"Mnogotochie" cartridges against drones
7,62×54 mm R SC-228 cartridges
One of the means of combating unmanned aerial vehicles aviation at low altitudes it's small arms weapon with specialized ammunition. Several such cartridges with different features and characteristics have been developed in our country to date. The army recently received two of them, collectively known as "Mnogotochie." Similar in design and capabilities, they differ in caliber.
Let's be clear: most of the specifications here and below are based on the developer's data and publicly available publications. Independent verification of these figures has not yet been conducted.
From idea to series
The new cartridges were publicly announced in January 2026. This was the first time the project, which had been underway for several years by then, was openly discussed. High Precision Systems Holding (part of the Rostec State Corporation) revealed the main features and specifications of the project, showed the overall design of the two cartridges, and demonstrated their use at firing ranges. More details emerged later.
The "Mnogotochie" project itself began back in 2023. It was developed by the Tula-based Central Design and Research Bureau for Sporting and Hunting Weapons (TsKIB SOO), part of the High-Precision Systems holding company. According to available information, the development was carried out independently, using the bureau's own facilities. The goal was simple: to learn how to counter small UAVs with standard military small arms.
In early 2024, the first batch of 7,62mm SC-228 rifle cartridges was manufactured for ballistic testing. Work on the intermediate 5,45mm SC-226 cartridge also began.
SC-226 intermediate cartridges. The characteristic shape of the bullets is visible.
Development, testing, and refinement of both versions of the "Mnogotochiye" continued until 2025. Initially, the cartridges were tested at firing ranges, and then in the field, at units participating in special military operations, including against real enemy UAVs.
Events then unfolded as follows. According to industry media, the 5,45mm SC-226 is in serial production at the TsKIB SOO facilities and has been in service in the Air Defense Forces since the summer of 2025. The 7,62mm SC-228 has completed a series of tests; by early 2026, according to the same publications, preparations for serial production were completed, and the first batch has already been delivered to the troops.
In early July 2026, Rostec released the latest episode of its "Our Crash" video project (a series of videos about new weapons), dedicated to two new cartridges. Viewers were shown shooting at various targets, including high-speed footage. In the program, a representative of the developer confirmed the launch of serial production and the start of deliveries to the military. However, details were not disclosed due to the sensitivity of the topic.
Sectional view of the SC-228 ammunition
Three-element bullet
The project is based on several ideas. First and foremost, it relies on standard military weapons and a cartridge with standard characteristics. To this, they added a key goal: increasing the density of fire, and with it, the probability of hitting an aerial target. The result was an unusual design—a cartridge with a dividing bullet.
The SC-226 and SC-228 are extremely similar to the bulk intermediate and rifle cartridges of their size. They share the same cartridge casings, propellant charge, and primers. According to the developer, the "Mnogotochie" can be manufactured on existing production lines, and no significant reconfiguration of production is required.
Original bullets of 5,45mm and 7,62mm calibers were developed for both cartridges. Each consists of three identical projectiles: during assembly, they are stacked on top of each other and inserted into the cartridge case mouth.
The SC-226 has complexly shaped bullet elements, combining conical and cylindrical surfaces. The assembled bullet weighs 5,1 g, and its muzzle velocity when fired from a machine gun is approximately 800 m/s. The SC-228 has simpler, double-conical bullet elements; three of them weigh 10,5 g, and the muzzle velocity is 790 m/s.
Machine gun with SC-228 cartridges in a belt
Both cartridges are compatible with existing magazines and belts, requiring no modifications to the weapon. Furthermore, the Mnogotochie can be used with various muzzle devices, including PBS (a device for silent and flameless shooting, also known as a suppressor). Furthermore, the projectiles do not damage the device itself, and the suppressor does not interfere with their flight.
How it works
The principle is simple. When fired, propellant gases expel all three elements from the cartridge case mouth at once. As they travel down the barrel, they are held together by friction against the rifling and tight compression; here, the elements are accelerated and rotated. At the muzzle, freed from the barrel walls, they separate under the residual gas pressure and their own shape and fly toward the target independently.
A single bullet follows a single, narrow trajectory and, with typical accuracy, "pierces" only a small volume of space. Three bullet elements, diverging by several minutes of arc, form a compact "cloud." The chance that at least one of them will cross the path of a small drone, significantly higher. According to the developer, the probability of hitting a small aerial target increases by approximately 2,5 times compared to a standard cartridge at ranges of up to 300 meters. There is no independent confirmation of this figure in open sources.
However, a caveat regarding ballistics is worth noting. Each individual element is far removed from a classic bullet in shape, so after separation, it's unlikely to stabilize as precisely: spinning provides only acceptable, not ideal, accuracy for each element. This leads to the main compromise of the concept. The price for the density of fire is lower energy and accuracy of each element, since three light elements are used instead of one full-sized bullet of the same caliber. Dispersion increases the chance of hitting a target, but reduces accuracy at a specific point.
