Russia's DIY anti-drone weapon packs a serious punch
The Russians are facing significant challenges in combating Ukrainian drones both on the front line and deeper within Russia. Some soldiers are trying to act independently, attempting to create solutions with the resources they have. Some outcomes are ineffective, while others show promise. We present an anti-drone system based on the Mi-24 helicopter's armament from the latter category.
Both Russians and Ukrainians are improvising in the production of anti-drone solutions. Some attempts are futile (the Russians have an advantage here, as they are known for creating vehicles reminiscent of the Mad Max universe), while others are very effective, such as the Ukrainians equipping M75 cannons with a fire control system with thermal imaging.
However, sensible solutions exist on the Russian side, such as the anti-drone system based on a four-barrel large-caliber machine gun, the JaKB-12.7 caliber 12.7x108 mm, equipped with a collimator sight and a thermal imaging camera with a display. This setup is mounted on a tripod, likely attached to a Lada or another vehicle.
Large-caliber JaKB-12.7 machine gun as anti-drone defense — the idea isn't new
The idea of using large-caliber machine guns as anti-drone weapons, with a theoretical range of up to 1 mile due to the availability and low cost of ammunition, is not new.
However, its low-cost Russian counterpart is not an automated weapon equipped with radars; it is controlled by a shooter with a thermal imaging camera and possibly a laser rangefinder to measure the distance to the target.
JaKB-12.7 as anti-drone defense — it could work
If the shooter has experience and uses tracer ammunition, it could be effective, especially against larger bombing drones like "Baba Yaga" at a range of several hundred yards. However, it won't have the precision and effectiveness of a computerized fire control system coupled with radar.
On the other hand, the JaKB-12.7 machine gun's firing rate of 4,000-5,000 rounds per minute allows it to literally "drench the target in lead" as long as the ammunition supply is sufficient. More importantly, it's a more effective solution than the doomed attempt to shoot down drones several hundred yards away with AK rifles or shotguns.
