Unmanned patrol ammunition complex, to put it bluntly, a suicide styleUAVAt present, it has become one of the forefront directions for the development of unmanned aerial systems. Patrol ammunition can efficiently complete various strike missions and can be used to provide support to special forces that are not equipped with heavy weapons.

Experts have pointed out some important features of this type of precision guided weapon. Firstly, the use of patrol ammunition (suicide drones) significantly reduces the time required to destroy targets. Infantry can independently use this type of drone without the need to call for artillery or conventional manned aircraft for support, thus saving the time wasted by aircraft flying towards targets.

Secondly, the use of this weapon is highly confidential. Suicide drone powered by non reflective wireless technologytelecomMade of plastic and composite materials, the small size also makes it difficult to visually detect, making it difficult to deal with them with traditional air defense systems. Patrol ammunition uses electric motors as power units, so they are very quiet. Enemies located in open areas can only hear these drones approaching two or three seconds before the explosion, and there is no time to escape or hide.

Thirdly, the total cost of using suicide drones to destroy targets is lower than using self-propelled artillery to launch high-precision guided shells, and even cheaper than deploying aircraft carrying guided bombs or missiles.

Not long ago, there was no precedent for the Russian military to use suicide drones. Now, Kalashnikov Group (including drone manufacturer ZALA AERO) has completed the manufacturing of two suicide drones, the "Cube" and the "Lancet".

The "Cube" patrol ammunition is the "little brother" of the AK-47. At the end of 2021, the national test of the "Cube" patrol ammunition was successfully completed in Russia. A source familiar with the situation of the Russian Ministry of Defense said, "This new type of drone is proposed to be deployed in the Russian armed forces. The 'Cube' patrol ammunition is planned to be delivered in bulk to the troops from 2022.

The patrol ammunition adopts a "flying wing" layout, with a length of 950 millimeters and a wingspan of 1210 millimeters. It is equipped with an electric propeller, which is almost silent due to the use of an electric motor. The suicide drone is launched through a catapult, with a maximum endurance of 30 minutes and a speed of 80-130 kilometers per hour.

The "cube" high-precision strike drone is easy to operate,High precisionIt can achieve concealed emission. It can guide based on images captured by the built-in camera or based on previously manually set target coordinates. This type of patrol ammunition can be integrated into the unified tactical command system of Russian military equipment and the "Sagittarius M" reconnaissance, command, and communication complex.

The bullet mass of the "Cube" patrol ammunition can reach several kilograms, which is equivalent to the charge of a 120mm mortar. From this perspective, the explosive power of the patrol ammunition is quite significant. By vertically diving and attacking targets from the upper hemisphere, it can effectively damage light armored equipment, vehicles, machine gun positions, and anti tank missile positions.

The "Cube" suicide drone made its debut at the IDEX-2019 weapons exhibition. Sergei Chemezov, the General Manager of the Russian Technology Group, said, "This is a very accurate and effective weapon that traditional air defense systems find difficult to compete with

According to public information, the Russian military has used "cube" patrol ammunition in its operations in Syria. ZALA AERO CEO Alexander Zakharov stated in an interview that their first experience using the "cube" can be traced back to 2015.

In 2021, during the International Military Forum, ZALA AERO showcased samples of the "Cube" patrol ammunition. The "Cube" can conduct large-scale strikes on enemy targets through "Swarm" combat, and the drone's launch device can also be deployed on floating tools, such as the BK-12 landing assault boat.

The "cube" has gained great fame for its outstanding performance, and even other military powers far across the ocean have noticed this new equipment appearing in the Russian military arsenal. In February 2019, after the first appearance of the "Cube" suicide drone on IDEX, The Washington Post published an article stating that the "Cube" would completely change military activities like its predecessor, the AK-47 Kalashnikov submachine gun. According to the author, this high-precision strike drone will be easy to use, efficient, and inexpensive, so countries that have not yet acquired such modern high-tech weapons will have the ability to purchase it.

Another type of patrol ammunition developed by ZALA AERO, a subsidiary of the Kalashnikov Group, is called the "Lancet". Unlike the "cube" suicide drone with more aircraft features, the "Lancet" is conceptually closer to cruise missiles. This weapon has two pairs of X-shaped wings. This configuration can enable the drone to maintain high maneuverability on one hand, and on the other hand, it can maintain the required wing surface area with a relatively compact size.

The double X-wing is an absolute unique technology of Kalashnikov, which can significantly improve efficiency and reduce product size. In the products of Kalashnikov Group, plastic and composite materials are used as much as possible to reduce the structural weight of weapons.

In addition, The Lancet is equipped with various types of guidance systems. With the help of television guidance channels, operators can see pictures of the target from the operating panel of the "Lancet"; The airborne reconnaissance, navigation, and communication modules can determine the coordinates of different targets and signal sources. That is to say, The Lancet does not require satellite navigation, which is a significant difference from many similar foreign products. To accurately hit the target, a combination of electro-optical guidance and coordinate system can be used. The functions of these systems enable the 'Lancet' to perform tasks with surgical precision.

The suicide drones manufactured by Kalashnikov Group are efficient and inexpensive, and countries that have not yet obtained such high-tech weapons can afford them.

Not long ago, a video appeared in the media showing Russian special forces using "Lancet" patrol ammunition to carry out missions in Syria. From the footage captured by the reconnaissance drone, it can be seen that the operator can strike the target through diving (not necessarily vertical) and horizontal flight. The video shows that the 'Lancet' followed the bandits into the garage and carried out a 'just trial' on the terrorists who attempted to hide under the eaves.

The developers also claim that the 'Lancet' is almost impossible to intercept or evade. Recently, some people have even proposed using the "Lancet" to intercept the enemyUAVThe idea.

On February 18, 2022, Russian news agency TASS reported, citing military diplomatic sources, that the Russian military had used deeply modernized and improved "Lancet" cruise ammunition in Syria to strike terrorists, which could carry larger warheads.

According to him, the upgraded version of the "Lancet" cruise ammunition has updated aerodynamic characteristics - it features a large X-shaped wing and an X-shaped missile wing at the tail, replacing the previous design of two symmetrical X-shaped wings. The new device has increased its battery life and range of use, and is capable of carrying more powerful warheads, "the source added

According to TASS, earlier reports indicated the use of the basic version of the "Lancet 3" drone in Syria. The warhead of the patrol ammunition has a weight of 3 kilograms, and the suicide drone of this version has a range of 40 minutes and a top speed of 110 kilometers per hour.