AK gun manufacturing group upgrades suicide UAV

The Russian Defense Ministry is receiving an upgrade of the Kalashnikov KUB-BLA suicide UAV, with a more powerful warhead.

"We have equipped the KUB unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a more powerful warhead at the request of the customer. The tests were successful and the first batch is being delivered to them," said Alan Lushnikov, president of the Russian arms corporation Kalashnikov, on December 25.

The Russian army is currently the only customer to commission and order KUB suicide UAVs from the Kalashnikov group, famous for Russia's AK gun line.

Mr. Lushnikov did not reveal details about the technical specifications of the upgraded KUB UAV, but affirmed that it was a "big step forward" compared to the original version. "This is essentially a new product," he emphasized.

Kalashnikov said in September that the company had successfully upgraded the KUB UAV’s destructive power and was working on increasing its range. It is unclear whether the version Kalashnikov is delivering to the Russian military has improved range.

UAV KUB-BLA. Photo: Kalashnikov — UAV KUB-BLA. Photo: *Kalashnikov*

The KUB UAV was developed by Kalashnikov's Zala Aero subsidiary and first introduced at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) 2019 in Abu Dhabi. This UAV model completed state testing in November 2021 and entered service with the Russian military at the beginning of this year.

The first version of KUB is equipped with a 3 kg warhead, has a range of 40 km, a maximum speed of 130 km/h and can operate continuously for 30 minutes. It can attack according to pre-entered coordinates or lock on to a target based on provided images. In addition to suicide attacks, this UAV model can also perform intelligence and reconnaissance missions. It also has the ability to attack in swarms.

Russian state defense corporation Rostec revealed in June 2022 that domestic suicide UAV models made by Zala Aero, including the KUB, were being deployed effectively on the Ukrainian battlefield. "They are used to attack ground targets from a distance and have demonstrated their technical and tactical capabilities in real conditions," Rostec said at the time.

The delivery of upgraded KUB UAVs is a positive signal for Russia, in the context that this country has recently increased attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure with UAVs and missiles, similar to the tactics used this time last year.

Russia receives upgraded version of KUB suicide UAV — KUB UAV strikes Ukrainian target in Kherson in video posted in June 2022. Video: *Telegram/ Sashakots*

Ukraine’s air force command said on December 25 that Russia had deployed 31 suicide drones, a cruise missile and an anti-radar missile to attack the south of the country. Ukraine’s air defenses shot down 28 drones and both missiles, but debris from the downed drones damaged technical infrastructure in the port of Odessa, as well as a warehouse and an abandoned administrative building.

Western officials have repeatedly warned that Russia has stockpiled large quantities of long-range weapons for new attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the winter, in an attempt to keep the country in darkness and cold. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ignat said last week that Russia had accumulated enough suicide drones to strike the country’s infrastructure daily.

Pham Giang (According to TASS, Reuters )

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