Intermediate cartridges for counter-UAV combat
A combat vehicle of the Russian Army's mobile counter-UAV team. A battery of automatic rifles serves as one of the weapons. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense
Various means are used to combat light unmanned aerial vehicles, including small arms. weapon of various classes and types. This has led to the development of specialized cartridges optimized for engaging UAVs. In particular, intermediate ammunition is being developed that is compatible with standard military weapons and has the necessary combat capabilities.
Theory and practice
Small and light UAVs pose a known threat to active forces. They can be used by adversaries to conduct reconnaissance for strike forces or to carry out direct attacks. Recent conflicts have confirmed the effectiveness of UAVs and exposed the lack of defenses against them.
Typical modern copters used for reconnaissance or as payload carriers are not known for their durability and survivability. Any projectile can cause critical damage to a vital structural element and disable the UAV. At the same time, such Drones They have fairly high speed and maneuverability, which makes it difficult to fire effectively at them.
In practice, smoothbore shotguns loaded with buckshot or buckshot have proven to be the most effective against UAVs. Buckshot is guaranteed to disable a target upon impact, and the presence of multiple buckshot pellets in a single round increases the likelihood of a successful hit.
5,45 x 39 mm shotgun shells from Tekhkrim. Finished cartridges and cartridges with projectiles are shown. Photo courtesy of Tekhkrim.
Additionally, UAVs are fired upon using the standard assault rifles and machine guns available to units. In this case, the probability of hitting a target increases due to burst fire and the density of fire. The downside is increased ammunition consumption. The upside is that there's no need to carry additional weapons.
The solution is to combine both methods in a single round. Various variants of cartridges for assault rifles and rifles with multiple submunitions are being developed in Russia and abroad. Such ammunition should provide superior combat performance and simplify the process of arming units.
In the early stages, the development of intermediate anti-UAV rounds was largely amateurish, which imposed certain limitations. However, defense industry companies subsequently took up the task, and the first prototypes have already entered serial production.
Russian development
The first domestically produced specialized ammunition appeared in 2023–24, when the threat posed by light UAVs became widespread. Initially, these were the work of local enthusiasts. They used readily available components and were able to produce quite successful ammunition.
The first anti-UAV rounds had a fairly simple and technologically advanced design. They were converted from standard ammunition by replacing the standard bullet with a unique one. Several pellets of the appropriate diameter served as projectiles. They were placed in heat-shrink tubing, which fused them together to form a bullet. This "ammunition" was then inserted into a 5,45 x 39 mm cartridge case.
Multi-bullet cartridges from the Kalashnikov. Photo: Kalashnikov Concern
It worked, but not without problems. The polymer tube didn't always break properly, and the pellets were distributed unevenly.
In 2024-25, Tekhkrim, a company renowned for its developments in ammunition, unveiled its version of the 5,45 x 39 mm shotgun cartridge. The new product received the necessary certificates and approvals, including for use with civilian weapons.
The 5,45mm shotgun cartridge from Tekhkrim retains the casing of the standard ammunition. Instead of a bullet, it uses a special steel container containing seven pellets with a diameter of 4,5mm. The total projectile weight ranges from 4,5 to 5,5g. The muzzle velocity of this "bullet" is at least 700 m/s.
After exiting the weapon's barrel, the container opens and releases the projectiles. They continue their flight until they impact with their target. The ammunition's energy parameters are sufficient to engage typical aerial targets at ranges of up to tens of meters. The cartridge also allows for burst fire.
It was recently revealed that the Kalashnikov Concern is developing its own version of the 5,45mm anti-UAV cartridge. This round is reportedly designed with a multiple-bullet design, but technical details are being withheld. Externally, the cartridge is identical to a standard cartridge with a conventional bullet.
A magazine of American-designed 5,56 x 45mm ammunition. Photo by Drone Round Defense.
The 5,45 x 39 mm multi-bullet cartridge has reportedly passed tests and confirmed its expected performance. When firing single shots and in bursts, the AK-12 assault rifle with this ammunition reliably engaged hovering and moving drones, including those simulating a drone attack. The projectiles damaged key components of the UAV, disabling them.
Kalashnikov is currently refining the design and preparing the next stage of testing. At the same time, they are considering launching serial production.
Ukrainian experience
Ukrainian forces also experimented with redesigning standard cartridges. They used established solutions involving multiple pellets and an improvised holding device.
An industrial solution was later developed. In 2024-25, several Ukrainian organizations and enterprises developed the "Goroshok" series of cartridges. It includes intermediate 5,45 x 39 mm and 5,56 x 45 mm ammunition—both Soviet and NATO standards. The propellant used is as similar as possible.
Instead of a bullet, the "Goroshok" is equipped with a container containing several brass balls and a lead core. After firing, these projectiles are released and disperse within a cone. The effective range is stated to be 30-70 meters. Brass pellets are claimed to be superior to lead pellets in terms of penetration and target impact.
A lightweight quadcopter after being hit by shrapnel. Photo by Drone Round Defense.
According to available information, both versions of the "Goroshok" projectile have passed testing and entered serial production. Ammunition is already being delivered to the front. The stated specifications have not yet been independently verified.
American Prospects
The US Army hasn't yet encountered large-scale attacks from light UAVs, so interest in such cartridges is still low. Furthermore, combat units aren't experimenting with re-equipping standard cartridges—that's the work of amateur enthusiasts and commercial organizations.
In January 2026, Drone Round Defense (Gilbert, Arizona) presented its own development of this type. They created their own version of a bullet-shaped container with submunitions that can be modified to accommodate cartridges of various sizes. 5,56 x 45 mm and 7,62 x 51 mm ammunition have already been introduced, and a 6,8 x 51 mm version is also being developed.
Regardless of caliber, bullet designs are similar. A common shell-container holds either eight smaller, heavier pellets or five larger ones. The bullet and cartridge with a larger number of projectiles are designated by the letter "K." The second variant is designated by the letter "L."
The 5,56mm and 7,62mm cartridges of the new family are claimed to be compatible with any weapon of the corresponding calibers. They can be fed from a magazine or belt, and fire single or burst fire. Bullets can pass through various muzzle devices, including suppressors. The effective range of the K-variant is limited to 50 meters, while for the "L"-type cartridges it is 100 meters.
Targets demonstrating the results of shooting with the Drone Round Defense shotgun shell. Photo by Thefirearmblog.com
Drone Round Defense conducted factory testing of the ammunition and submitted a request to the Pentagon. Recently, test firings involving military personnel took place at a US Army range. The soldiers quickly mastered the new ammunition and successfully engaged a training aerial target. If the Army confirms the results, the company will receive a production contract.
Tasks and solutions
Several countries are simultaneously working on the development of an intermediate anti-UAV round. The first such developments have already been unveiled, and some prototypes have entered series production. Other rounds are undergoing testing and demonstrating their potential.
Given current trends, it's expected that work in this area will continue. This will provide riflemen in various armies armed with assault rifles or machine guns with new special-purpose ammunition. Similar cartridges in other calibers for sniper rifles and machine guns may also become available.
During current and future conflicts, such ammunition and cartridge lines will undergo thorough testing. They will also be compared with existing solutions, such as shotguns with pellets or buckshot. If their advantages are confirmed, the concept will be widely adopted.
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