According to the accompanying excerpted article from Voyenno-Promyshlennyy Kuryer, a Russian weekly newspaper focusing on military and defense issues, Russia plans to put two different loitering munitions into serial production—the Kub and Lancet. Aside from television and thermal imaging cameras and radar transparent material, which are considered usual for such flying munitions, the electric-powered Kub and Lancet are supposed to be silent. Also of particular note, the article mentions that these systems will not just be available for domestic purchase, but also for foreign customers.
Based on test results, the military was satisfied with both the Kub and Lancet. Therefore, it is planned to put them in serial production. And it is planned not only to deliver them to the Russian Armed Forces, but also promote them on the global market.
Source: Vladimir Tuchkov, “Барражирующий «Ланцет»: Россия стремительно проходит путь от дронов-камикадзе к летающим минным полям (The Loitering Lancet: Russia Rapidly Rises from Kamikaze Drones to Flying Minefields),” Voyenno-Promyshlennyy Kuryer (Russian weekly newspaper focusing on military and defense issues), 22 June 2021. https://vpk-news.ru/articles/62626
…The Kalashnikov Concern announced its determination to promote a loitering munition, which was created by its Zala Aero subsidiary company and successfully tested in Syria, on the foreign markets. This desire is quite natural, of course. Is it feasible though?
Currently there are only three kamikaze drones in Russia. And all of them are produced by the Kalashnikov Concern. As it was mentioned earlier, our domestic designers delayed starting work in this direction and now the global market is filled with loitering munitions, as they say, to every taste and purse…
The three Russian loitering munitions by Zala Aero, featuring the traditional length of 1 meter and weight of several kilograms, also fit this concept. The Kub was developed first, and then a year later, the Lancet-1 and Lancet-3 UAVs were tested last year. All of them were tested in real combat conditions at the “Syrian training grounds.”
The weight of the warheads of the Kub and Lancet-3 is 3 kilograms.
The Lancet-1 is smaller: its warhead weighs 1 kilogram, while its total weight is 5 kilograms. It is launched in traditional way — with the aid of a catapult. They can fly in the air for up to 30 minutes at speeds of 80 to 130 kph. The operating range is 30-40 kilometers. The three munitions are equipped with television and thermal imaging cameras, which are used by the operator to guide the drone to targets, both stationary and mobile ones. A coordinate system is used to combat stationary targets.
The advantages of Kalashnikov loitering munitions include increased stealthiness. It is understandable that they are made of radar-transparent composite materials, which is a general trend. However, the developers claim that they are virtually silent due to the use of an electric motor. At the same time, the Kub’s glider is the shape of a bird. And it moves in the sky similar to a bird, except for not flapping its wings. Although there is also a special mode simulating a bird in flight. The Lancet has a more complex aerodynamic profile: a longitudinal biplane with two pairs of X-shaped wings. Kalashnikov loitering munitions feature various flight modes. They can approach the target at an altitude of 3-4 meters, following the terrain. They also can attack from an altitude of 4.5 kilometers — this method is used when striking tanks into the least protected upper projection.
Based on test results, the military was satisfied with both the Kub and Lancet. Therefore, it is planned to put them in serial production. And it is planned not only to deliver them to the Russian Armed Forces, but also promote them on the global market…
Additional Video Sources: Aerial mining against UAVs, with the Lancet loitering munition Воздушное минирование против БПЛА, барражирующий боеприпас Ланцет https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJygYPKdTfc
Additional Video Sources: Wow! New Kalashnikov Drone (aka Suicide Drone) KUB-UAV – KUB BLA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pasGbe9KewA
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