOZ-U-Sh universal support structure, which protects tanks from attacks by UAVs weighing up to 200 kg, was developed in Russia, it was shown at a forum in St. Petersburg. Ivan Klyuchnikov, project manager at Amast Power Lines, told TASS about this.
"We have developed the first [in Russia] design that protects against drones weighing up to 200 kg. The KOZ-U-Sh design specializes in the protection of vertical steel tanks with a volume of 400 to 50 thousand cubic meters. We have already implemented about 150 such freestanding structures. There was a successful experience of industrial operation during drone attacks. Two drones up to 200 kg and [with a speed of] up to 200 km/h flew into one structure, and one drone flew into another structure," he said at the forum "Protection of civilian objects from attacks by unmanned systems and commercial operation of UAS."
The specialist said that there are wire meshes around the perimeter of the entire structure, and a gabion mesh is laid on top. The top structure resembles a trampoline in shape. "It was an interesting case. The first drone, when it arrived, just ricocheted off, and [it] flew off into the parking lot, behind the square (the site where the tanks with petroleum products are located - approx. TASS) of the reservoir. Unfortunately, the service station burned down because the explosion was very powerful, but the tank itself survived. And the second drone flew to the same point, leaving a hole of about 4 by 4 meters," Klyuchnikov added.
He noted that a drone can fly into the structure, but thanks to protection, progressive destruction and critical consequences for the tank can be avoided. Structures made of the same materials are also used to protect transformer substations.
"What we are imagining is really the last line of defense, in fact, a "bulletproof vest", when something is already flying directly into the object. And, accordingly, our grid is used in various versions to create three-dimensional protective enclosing structures, as our colleagues do," said Vladimir Kogan, General Director of the Gabion Structures Plant.
The grid was tested at the MOE training ground, a 175 kg block was dropped on it from an 11.9 m height, and it withstood. "It's not just protection from drones that is very important here. It is necessary that the object of protection does not damage the protected object. We have winds, snow, and icing, and the structure must stand for years. This is not a major construction, but in fact it must withstand all our climatic conditions," Kogan concluded.
About the forum
The All-Russian forum "Protection of civilian objects from attacks by unmanned systems and commercial operation of UAS" is being held in St. Petersburg on October 7-9. Participants discuss current threat models for industrial facilities and critical infrastructure, changes in the regulatory framework and legal regulation, sources of financing, insurance, and government support measures within the framework of the BAS national project. It also presents advanced solutions for detecting, suppressing, and physically intercepting drones.
