Russia's AK-47 Manufacturer Is Making Special Bullets for Its Assault Rifles to Knock Drones Out of the Sky

Why It Matters

Equipping individual soldiers with drone‑killing ammo transforms the battlefield, allowing forces to neutralize low‑cost UAV threats without relying on costly air‑defense systems. This development could accelerate a global market for portable anti‑drone weapons.

Key Takeaways

• Kalashnikov Concern will mass‑produce 5.45 mm drone‑killing rounds for AK‑12 rifles
• Bullets fragment on exit, boosting hit probability against small UAVs
• Ukraine plans 400,000 “Horoshok” anti‑drone rounds monthly, using 5.56 mm caliber
• U.S. Navy and European firms also developing split‑fragment rifle cartridges
• Anti‑drone ammo reflects growing battlefield need to counter cheap FPV drones

Pulse Analysis

The proliferation of inexpensive first‑person‑view drones has forced militaries to rethink close‑range air defense. Russia’s latest 5.45 mm cartridge, engineered for the AK‑12, exemplifies a tactical pivot: infantry units can now engage UAVs directly, using a bullet that disperses multiple fragments upon leaving the barrel. This approach sidesteps the need for electronic jamming, which is ineffective against fiber‑optic drones, and offers a cost‑effective countermeasure that can be fielded in standard rifle magazines.

Across the front lines, Ukraine is pursuing a parallel strategy with its 5.56 mm “Horoshok” round, aiming to produce 400,000 units each month. The Ukrainian design delays fragmentation to extend range, highlighting divergent engineering philosophies tailored to specific combat environments. Meanwhile, Western allies are not idle; the U.S. Navy’s Naval Surface Warfare Center and several European startups are testing split‑fragment cartridges that promise similar lethality. These parallel efforts underscore a rapid convergence on rifle‑based anti‑drone technology, driven by the urgent need to protect troops from swarms of low‑cost aerial platforms.

The broader implications extend beyond the immediate battlefield. As manufacturers like Kalashnikov scale production, a new segment of the defense market emerges, attracting investment in specialized ammunition, barrel designs, and training programs. Infantry units worldwide may soon adopt standard‑issue anti‑drone rounds, reshaping doctrine and procurement priorities. Analysts anticipate that continued innovation will yield even more sophisticated projectiles—potentially integrating smart‑targeting or kinetic‑energy‑enhanced fragments—to keep pace with evolving UAV capabilities.