Click to see full-size image. (Kalashnikov Concern)
Kalashnikov Concern has unveiled a new air defense system that uses armed first-person video (FPV) drones to hunt down and destroy other unmanned aircraft.
The Zveroboy system was shown publicly for the first time on September 15 at the 4th All-Russian Arms Forum in Moscow. Kalashnikov said it is intended to protect important facilities from reconnaissance and attack drones, including the Leleka, Lyutyi, Bober and Hornet-XR used by Ukraine.
The system carries nine interceptor drones. They are called Krakens and are launched from three containers holding three aircraft each. The multirotor FPVs carry specialized warheads and are intended to physically destroy incoming drones.
Kalashnikov has also developed a night version, the Kraken-N, which adds a thermal imaging camera for operating in darkness.
Rather than relying solely on the interceptor drones’ own sensors, Zveroboy uses a radar and an optical targeting system to locate and track targets before directing the Krakens toward them. The package includes a ground control station and digital communications equipment, along with the supporting power and switching hardware needed to operate the system.
The company presented two versions. A stationary configuration is intended for fixed sites, while a mobile version is mounted on a production pickup truck.
Kalashnikov said the vehicle-mounted system can be repositioned more quickly and is easier to conceal. It can also be tied into existing surveillance and perimeter-security networks.
The company’s CEO Alan Lushnikov said Zveroboy is part of a broader effort to counter drones through several layers of defense, ranging from detection and electronic suppression to physical interception.
“Kalashnikov’s strategy for effectively combating enemy unmanned aerial vehicles is based on the principle of layered defense,” Lushnikov said, describing Zveroboy as the layer responsible for physically defeating targets within the range of its interceptor drones.
Kalashnikov did not disclose the Kraken’s speed, endurance, warhead characteristics or maximum interception range. It also did not give the detection range of the radar.
The unveiling reflects the growing emphasis on dedicated interceptor drones as a counter to unmanned aircraft, particularly for point defense for important facilities, amid increasing attacks by Ukraine.
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