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Russia Shows Off AI-Enabled KUB-2-2E Attack Drone for Export—Here’s What It Can Do
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russia has publicly disclosed the technical specifications of its latest loitering munition, the KUB-2-2E, for the first time at the UMEX 2026 defense exhibition in the United Arab Emirates.
According to Defense Express, the KUB-2-2E is an upgraded and export-oriented variant of the KUB family of loitering drones developed by Kalashnikov Concern in collaboration with the Izhevsk Unmanned Systems enterprise.
The drone was previously expected to debut at the IDEX 2025 arms expo, but no technical details were released at that time.
The KUB-2-2E weighs approximately 14.5 kilograms and is launched from a catapult. It carries a 4.6-kilogram thermobaric warhead, has a maximum range of 40 kilometers, and a top speed of 150 kilometers per hour. Flight time is limited to 25 minutes.
Imagery from UMEX 2026 suggests minor airframe modifications compared to earlier models, including a revised vertical stabilizer.
While past reports claimed the KUB-2 series could be outfitted with 10-kilogram warheads of various types—including anti-personnel and anti-armor options—the UMEX 2026 display included only a thermobaric payload.
The drone reportedly supports three modes of operation: GPS-guided strikes against pre-defined targets, manual control via a live camera feed, and autonomous optical-electronic targeting. The latter implies the use of onboard artificial intelligence, a capability previously hinted at in Russian media, including video demonstrations of the drone in combat scenarios.
Russia’s KUB drone series has been used since the early stages of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The updated KUB-2 model—on which the KUB-2-2E is based—was reportedly first observed in combat in January 2025, when it was intercepted by a Ukrainian drone.
While the full scope of differences between the domestic and export variants remains unclear, the public disclosure of the KUB-2-2E’s specifications marks a rare admission by Russian manufacturers regarding the drone’s capabilities.
The system is being marketed to foreign customers, positioning it as a low-cost loitering munition with AI-enabled guidance for asymmetrical warfare environments.
Earlier, on October 12, Russian sources unveiled a new AI-powered loitering munition called the “Klin,” reportedly capable of autonomously locating and striking targets up to 120 km away. The drone has a flight endurance of 80 minutes and carries a 5-kg warhead, with design features resembling the Shahed series and components produced via 3D printing.
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