Russia has unveiled the Kinzhal, a new interceptor drone developed by ASF-Innovations, sharing its name with the country’s well-known hypersonic missile.
The Kinzhal drone is designed specifically to intercept hostile drones at low altitudes through direct collision. Equipped with a mid-wave infrared seeker mounted on its nose, the drone uses thermal targeting for precise guidance. It can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour, making it suitable for close-range defensive operations.
In parallel with the Kinzhal programme, Russia has also begun developing other interceptor drone systems, including the Yolka. According to Russian sources, Yolka is a kinetic “fire-and-forget” system, engineered to autonomously collide with enemy drones in mid-air.
