Click to see full-size image. (Rostec)
Russia’s state corporation Rostec announced on February 5 that it had developed 30 mm fragmentation ammunition with a remote-controlled fuze, especially to take down drones.
In a statement, the corporation said that the ammunition is compatible with the 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 cannon gun. Guns of this type are installed in multiple types of armored fighting vehicles, like the BMP-2 and the BMPT, as well as in several attack helicopters, like the Mi-28 and Ka-52.
The 2a42 has an effective firing range of two kilometers, but can fire at targets up to four kilometers away. The gun’s lowest rate of fire is 200–300 rounds per minute and can get as high as 550–800 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 960 meters per second.
“The ammunition was developed to increase the probability of hitting small drones and barrage munitions. The aiming system calculates the most advantageous detonation point depending on the target’s flight path, which allows the drone to be hit with shrapnel. The detonation time is automatically triggered by an optical line. The projectile will significantly increase the effectiveness of 30 mm guns installed on various platforms when firing at drones,” said the industrial director of the Weapons, Ammunition, and Special Chemicals Cluster of Rostec, Bekhan Ozdoev.
According to Rostec, the new ammunition will be showcased for the first time at the World Defense Show 2026 exhibition, which will open its doors in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh from February 8 to 12.
Russia has been working to improve the performance of guns already being used against drones by developing special ammunition for this role.
Rostec presented last year the “Igla” anti-drone cartridges especially designed for 12 gauge shotguns, and earlier this year, the High Precision Systems Holding Company, a part of the corporation, presented the “Mnogotochie” 5.45 mm and 7.62 mm multi-bullet rounds which was especially designed to take down drones.
Developing such ammunition is a cost-effective way to address the threat posed by drones. Over the past year, Kiev forces expanded the use of small drones, especially first-person view suicide quadcopters, in the special military operation zone, and stepped up attacks on Russian territories with larger fixed-wing drones.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com