{"id":11781,"date":"2025-09-21T18:36:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T15:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedefender.media\/?p=11781"},"modified":"2025-12-08T15:20:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T13:20:21","slug":"black-mirror-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedefender.media\/en\/2025\/09\/black-mirror-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Mirror #25. Molniya-2, Koschei, Pusher, new components in Geran-3 and other Russian miltech innovations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Defender Media continues its\u00a0Black Mirror\u00a0series \u2014 a digest of the latest enemy miltech innovations, prepared to inform Ukrainian soldiers and engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, Russia unveiled several new developments aimed at strengthening its battlefield capabilities. Among them are new UAVs, upgrades to early-warning systems and EW efficiency, as well as tactics for combining fibre-optic and radio-controlled drones in paired operations. At the same time, discussions are beginning on how to replace imported components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full details in\u00a0Black Mirror #25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fibre-optic drones paired with radio-controlled attack drones<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The range of Russian fibre-optic drones may increase fourfold. Engineers have developed a UAV link that can bypass electronic-warfare systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A primary (relay) drone is connected by a fibre-optic cable to a combat drone. During flight the distance between them is adjusted so each occupies the required position: the secondary drone carries out the strike while the primary provides observation and a communications link, remaining outside the EW engagement zone \u2014 effectively \u201ceyes and hands\u201d in one pair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cable automatically spools out and in during flight and severs under heavy tension. Multiple combat drones can be attached to a single primary drone. After the mission the primary drone returns and the cable retracts automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This arrangement lets enemy drones operate longer and more effectively while minimising the risk of the cable snagging on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Molniya-2<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Russian military forces have shown<\/a> a prototype of the strike UAV Molniya-2 equipped with a 40-kilometre fibre-optic cable spool.<\/span> Russian drone operators are exploring the possibility of using fibre-optic communications on wing-type drones. Their flight speed reaches 70-90 kilometres per hour, substantially exceeding the permissible limits for fibre-optic copters because of the risk of cable breakage. The standard Molniya-2 with radio-frequency communications has a flight radius of 40-50 kilometres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UAV<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These drones are used to deliver heavy warheads weighing up to 10 kilograms, for remote emplacement of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, and as carriers for copter FPV drones over long distances. The prototype is launched from the same pneumatic catapult as the standard UAV model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New interceptor drone Pusher<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Russians announced a new interceptor Pusher with a recoilless barrel system (no recoil when firing) chambered for 12-gauge ammunition. The drone is equipped with machine vision that helps the operator detect aerial targets and automatically destroy them. Judging by everything, the apparatus is currently at the testing stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UAV<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ZALA ZARYA<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, the well-known company ZALA has begun using UAVs with artificial intelligence to detect fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ZALA ZARYA is equipped with onboard artificial intelligence for detecting forest fire outbreaks and can analyse images in real-time, highlighting ignition points, creating automatic reports. Currently, employees of the Russian Ministry are testing the technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UAV\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

UAV jammers<\/strong><\/strong> regulation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In Russia, drone suppression systems may effectively be equated with weapons, obliging owners of such systems to coordinate their deployment and use with the territorial bodies of the Minister of Internal Affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, the Russians already expanded the requirements for users of \u201cglushilki\u201d: now, anyone requesting frequencies for them is required to attach to the application written approval from the Ministry of Defence for the purchase of radio-electronic warfare equipment intended to counter UAVs in order to protect specific facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practice, however, many simply ignore the law and use the devices without any permits. As a result, in many regions, EW systems disrupt the operation of navigation systems. Introducing new requirements in this field is supported, but it is proposed to make the approval procedure unified and centralised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Electronic<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Import substitution of UAV components<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The switch to Russian components is a technological development dilemma for Russia\u2019s military-industrial complex. At the Kazan #DroneExpo exhibition, they spoke about a production-and-operational catalogue being developed on the Ministry of Industry and Trade order, which will help determine the level of localisation of UAVs being produced in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Russia has 19 companies manufacturing electric motors, 20 companies producing flight controllers, and several facilities for batteries, cameras, and communication systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Kazan exhibition, market participants stated that a high level of localisation is a condition for receiving state support. Still, the objects and evaluation criteria require deep cooperation between enterprises and continuous analysis using specialised information systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internals of the Russian jet UAV Geran-3 series \u201cU\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has revealed<\/a> the secrets of the Russian UAV Geran-3 with a turbojet engine:<\/p>\n\n\n\n