Counter-drone for Russian soldiers: net launchers, shot charges and self-procured detectors

Europe is debating counter-drone strategies, while Ukraine and Russia are finding their own answers. On the Russian side, a surprising mix stands out: improvised solutions alongside commercial gadgets.

To be clear from the outset: the counter-drone strategies and equipment described here are not part of the Russian army's standard kit. The “Kontraktnyy” (contract soldiers) whom Moscow sends to Ukraine for the “special military operation” often have to procure such gadgets themselves. Information on them is provided in social media channels by the “old hands”, if any are still around.

Anyone who currently signs up with the Russian army receives two average Russian annual salaries “cash in hand”. In the first year of service, there is also pay equivalent to another four average Russian annual salaries.

That money should actually be enough for this equipment. Yet donation appeals and thank-you videos on Russian social media channels show that it often is not. A long list is donated: tactical first-aid kits, binoculars, Mavic drones, generators, drone detectors, thermal imaging cameras, camouflage nets, radios and riflescopes. Vehicles are in demand too – where tanks and infantry fighting vehicles still dominated in 2022, Ladas and Bukhankas now shape the picture at the front.

An overview of what is offered to Russian soldiers to protect themselves against drones and to warn of them.

Counter-drone by net: Polyot's Spider

The manufacturer Polyot advertises its device called Spider as an additional means of protection against small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). In the pistol version, it is said to be effective up to 30 metres; it ejects a net measuring 2.7 × 2.7 metres.

One special feature is that the Spider can also be attached to drones. Mounted facing downwards under a Mavic, it can intercept hovering reconnaissance drones or the notorious Ukrainian Baba Yaga bomber drones. Also being tested is an interceptor with first-person view (FPV) that fires two nets in the direction of flight.

Setkomet: net launcher for the assault rifle

BRT, a Russian company, specialises in accessories for AK assault rifles. Setkomet is fired much like a rifle grenade – via a launcher cup placed on the muzzle of an AK-74 or AK-12. A blank or propellant cartridge hurls a ten-point net with a diameter of 3 metres and a weight of 270 grams up to 40 metres.

The device itself weighs 850 grams and costs 190 euros with one net. Each additional net, available separately, costs 26.50 euros.

Shot charge from the launcher cup: the Drone Killer

The so-called Drone Killer also comes from BRT. Here, a blank or propellant cartridge fires a large shot charge via a launcher cup fitted to an AK-74 or AK-12. The 500-gram device costs 100 euros including 20 cartridges. The 5.2-millimetre pellets are effective up to 40 metres, with a spread of about 2 metres.

Gorn detector: warning across two frequency bands

According to the manufacturer, the Gorn detector picks up electromagnetic emissions in two bands (up to 1.2 GHz and 1.2–6.5 GHz) and can identify and classify all known UAV FPV video transmitters as well as commercial UAVs. A range of 1.5 to 4 kilometres and a battery life of 13 hours are stated. The price is just under 600 euros.

Yurka 1.2: detector with monitor connection

Four versions of the Yurka drone detector are available. The best of them detects signal sources of commercial UAVs and home-built FPV drones in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequency ranges up to one kilometre away. Anyone wanting to see a drone's intercepted video signal can connect a monitor to the Yurka 1.2. The Yurka costs 215 euros, the monitor 28 euros.

Godrone Nabat V.2.C at a glance

The Nabat is advertised with a frequency range between 700 and 6,200 MHz. Its 3,500 mAh lithium battery lasts up to seven hours. If it detects drone signals at a distance of up to 1.5 kilometres, it warns – like the other devices – with sound, light and vibration. On Wildberries, the Russian counterpart to Amazon, the system is listed for around 850 euros.

Bulat v.4 detects UAVs up to 1.5 kilometres

With a frequency range of 300 to 6,200 MHz, the Bulat reaches distances of up to 1.5 kilometres. The three batteries supplied allow up to 15 hours of autonomous operation. The 300-gram device costs 955 euros.

More expensive: Asel Labs H231b

The Asel Labs H231 is among the more expensive devices on the market. Displaying and identifying signals between 300 and 7,200 MHz costs almost 1,450 euros. Accessories include a suction-cup mount for 86 euros and an external antenna (450–6,200 MHz) for 145 euros.