Kalashnikov is developing a layered defense strategy against UAVs, including the new Krona-E missile system and automated drone interceptors. The company is also preparing for mass production of short-range systems and specialized anti-drone weapons.
Russia's 'Molniya PVO' interceptor drones, half the size of standard 'Molniya' drones and capable of carrying up to 1kg, are now being mass-produced and supplied to troops. These drones are designed to target aerial threats and are noted for their speed and maneuverability.
With Trump wavering on Nato and war in Ukraine, Europe is scrambling to spend billions on weapons such as dronesIn a small workshop in England’s East Midlands, engineers at the British startup Skycutter are designing weapons for Ukraine. A row of 3D printers make the fuselage for interceptor drones, while parts such as motors and navigation chips are slotted together by hand. The same process happens hundreds of thousands of times a month in partner Ukrainian factories.The swarms of cheap, deadly and often autonomous drones deployed in that war have already changed combat completely. Troops far behind the frontline must move constantly to avoid attack from the air, travelling along netted tunnels and landscapes crisscrossed by fibre optic cables used to steer drones past radio jamming. Cities are terrorised by guided missiles that are cheaper and therefore more widely used than those that came before. Continue reading...
Pierre Vandier noted that, rather than ramping up production, the issue could be addressed by adopting a different approach - for example, by deploying interceptor drones to counter enemy UAVs
Russia has expanded its list of weapons and equipment protecting the country's airspace borders to include interceptor drones and laser weapons, according to a government decree. The updated list covers various types of radars, air defense systems, helicopters, planes, ships, boats, electronic warfare equipment, jammers, and unified launchers capable of engaging aerospace attack assets and their controls.
Ukraine destroyed over 33,000 Russian drones in March, the highest monthly total since Russia's 2022 invasion, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced. The country has also more than doubled its deep-strike range from 630 km to approximately 1,750 km. Intercepto drones are now in demand by Middle East and Gulf countries amid regional conflicts, according to Ukrainian officials.
