Russia’s Kalashnikov unveils multi-bullet ammo to shoot down drones

Russian defence manufacturer Kalashnikov has developed and tested multi-bullet assault rifle cartridges designed to target drones in the conflict with Ukraine.

The company said it successfully conducted trials of newly developed 5.45mm multi-bullet cartridges to assess their effectiveness against fast-moving and manoeuvring targets — specifically FPV drones, Caliber.Az reports, citing ASTRA.

Firing was performed from an AK-12 rifle in single shots and bursts, first at a stationary drone and then at one moving at a predetermined speed and altitude, simulating an attacking scenario.

According to the developers, the bullet segments are designed to damage critical drone components such as engines, batteries, and electronics, causing them to crash.

The client representatives highly appreciated the tactical and technical characteristics of the 5.45mm multi-bullet cartridges, noting their accuracy and consistency against aerial targets during dynamic testing.

The company also noted that the multi-bullet cartridge is identical in size to the standard 5.45×39mm round, allowing it to be used with a standard 30-round AK-12 magazine.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov