Russia Develops Advanced Drone Countermeasures and Factory-Made Munitions for Long-Term Warfare
Russia has unveiled new military technology aimed at countering drone threats and shifting its warfare strategy towards industrial-scale production of drone munitions. The Russian defense industry has started mass-producing standardized payloads for FPV drones, including the new 'Kaplya' warhead, which is an Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) capable of piercing armored vehicles from above. This warhead targets the less protected upper hemisphere of armored vehicles and is integrated into Russia's logistics chain, marking a move from improvised solutions to factory-made munitions. Ukrainian analysts suggest that a 150mm diameter factory-produced EFP could disable most armored vehicles by penetrating over 100mm of armor. In addition to the Kaplya warhead, Russia is mass-producing fragmentation and thermobaric payloads for FPV platforms, which simplifies operator training and logistics. This development indicates Russia's focus on building a long-term military model centered around unmanned systems, with industrial-scale production providing reliable munitions to complicate Ukrainian countermeasures. Furthermore, Russia has developed a 30mm shrapnel round with programmable airburst capabilities, designed to effectively hit small drones and loitering munitions. This round can be fired from the 2A42 automatic cannon used on various Russian military vehicles and helicopters. The fire-control system automatically calculates the optimal detonation point based on the drone's flight trajectory. Russia has also adopted new Zubr air defense systems equipped with machine guns, radar, and command units to shoot down drones. Overall, these technological advancements reflect Russia's strategic shift towards long-term, industrialized drone warfare, emphasizing the development of specialized munitions and air defense systems to maintain dominance in modern combat scenarios.
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