Special containers allow the use of standard ammunition to combat UAVs, and their effectiveness has already been evaluated in the free zone.
Anti-drone ammunition reloading kits are ready for mass production in Russia. They allow you to replace a regular bullet with a special shot container in a few seconds. Such munitions are capable of more effectively hitting not only light FPV drones, but also heavy Baba Yaga-type vehicles. According to the reviews of units operating in the SVO zone, the use of upgraded cartridges significantly increases the chances of destroying drones.
How does "Antidronin" work
The main element of the Antidron kit is a special plastic container filled with shot or metal balls. The conversion takes a few seconds: the bullet is removed from the cartridge, and a container is placed in its place. In order to facilitate this operation as much as possible, the kit includes special machines for re-equipping ammunition, the project coordinator with the call sign Korsar told Izvestia.
According to the developers, the new system not only increases the effectiveness of the use of small arms available to military personnel against drones, but also eliminates the need for them to carry smoothbore rifles.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Lantyukhov
Image source: iz.ru
Ammunition modified with Anti-drone has already passed its baptism of fire in units fighting in the SVO zone.
"The soldiers of the reconnaissance unit told us how their group of four people fought off a swarm of drones," Korsar told Izvestia. — The guys took up a circular defense and, firing Anti-drone cartridges from regular machine guns, shot down 35 vehicles. After that, they got out of the danger zone without loss.
With the help of modified ammunition, waiting drones were also destroyed, which unexpectedly took off in the immediate vicinity of the military. According to Corsair, it took several shots for two fighters to hit one of these targets.
Containers are produced for refilling ammunition of 5.45, 7.62 and 12.7 mm calibers. The development was tested in one of the structures of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. According to the conclusion, at a distance of 40 m, pellets from a 5.45 mm cartridge are placed in a 50 × 50 cm target, at 60 m — in a 70 × 70 cm square, and at 80 m — in an 80 × 80 cm target.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Lantyukhov
Image source: iz.ru
Tests have shown that pellets from a 5.45 mm cartridge at a distance of 25 m fit into a 50 cm circle, 75 cm at 50 m, and 150 cm at 100 m.
Corsair noted that powerful 12.7 mm caliber ammunition with heavy buckshot hits targets at a distance of 200-250 m.
The development was tested in one of the structures of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. According to the conclusion, the carbon deposits in the barrel after using the updated cartridges are the same as after firing the regular ones.
— This means that the cartridges with our containers will not spoil the barrels, — said Corsair.
Following the results of three months of using the product in combat conditions, one of the Russian units reported a 53% increase in the effectiveness of hitting small unmanned targets.
The Antidronin project has been developing for more than two years. During this time, production expanded: several more were added to the original site.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Lantyukhov
Image source: iz.ru
So far, the developers are transferring kits to the units as humanitarian aid. Funding is provided by volunteers and sponsors.
According to the creators of the project, the existing capacities make it possible, if necessary, to meet the needs of the troops for several months.
Protection from FPV drones
FPV drones are actively used by both sides of the conflict. They operate directly on the line of combat contact, strike at communications deep in the enemy's defenses and have become one of the main striking forces. Therefore, every fighter should have the opportunity to independently resist drones. It is no coincidence that anti-drone ammunition is called "last chance cartridges," military expert Yuri Lyamin told Izvestia.
"Fighters often find themselves face to face with an enemy drone, and it is vital for them to win this duel," the expert noted.
In the conditions of modern combat, it is extremely necessary to massively equip fighters with various personal means to combat UAVs, the expert explained. And special anti-drone cartridges will occupy an important place in this line.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Lantyukhov
Image source: iz.ru
The ability to fire from a standard machine gun will allow our soldiers not to take hunting rifles or shotguns and ammunition with them.
— This is another reason why Anti-drone cartridges are considered a promising means of combating UAVs, — said Yuri Lyamin.
The presence of at least one separate magazine with anti-drone cartridges in the pouch should make it possible to fend off the threat from the air. And universal ammunition calibers will ensure the mass equipping of units with them, according to military expert Dmitry Kornev.
Organizing the production of ammunition capable of making it easier for a soldier to defeat enemy drones is now one of the main tasks of our military—industrial complex, he believes.
"Modern means of intercepting UAVs, large—caliber weapons and shotguns need to be known, understood and able to be used in combat," he explained. — 5.45 caliber machine guns are exactly the kind of thing that a fighter lives with at the front and knows how to shoot from it. It is not necessary to study it additionally.
The Multipulse Matryoshka Doll
Russia is currently working on several types of anti-drone ammunition. Izvestia wrote that the Matryoshka multi-bullet cartridges are already ready for mass production. They are designed to combat drones using standard small arms — Kalashnikov assault rifles.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Lantyukhov
Image source: iz.ru
The Matryoshka doll consists of three cone-shaped bullets fastened together. The principle of operation of the ammunition is simple: after leaving the barrel of the machine gun, the bullet splits into three elements.
This design provides a high firing density, providing a higher probability of hitting the UAV with several shots from a standard army Kalashnikov assault rifle of 5.45 mm caliber.
Anti-drone munitions, if they are adequately supplied to the troops, should seriously facilitate the actions of our soldiers on the front line and in the near rear.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Andrey Buevich
