Russia Turns Cannons Into Counter-Drone Weapons With New Airburst Rounds
Rostec’s 30mm programmable airburst rounds counter drones by detonating mid-air to disperse shrapnel, boosting hit probability against fast, maneuvering aerial targets.
Russia is giving its legacy cannons a new role in the drone era.
State-owned Rostec has developed 30mm programmable airburst rounds that detonate mid-air, scattering shrapnel to hit fast-moving drones.
Designed for use on 2A42 autocannons aboard BMP-2 vehicles and Ka-52M helicopters, the new ammo reportedly provides a cost-conscious way of fighting drones compared with traditional missile systems.
Bekkhan Ozdoyev, the company’s industrial director for armament, ammunition, and specialized chemicals, said the rounds improve the chances of hitting targets, even those as agile as loitering munitions.
“The targeting system calculates the most advantageous detonation point based on the target’s flight path, allowing the drone to be hit with shrapnel,” he added. “Detonation time is entered automatically via the optical line.”
The ammunition is making its public debut at the 2026 World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia.
Bullets for Drones
The Russia-Ukraine war has become a proving ground for advanced drone tactics, as well as the counter-drone measures aimed at stopping them.
Kyiv has reportedly deployed unmanned aerial vehicles with AI-assisted control and visual-based navigation, making them harder to detect and intercept.
Against this backdrop, Rostec’s 30mm airburst rounds are positioned as a direct response to Ukraine’s evolving aerial capabilities.
It also aligns with a broader global trend of adapting small-caliber ammunition for anti-drone roles, echoing efforts such as India’s 7.62mm “anti-drone” bullets and Ukraine’s own 5.56mm rounds.
