Rosoboronexport’s Anti-Drone System Export Variant to Debut at Dubai Airshow 2023

Rosoboronexport, a part of the Rostec State Corporation will introduce the export variant of a Russian automated system designed to counter small-sized remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) at the Dubai Airshow 2023 (Nov.13-17).

This new technology aims to respond to the evolving role of RPVs in recent military conflicts.

"Latest military conflicts showed a tremendous role of the remotely piloted vehicles of all classes in reconnaissance, surveillance of the situation and destruction of manpower, materiel, installations. On the tactical level, small-sized vehicles are mainly used on a massive scale. These are cheap, but capable of inflicting serious damage," Alexander Mikheev, General Director of Rosoboronexport, said. "Rosoboronexport will unveil in Dubai an advanced system with a high degree of automation; a product able to detect, neutralize, or destroy on the battlefield popular modern small-sized FPV-drones, quadcopters, unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type. Its characteristics and high effectiveness were confirmed under the battlefield conditions."

This export product is tailored for equipping specialized military units to effectively counter RPVs. At its core is the portable small-sized radar 1L122-1E, manufactured by Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET), another subsidiary of the Rostec State Corporation. This radar is capable of detecting RPVs at ranges sufficient for interception or destruction, making it a critical component of the system.

The radar sends real-time air situation data via a radio channel to a portable automated control module, which was developed by Ruselectronics, also part of the Rostec State Corporation. The automated control module can be positioned up to 5 kilometers from the radar and is essentially a small tablet equipped with features that aid the commander of the anti-drone unit. This technology enables data on RPVs designated for destruction or electronic interference to be transmitted to the operators of the "Verba" man-portable air defense system, produced by the High Precision Systems holding company, or to operators of anti-drone rifles equipped with individual automation packages.

The individual automation package for operators includes specialized goggles with visualization capabilities, a headset, and communication tools. This set streamlines the guidance of air targets and can be utilized for visualization and the transmission of voice commands to anti-aircraft gunners, electromagnetic rifle operators, snipers, or other armed personnel, depending on the situation.

The final stage in countering RPVs involves electronic interference with the RPV's communication and navigation channels or its physical destruction. At the Dubai Airshow 2023, JSC ROSOBORONEXPORT will showcase the "Argument-2" anti-drone rifle as an electronic warfare (EW) asset. Customers have the flexibility to request the substitution of this system with another portable anti-drone system to suit their specific needs.