Ukrainian Defense Firms Ready to Mass-Produce New Anti-Drone Rounds That Fragment Mid-Air

Several Ukrainian defense manufacturers are preparing to launch full-scale production of specialized anti-drone ammunition, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on November 20.

Shmyhal said the Ministry of Defense has already codified multiple versions of the new ammunition from different domestic producers, clearing the way for serial manufacturing. The rounds are designed to help Ukrainian infantry counter small Russian drones—especially FPV suicide drones, which have become one of the most deadly tools on the front.

According to the minister, the ammunition does not require any special weapon system. “These rounds can be loaded into standard frontline rifles,” Shmyhal said.

Ukraine first approved the use of enhanced-effectiveness 5.56×45 mm anti-drone ammunition for frontline units in June. The round uses the same NATO caliber already widespread across Ukrainian assault rifles, simplifying rapid adoption.

According to Ukrainian defense officials, the ammunition functions similarly to a multi-projectile round: once fired, the projectile destabilizes and fragments in the air into several pieces. This creates a dense spread pattern, dramatically increasing the chance of striking a small, fast-moving drone.

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War in Ukraine

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Field tests cited by the ministry suggest the new round boosts hit probability by two to three times compared with standard 5.56 mm ball ammunition.

The goal, officials said, is for every infantryman to carry a separate magazine loaded with anti-drone rounds. When a Russian UAV is spotted, a soldier can simply switch magazines and open fire, giving ground troops an instant, low-cost counter-UAV option without relying on heavier electronic-warfare systems or vehicle-mounted jammers.

Earlier, the United States tested a new specialized 5.56×45 mm anti-drone round designed to help infantry shoot down FPV and small quadcopter drones at close range—effectively turning a standard assault rifle into a “point-defense” weapon.

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