Gun cartridges for combating UAVs from the Tekhkrim company
Shot cartridges for combating UAVs - "Fat Goose KS" and "12/76 Service"
In the Special Operation zone, Russian troops are faced with a large number of enemy light-class UAVs for reconnaissance and strike purposes. To protect against them, various means and devices are used. In particular, smoothbore shotguns with shot cartridges perform well. Recently, the Russian company Techkrim developed this idea and developed new rifle cartridges optimized for use in drones.
New developments
At the beginning of April 2024, CJSC Tekhkrim (Izhevsk) presented for the first time on its Internet resources a new shot cartridge within the 12/76 “Fat Goose” family. This product is called “Fat Goose KS” (“Short Barrel”) and is intended for use in civilian smoothbore weapons. According to promotional materials, such a cartridge is intended to destroy small UAVs at ranges of up to 75 m.
Soon the development company announced the start of sales of the new 12/76 “Service” cartridge. It is intended for use in service smooth-bore weapons to destroy drones. The service patron is offered to legal entities with special statutory tasks - private security companies, departmental security, etc.
It should be noted that the design and characteristics of the “Fat Goose KS” and “Service” cartridges are identical. The release of one product under two names in different categories is associated with the specifics of certification and sales of cartridges. Thanks to this solution, the Tekhkrim company can present its products in two categories at once and work with a wider range of customers.
In early May, they introduced another cartridge for combating UAVs called “Interception”, intended for civilian weapons. Like previous developments, it is made in 12 gauge, but differs in the use of a 70 mm sleeve. The cartridge equipment has also changed: instead of shot, the so-called. bound buckshot made from modern materials. The ability to destroy standard UAVs at ranges of up to 100 m is declared.
"Interception" cartridges assembled and their components. In the foreground is tied buckshot
On June 11, the development company announced the launch of sales of the service modification “Interception”. The 12/70 Intercept-S product is no different from the previously released sample and has the same characteristics.
All new shot and buckshot cartridges from Tekhkrim have passed the necessary tests at the test site and confirmed the design characteristics. The development company even published a test video showing the defeat of an air target. The necessary documents have also been completed to begin sales.
Also on June 11, the Izvestia publication spoke about a new stage of testing of promising cartridges. With reference to Oleg Kuzmenko, director of Tekhkrim CJSC, it is reported that the first batches of ammunition were sent to units involved in the Special Operation to conduct military tests. Troops constantly face the threat of drones, and will now have a new tool to counter it.
Shot against drone
The new products 12/76 “Service” and “Fat Goose KS” in their design and composition are practically no different from common cartridges of other models. At the same time, the components and characteristics of these munitions were determined taking into account the work on a specific target in the form of a UAV assembled from plastic and metal parts. It is noteworthy that when creating cartridges it was possible to make do only with well-known and proven solutions.
Shot cartridges are produced in a plastic sleeve 76 mm long with a metal bottom. A propellant charge, a powder and heat-stable wad, and a shot charge are placed sequentially inside the cartridge case. The cartridge carries 43 g of shot No. 3 in the form of solid metal copper-plated balls with a diameter of 3,5 mm. A plastic Eley ring is placed near the muzzle of the cartridge case. The initial shot velocity is 420 m/s, the effective fire range against UAVs is 75 m.
Layout of the "Interception" ammunition
O. Kuzmenko, in a recent interview for Izvestia, noted that shot No. 3 is optimal for hitting light UAVs. A smaller shot may not cause the required damage to the target, while a larger shot reduces the number of balls in the cartridge and the likelihood of damage. The Eley ring in the form of a small cylinder prevents the shot from scattering after exiting the muzzle, thereby improving accuracy.
It is reported that the "Fat Goose KS" and "Service" cartridges are compatible with any 12-gauge shotguns. The automatic operation of self-loading systems is ensured, as well as the required combat characteristics, regardless of the barrel length.
Buckshot cartridge
Products of the “Interception” line are also built on the basis of well-known ideas. They were implemented using modern materials, which make it possible to increase the efficiency of fire when solving specific problems. At the same time, the cartridges provide a combined effect on the target, which increases the likelihood of successful interception.
“Perekhut” and “Perekhut-S” are made in a 12-gauge plastic sleeve, 70 mm long, with a metal bottom. Inside it there is a powder charge, a wad container and a so-called charge. connected buckshot with a total mass of 20 g. When fired, such a “projectile” is ejected from the barrel at a speed of 550-580 m/s. The declared effective firing range is 100 m.
Six lead buckshots weighing 3 g each are used as striking elements. They are made in the form of triangular prisms and fit tightly into a wad container in the form of a cylinder. The buckshots are connected in pairs with a Kevlar or nylon thread 1 m long. The three threads intersect and are fastened at the centers. When fired, the striking elements come out of the barrel and tend to fly away in different directions. At a distance of up to 15-20 m from the muzzle, the buckshots diverge to a maximum distance from each other, limited by the threads.
Tied Buckshot in Flight (marked with a circle)
The dimensions of the hexagonal “projectile” increase the likelihood of hitting a typical aerial target - buckshot and/or threads will hit the drone. In this case, a combined effect on the UAV is achieved. Lead elements should destroy its structure, and threads can block the rotation of propellers. In any case, being hit by associated buckshot prevents the drone from continuing to fly.
Specialized tool
To combat light UAVs, a variety of means are used to suppress or destroy such targets. Smooth-bore shotguns with shot cartridges show a good balance between cost, ease of use and efficiency. A trained shooter with such a weapon can confidently hit hanging and moving drones at a distance of tens of meters.
The idea of the Tekhkrim company to develop new cartridges optimized for hitting specific air targets looks logical and timely. The appearance of such ammunition, regardless of their developers and manufacturers, should have a positive impact on the capabilities of our units in the fight against enemy UAVs.
Tekhkrim's two projects have several interesting features that could become advantages. First of all, this is the simplicity of the design of the cartridges and the absence of fundamentally new solutions. Thus, when creating the “12/76 Service” or “Fat Goose KS”, the development company essentially slightly rebuilt the existing ammunition design and received a new model with special capabilities. The “Interception” product also did without major innovations.
As tests carried out at the test site have shown, the resulting cartridges cope with the assigned tasks and demonstrate advantages over other types of ammunition. Now it is planned to conduct military tests in a combat zone using weapons and ammunition against real enemy UAVs. The exact results of such efforts remain unclear, but overall there is cause for optimism.
A target drone testing a shot cartridge. The impact of the striking elements led to the stoppage of a pair of engines and the loss of the ability to fly.
Separately, the issue of cost should be considered. For 12/76 cartridges, the manufacturer set a retail price of 72 rubles, which is approximately 6% more than similar gross cartridges with the same shot. Intercept products are sold for 215 rubles, but there is nothing to compare them with - this is the only cartridge with associated buckshot in the Tekhkrim catalog.
In current tests, among other things, it is necessary to determine the economic performance and feasibility of new cartridges. In particular, Interceptions will have to show that a threefold difference in cost is accompanied by a comparable increase in efficiency.
Response to a threat
Thus, the enemy is trying to increase its unmanned aerial "fleet" and actively use it against Russian troops, and our defense industry is looking for new ways to counter such a threat. Many radio-technical systems have been developed, and specialized firearms are also offered. In addition, rifles are showing good results, and new, more effective ammunition is being created for them.
All such means of protection, suppression and destruction form a layered system with the help of which troops can protect themselves, cities and territories. At the same time, such a system needs constant verification and improvement. The next addition to it is new rifle cartridges, and it will soon become clear whether they cope with their tasks.
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