How to defeat a Russian drone - with a quick magazine change on an assault rifle
As Russian first-person view (FPV) drones become increasingly advanced, a Ukrainian firm has developed a new type of 5.56mm Nato-codified cartridge in an effort to give President Zelensky's forces the edge on the battlefield.
The new round is designed to fire five fast-moving pellets rather than a single bullet, creating a larger shotgun-style spread.
This means it can effectively hit drones at distances out to 50 metres.
If enough rounds are fired, a soldier can create a net effect in the air to catch and take out incoming drones.
It's similar to a shotgun cartridge, which releases a number of pellets that spread out, making fast-flying targets easier to hit.
The idea is that soldiers won't need to carry two weapons with them. They can swap magazines quickly on their primary weapon, depending on whether they are targeting enemy drones or enemy soldiers.
Ukraine's state-funded defence innovation programme, Brave1, has released footage of the ammunition in action.
It shows a soldier filling a magazine with black and grey-tipped 5.56mm rounds, before loading it into a CZ Bren 2 assault rifle then firing at a drone on a test range.
However, the ammunition cannot be used with a suppressor as the pellets could hit the internal baffles, causing a dangerous malfunction.
This latest creation is a low-tech but effective response to Russian FPV drones that can evade electronic jamming.
Some of Russia's latest drones are controlled by a fibre-optic cable rather than a radio signal - and they also feed back crystal-clear imagery.
A 1.5kg reel of fibre-optic cable is enough to provide a drone with 10km of range, with larger reels providing an even greater range.
According to reports, Ukraine's Horoshok rifle rounds are already starting to be used on the battlefield.
Brave1 says the goal is for every infantryman to carry these Nato-codified cartridges on the frontline.
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
