Russia plans to roll out a special anti-drone 'Matryoshka doll' bullet that can be used in any standard Kalashnikov AK-47 rifle

Date:
Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:35:00 +0000

Description:
Russia is testing a multi-bullet cartridge for Kalashnikov rifles that separates during flight and is designed specifically against small drones.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Russia is testing ammunition that splits apart to confront small drones Russian testing found separated elements reaching critical components inside drones The ammunition fits standard rifles instead of requiring specialized counter-drone weapons The Russian military is developing a multi-bullet cartridge designed to give standard Kalashnikov rifles a new way to engage small drones during combat.

The ammunition separates into several elements during flight, creating multiple projectiles from a single round fired through a compatible rifle. Military expert Yury Knutov said the design is intended for troops who may encounter drones without having access to specialized firearms. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: A multi-part cartridge for standard rifles The reported cartridge uses the 5.45mm format and can be loaded into a standard AK-12 magazine without requiring a different rifle platform.

Its unusual construction keeps several elements together before firing, after which they separate while travelling toward the aerial target. You may like Autonomous AI Russian 'Molniya' drone could be using the Nvidia Jetson Orin platform by exploiting a common COTS loophole Russia converts planes older than Putin to launch drone killers Russia says it will start selling its 'suicide drone' to foreign nations but won't name them

The concept has drawn comparisons with a Matryoshka doll because multiple components are contained within one projectile before separating in flight.

Pervy Tekhnichesky reported in April that Kalashnikov Concern had developed and tested the ammunition as a potential option for engaging small drones.
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The reported trials included individual shots and bursts, providing an
initial assessment of how the multi-part projectile performed against
unmanned aircraft.

Some of the separated elements reportedly reached batteries, electronic boards, and power-related components during those tests.

Those components are critical to drone operation, making their reported involvement in the testing relevant to the cartridge's intended aerial application. What to read next This $2 low-tech upgrade just made Russia's cheap 'cardboard-and-plywood' drone almost unjammable Russia is planning a tethered mother drone carrying up to six wired mini spy UAVs Ukraine has
built its own jet-powered drone interceptor and it'll easily fit in the back of a pickup truck

The ammunition is therefore being developed specifically around small
unmanned aircraft rather than as a general replacement for ordinary rifle rounds. Different performance against personnel The cartridge has different limitations when used against personnel, particularly when protective equipment is involved during an engagement.

Body armor can reduce its penetrating effect, while hitting an exposed area would still depend on accurate placement of the separated elements.

That distinction keeps the ammunition's reported purpose focused on small aerial targets rather than conventional engagements involving protected
ground personnel

Our specialists have made bullets that separate into several parts, which are used against drones, said Yury Knutov, a military expert.

You just need two magazines, one loaded with regular bullets, the other with these special multi-bullets.

Internal testing reportedly showed that components reached internal drone parts, but that does not establish overall battlefield effectiveness.

As drone warfare continues expanding across the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, new countermeasures keep emerging from both sides of the front line.

Military analysts frequently propose innovative solutions on paper, yet battlefield conditions often reveal weaknesses that laboratory testing simply cannot anticipate.

The new multi-bullet promises theoretical advantages that still require genuine combat validation before earning credibility.

Until Russian forces deploy this ammunition extensively under real combat pressure, its actual reliability and effectiveness in battle cannot be ascertained.

Independent verification, therefore, remains essential before military observers can responsibly assess whether this technology delivers meaningful battlefield advantage.

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