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Ukraine Unveils Special Ammo That Turns Assault Rifles Into Anti-Drone Weapons
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
![Photo of Tetiana Frolova]( "Photo of Tetiana Frolova")
A Ukrainian Come Back Alive Foundation has unveiled new small-arms ammunition designed to take down Russian FPV drones on the battlefield on August 21.
The released footage showcases the project, which was developed with input from senior sniper instructor Ruslan Shpakovych. The rounds, available in 5.56mm and 5.45mm calibers, were created to address one of the most pressing threats in today’s war: the mass deployment of explosive drones, including fiber-optic guided FPVs.
“These new bullets don’t replace electronic warfare systems,” Shpakovych explained, “but they can serve as an additional means of individual protection, especially in cases where there is no cover or no way to destroy a drone in time.”
The ammunition is intended not only for infantry, but also for drone crews, evacuation teams, and other units regularly exposed to FPV attacks.
Unlike conventional bullets, the new rounds feature a segmented design: a lead core paired with 5mm brass pellets. The use of brass ensures a stable flight path, since lead fragments would deform as they leave the barrel.
When fired at distances of 30–70 meters, the rounds scatter into a cloud of fragments, significantly increasing the chance of hitting a fast-moving drone.
Another advantage is that soldiers don’t need to carry special shotguns for anti-drone defense. Instead, the new ammunition can be fired from standard rifles, maintaining both mobility and a high rate of fire in combat.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Brave1 defense cluster introduced specialized anti-drone ammunition for standard infantry rifles. The rounds, which resemble regular 5.45 mm cartridges, are designed to fragment mid-air, increasing the chances of hitting fast-moving FPV drones. Already codified for use, the ammo is being distributed to frontline soldiers as part of a broader layered defense strategy.
