Russia Unveils New Kinetic Air-Defense Missile for Low-Cost Interception of Low-Altitude Drones

Russia's "Fakel" Machine-Building Design Bureau has unveiled a new guided air-defense missile with no explosive warhead, relying purely on kinetic impact to intercept small drones, kamikaze drones, and unmanned surface vessels.

The missile abandons the traditional high-explosive fragmentation warhead, relying solely on the missile body, main wings, additional fins, and a propeller propulsion system for impact. This design brings multiple advantages: first, the missile weight is greatly reduced compared to existing very-short-range air-defense missiles, estimated at only 1/20 to 1/35 of the latter, with costs expected to drop by 75% to 95%. Second, eliminating the explosive warhead simplifies the structure, improves safety in production, storage, and transport, and removes the need for manufacturers to hold explosives-handling certifications. In addition, to enhance interception maneuverability, the design team adopted a unique X-shaped aerodynamic layout with independently controlled motors installed in wingtip pods. Fakel has not disclosed which air-defense system the missile is intended for, but its operating principle is similar to the already mass-produced "Yolka," which also intercepts drones via kinetic impact.