More than four years after the start of the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ground Forces have been refining the use of loitering munitions of various types in large numbers. The accumulation of operational experience with this class of unmanned aerial vehicles—popularized as kamikaze drones—has had its spillover into the Russian industry, which has been supplying them in ever greater numbers and in a wide variety of models, as evidenced by the recent presentation of the new KUB-10ME guided munition by the Kalashnikov Concern consortium.
Although it is known worldwide for its line of rifles, from the iconic AK-47 to the more modern versions of the “AK” family, the Kalashnikov consortium has also been successfully venturing into the design, development, and production of tactical loitering munitions for use by the Russian Ground Forces.
This is reflected in the “KUB” line, which includes several models that vary in operational range and type of employment, whether anti-personnel, anti-armor, or against vehicles. As reported by the consortium itself, this line includes the KUB-E, with a maximum range of 25 kilometers; the KUB-10E, with an operational range of 90 kilometers; and the KUB-2E, with a range of 40 kilometers.
For this reason, and as noted at the end of last February, the presentation of the new KUB-10ME tactical guided munition introduces new features, highlighting in this regard its operational range of over 100 kilometers.
Its development and production respond to meeting the growing operational requirements of the Russian Ground Forces, as well as drawing on the operational experience provided by troops in the theater of operations.
With this in mind, Kalashnikov stated that the new KUB-10ME incorporates “… an optoelectronic guidance system, which makes it possible to strike moving targets, and greater protection against electronic warfare (EW) and air defense (AA) systems. In addition, it is equipped with an aerial photography and video recording system, with onboard recording of the information obtained.”
They added that its primary use is aimed at countering “… unarmored and lightly armored enemy military vehicles; armored personnel carriers; elements of command posts of divisions, battalions, and anti-aircraft missile units, including vehicles with radio-electronic equipment and personnel with individual protective gear; installations of air defense, missile defense, radiotechnical intelligence, and electronic warfare formations; logistical targets; launch positions of systems with unmanned aerial vehicles; as well as aircraft or helicopters outside shelters on parking platforms.”
In turn, regarding performance, the new loitering munition would operate at altitudes between 80 and 1,800 meters, with a cruising speed of 120 km/h, operating in both daytime and nighttime conditions, “… in simple and complex weather conditions, with wind gusts of up to 10 m/s and within a temperature range of -30 °C to +40 °C.”
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