The Russian defense industry is creating a multi-level defense system to combat enemy drones. In addition to the well-known means of destruction, which have shown high effectiveness during their own, there are already new developments that have recently been tested at the strategic command and staff exercises Center-2026.
"Death Rays"
The Zarya combat laser system was used against the air targets of the simulated enemy, the Russian Defense Ministry said. With its help, it is possible to destroy enemy drones of medium and heavy classes at a distance of 6000 m.
Experts consider the use of "death rays" moving at the speed of light to be a promising area. Such installations can instantly hit objects maneuvering and moving rapidly in the sky. At the same time, the cost of "shots" is very low, and the "ammunition" itself is designed for a huge number of pulses.
Of course, such weapons, like microwave guns, have certain limitations related to weather conditions, so it is important to supplement them with machine guns ("Enclave") and guns.
Guns are reliable "zushki"
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| ZAK-30 "Citadel" anti-aircraft artillery system. |
| Source: © Alexey Pavyovker/ TASS |
Anti-aircraft artillery installations of various calibers were further developed. The 30-mm rapid-fire "zushki" of the Citadel complex, using specially designed projectiles with remote detonation, performed well in a real combat situation. While working on attacking enemy UAVs, often only a few shells are enough for only burning debris to fall to the ground.
In addition to low-speed targets, they also destroy cruise missiles. So, recently it was reported about the defeat of a six-ton FP-5 Flamingo, flying at an altitude of 100 m at a speed of 500 km/ h. It only took two shots.
"Infernal threshing machines" of the new generation
The Center-2026 exercise involved the 2S38 Derivation-PVO anti-aircraft self-propelled guns, which are the heirs of the famous "Infernal Thresher" - ZSU-52-2. Thanks to a powerful cannon and a perfect aiming system, such combat vehicles are capable of shooting down all types of UAVs: from the largest to the smallest.
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| 2C38 "Derivation-Air defense". |
| Source: Mikhail Voskresensky/RIA Novosti |
The ZAK-57MSK and S-60M are capable of performing similar tasks - they were also shown at the Chebarkulsky training ground.
It is possible that the caliber of air defense artillery systems may increase to 100 mm and the lines of defense of protected objects will move back over long distances. Such well-known domestic guns are capable of hitting at a range of more than 21 km.
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| The 57-mm AZP-57 cannon of the S-60 air defense artillery complex. |
| Source: Alexey Moiseev/RG |
In addition to the above-mentioned means of protecting airspace, our designers have created various anti-drones that successfully operate both at the line of demarcation and in the rear. New missile variants have been reported, such as the upgraded Alazan.
Alexey Moiseev
