Multi-bullet ammunition will allow infantrymen to shoot down drones from regular assault rifles.
The Matryoshka multi-bullet anti-drone cartridges are ready for mass production, Izvestia found out. Russian engineers have developed a new technology that will allow them to be released quickly. The ammunition is designed to combat drones using standard small arms — Kalashnikov assault rifles. According to experts, cartridges that will help infantrymen defend themselves from attacking drones are urgently needed by the troops.
The Matryoshka multi-bullet anti-drone cartridges are ready for mass production, Izvestia found out. Russian engineers have developed a new technology that will allow them to be released quickly. The ammunition is designed to combat drones using standard small arms — Kalashnikov assault rifles. According to experts, cartridges that will help infantrymen defend themselves from attacking drones are urgently needed by the troops.
At close range
"Matryoshka" is an anti—drone cartridge consisting of three cone-shaped bullets fastened together. The principle of its operation is simple: after leaving the barrel of the machine gun, the bullet splits into three damaging elements. At a distance of 25 m, they spread out by 12-15 cm from each other, and at a distance of 100 m — by 25-30 cm.
This design provides a high firing density, ensuring the destruction of the UAV with several shots from a standard army Kalashnikov assault rifle of 5.45 mm caliber, the Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies (CBST) told Izvestia.
The production technology and the "Matryoshka Doll" were created by NPP JSC (a resident of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation) with the support of Alexei Vasiliev, an arms expert and author of the Russian Engineer TV channel, and other specialists.
Image source: Photo: NPP JSC
Research and development (R&D) on the Matryoshka began in 2023, when the problem arose of countering FPV drones and other small-sized UAVs, which began to appear in large numbers on the line of combat contact.
"We have set ourselves the task of enabling infantrymen to shoot down drones from standard small arms, eliminating the need for them to have smoothbore rifles or compact electronic warfare systems on hand," the CBST told Izvestia.
According to the developers, the Matryoshka doll also allows you to effectively hit manpower at close range, for example, when clearing trenches and fortifications by assault units.
The release of ammunition using the new technology does not require foreign equipment subject to sanctions restrictions. Production can be set up both at new sites and at existing cartridge factories.
The Matryoshka doll does not damage the weapon, and it practically does not affect the life of the barrel, mechanisms, and systems of the regular machine gun. The main tactical and technical characteristics of the ammunition - range, accuracy, penetration ability — were confirmed during a series of tests, including on the basis of Tsniitochmash.
During the development, the design of the "Matryoshka Doll" has been repeatedly improved. It is expected that the sixth version of the munition will go into mass production.
Last Chance Cartridge
An effective cartridge that will allow an infantryman to defend himself from a tactical drone is necessary for the troops, military expert Yuri Lyamin told Izvestia.
— In the army, they are called the "last chance cartridge," — the expert noted. — They will be used, as a rule, in extreme situations when a drone attacks a fighter. It is very difficult to hit a drone with an ordinary automatic rifle bullet, even with appropriate shooting training, and luck is often involved. The new bullet, forming a field of damaging elements, should increase the accuracy of shooting. Many countries around the world are currently working on such munitions.
Image source: Photo: NPP JSC
Right now, fighters on the front line usually use smoothbore rifles as the main means of protection against enemy drones, but this method cannot be called the most effective, a veteran of the People's Militia of the DPR with the call sign Naruto told Izvestia.
— A shotgun is a pretty big thing in itself, and it doesn't weigh much at all. The ammunition for it is also heavy," he explained. — As a result, the fighter carries an additional load, which does not affect his mobility for the better, which is important in combat. And you should not forget about the dimensions. Additional equipment, which will inevitably cling to everything around, makes it difficult to perform a combat mission.
The appearance of anti-drone ammunition for Kalashnikov solves this problem, the expert noted. The soldier no longer needs to carry and, most importantly, get used to using another shooting system.
Now he will have several stores equipped with "Matryoshka dolls" in unloading. When a drone appears, an infantryman will not have to pull off a hunting rifle in a hurry. It is enough to insert a magazine with anti-drone cartridges into the machine beforehand and open fire when danger approaches, Naruto noted.
"Unlike shotguns, Matryoshka bullets should go through the channels of the barrel, which means they get stable rotation," Naruto clarified. — Thanks to this, we should get a predictable and repeatable cone of ammunition spread. The advantage is a longer range and a striking effect than that of rifles.
Image source: Photo: NPP JSC
The new bullet should increase the effectiveness of the fire. Against the background of compatibility with the main weapons of our army, "it all looks very attractive," Naruto said. At the same time, military experts note that the effectiveness of the ammunition will finally become clear after their mass use in combat.
Tie with Kevlar thread
Izvestia wrote about special Intercept cartridges created by Techkrim, designed to fire at enemy drones from 12-caliber smoothbore weapons. The ammunition is distinguished by its original design — the shot contained in it is interconnected by a Kevlar thread. So the cartridge creates a continuous field of destruction, without gaps between the striking elements. Thus, the thread prevents the drone from moving, even if it has not been hit by lead segments.
These cartridges are actively used in the special operation zone today. The developers receive all the necessary feedback from the fighters to make changes and refine the design. The appearance of large quantities of special anti-drone ammunition will have to protect our infantry in battle.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Maxim Vysochin
