Ukraine’s Defense Ministry says several domestic arms makers are preparing to launch mass production of new anti‑drone ammunition, aiming to give infantry a better chance of stopping Russian FPV and Mavic drones on the frontline.
Russia regularly attacks Ukraine using small, fast, and inexpensive drones, including FPV and consumer-grade models, to target troops, civilian areas, and critical infrastructure. These drones can fly low and maneuver quickly, making them difficult to intercept with traditional air defenses.
Defense Ministry clears multiple producers for serial output
The ministry has now codified the rounds from multiple producers, clearing the way for serial output. The anti‑drone rounds give frontline soldiers a portable, rapid‑response tool to engage these aerial threats wherever they appear.
“The anti‑drone rounds allow Ukrainian soldiers to more effectively counter enemy FPV and ‘Mavic’ drones,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said. “Their special warhead significantly increases the chance of hitting a Russian drone.”
Fragmenting rounds fit standard rifles, boost hit probability
Militarnyi reports that the rounds are built in the 5.56×45 mm caliber already common across Ukraine’s assault rifles. Troops will be able to load them into standard magazines without any extra equipment.
Developers say the projectile splits into several fragments after firing, creating a denser pattern that can boost hit probability two‑ to three‑fold. The plan is reportedly for infantry units to carry a dedicated magazine with anti‑drone rounds that can be swapped in quickly whenever hostile drones appear.
