New Rifle Bullets Developed to Combat Fiber Optic Drones
Ukrainian and Russian forces are actively seeking ways to neutralize fiber optic drones, resulting in the development of new rifle bullets designed for this purpose. According to Business Insider, these specially engineered munitions can disperse shrapnel effectively, allowing for the destruction of drones at greater distances compared to traditional shotguns. The bullets are calibrated at 5.56 mm and are fired from rifles such as the CZ Bren 2, reports 24brussels.
Business Insider noted the advantages of the new technology: “The technology will enable soldiers to fire a bullet that will travel some distance before scattering the shot, effectively targeting FPV drones or quadcopters. This allows infantry to engage drone threats from a safer distance than attempting to eliminate them with a shotgun, which is currently standard practice among Ukrainian units.” This development means that air defense units can now carry extra ammunition rather than requiring separate weapons.
However, these advanced bullets are already in use by the Russian military. In November last year, one brigade of occupying forces demonstrated the use of Kalashnikov rifles fitted with thermal shrink tube projectiles calibrated at 5.45 mm. These tubes contain four shot pellets designed to scatter and target Ukrainian drones. When manually loading the rounds, Russian troops reportedly alternate the new projectiles with standard or tracker ammunition.
Previously, Ukrainian armed forces reported that Russian fiber optic drones can penetrate up to 20 kilometers behind Ukrainian lines. Meanwhile, the Defense Forces are employing conventional commercial drones like the Mavic to cut the cables of such drones, leaving enemy devices out of control, along with other experimental solutions.
