Russia's Molniya-PVO aircraft-type interceptor drone can strike Ukrainian Lyuty kamikaze drones from a distance of several meters, an instructor from Russia's Rubikon center announced.
Speaking on the Zvezda television channel, an instructor with the call sign Bury, from the Russian Defence Ministry's Rubikon advanced unmanned technology testing center, reported that the anti-aircraft drone relies on a specialized fragmentation warhead.
The anti-aircraft drone carries an OFBCH-08 high-explosive fragmentation warhead developed specifically for air defense missions. Upon detonation, the warhead generates a dense cloud of shrapnel designed to destroy incoming aerial targets.
Bury told the presenter of the Military Acceptance program that the warhead was entirely sufficient to neutralize a Lyuty drone from a distance of two to three meters. He added that his operational crew carries out approximately 20 launches of Molniya-PVO drones every day.
Interceptor Capabilities and Tactics
The twin-engine Molniya-PVO interceptor was engineered specifically to target aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles. In its base configuration, the anti-aircraft drone has an operational flight range of approximately 15 kilometers.
Operators employ multiple combat methods to defeat incoming aerial threats depending on target trajectory and distance. In August, the military publication Krasnaya Zvezda reported that operators of anti-aircraft Molniya drones utilize both warhead detonation and physical ramming to intercept targets in mid-air.
The use of dedicated interceptor UAVs provides a specialized defense layer against incoming unmanned systems. By deploying lightweight aircraft-type interceptors, defense units can respond rapidly to low-altitude aerial targets.
Role of the Rubikon Testing Center
The instructor belongs to a reconnaissance and strike group within the Rubikon center for testing advanced unmanned technologies. Rubikon operates under the Russian Ministry of Defense as a specialized unit focused on evaluating emerging drone systems and developing new unmanned combat tactics.
Testing centers like Rubikon focus on integrating prototype unmanned platforms into active operational units. The center conducts field evaluations to test drone performance, warhead effectiveness, and launch frequencies under real-world conditions.
Targeting Fixed-Wing Attack Drones
The Ukrainian Lyuty is an aircraft-type strike drone designed for long-range kamikaze missions. Fixed-wing drones carry explosive payloads over extended distances, making early interception by maneuverable counter-drone systems a key priority for point defense.
Zvezda is the nationwide television network operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense, broadcasting military news and technical showcases such as Military Acceptance. Krasnaya Zvezda serves as the defense ministry's official newspaper, publishing reporting on military equipment and operational developments.