However, the energy of each element is sufficient to disable a light UAV. In the "Our Crash" program, the 5,45mm SC-226 penetrated a 25mm-thick raw pine shield from 50 meters. The more powerful 7,62mm SC-228 penetrated the same shield from twice the distance, 100 meters, and also penetrated a 0,8mm-thick steel plate. These are demonstration target firings, an illustration of lethality, not tabulated standards.
Firing from a machine gun using the SC-226. The projectiles are visible.
Effective range depends primarily on whether the target can be detected and the weapon aimed. According to existing estimates, the 5,45mm SC-226 is effective up to approximately 100-150 meters, while the 7,62mm SC-228 reaches further, up to 300 meters. It is at these ranges (100-300 meters) that the Mnogotochie outperforms single-bullet cartridges.
Beyond the working range of 300 meters, by approximately 500 meters, the elements lose energy, and their lethal effect drops sharply. This is both a range limitation and a beneficial property: beyond the working range, the elements pose a significantly lower risk to people and equipment, meaning less risk to friendly forces and those in the immediate rear.
The Mnogotochie missile can be used not only against drones. According to available information, it is also quite effective against manpower at short ranges, again due to its increased firepower.
A place in the anti-drone niche
To assess the Ellipsis objective realistically, let's compare it to other methods of shooting down drones with small arms.
A shotgun loaded with shot or buckshot, even with specialized anti-drone cartridges, typically hits drones at ranges of 50–75 meters. Beyond that, the pattern thins out, and the energy drops. There are also shotshell cartridges for rifled weapons, such as those from Tekhkrim, but they have their share of problems: compatibility limitations, especially with muzzle devices, and less predictable ballistics in a rifled barrel.
The "Mnogotochie" is closer to a standard rifled cartridge: it uses the same casings, propellant powder, and pressure as standard AK and PK cartridges. It bridges the gap between a single rifled bullet, which is ineffective against small aerial targets, and a smoothbore, which lacks range. At short ranges (up to 50-75 meters), a cheap smoothbore remains a strong alternative, especially for security purposes. And at 100-300 meters, the "Mnogotochie" wins, without having to change weapons.
There are also target limitations. The optimal target is a small, slow, and unprotected aircraft: commercial quadcopters like the DJI Mavic/Phantom, reconnaissance multicopters, and light "bombers" with exposed electronics. There's also an advantage over a standard round for fast, maneuverable FPV at 20-60 meters, but it comes down to human performance—reaction time and target tracking—and the claimed "2,5x" is more difficult to achieve. Against aircraft with an armored capsule, metal body, or composite component protection, the advantage of three lightweight elements diminishes: a solid armor-piercing bullet or other means may be useful. Finally, the "Mnogotochie" is a close-range weapon, not a replacement. Defense: MANPADS, anti-aircraft guns and specialized systems operate against medium and heavy UAVs at altitudes above 300 m.
Destruction of a UAV with a simulated combat load
Technological efficiency and economics of application
According to the developer, testing showed that both cartridges meet the requirements. They can be manufactured on existing production lines without major redesign, a design feature that was deliberately incorporated to reduce costs and simplify mass production.
There are no exact prices available in open sources. However, the design relies on standard cartridge cases and propellant powder, and the three striking elements are made of a special, though not prohibitively expensive, alloy. This means the "Mnogotochie" is significantly more expensive than a standard cartridge, as it requires more operations and is more complex to assemble. However, it's nowhere near the level of a match-grade, high-precision sniper cartridge.
Hence the rationale for its use. The cartridge is approximately two to three times more expensive than a standard cartridge, and the likelihood of shooting down a drone, according to the developer, increases by 2,5 times. For frontline units that encounter UAVs on a daily basis, this trade-off is justified. But for mass fire against ground targets, it makes no sense, as the standard cartridge remains the standard one. In short, the "Mnogotochie" is a specialized anti-drone consumable for specific units, not a replacement for the standard cartridge.
It's worth noting that the "Mnogotochie" is not the first domestic development of its kind. Specialized ammunition, both homemade and factory-made, is already used against UAVs, each with its own characteristics. The new products from High-Precision Systems will complement this lineup. It's possible that over time, they will replace some other designs and increase the standardization of ammunition, but this will depend on their actual effectiveness and price compared to competitors.
The Ellipsis isn't a miracle weapon. It's a narrow tool designed to increase the chances of shooting down a small drone with a standard assault rifle in situations where a shotgun simply can't reach. For its intended purpose, it's a welcome addition to the arsenal. Its performance will be determined by its fuel consumption and price compared to existing ammunition.
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