Russian engineers have created an automated long-range drone interception system, "Tsitadel-NPZ". The developers spoke about the features of the system and the problems faced by customers from oil refineries.
One of the main tasks solved during the creation process was to ensure automatic operation without the risk of shooting down friendly drones, private or rescue vehicles. The operator must 100 percent confirm that the target is an enemy before the system proceeds to the terminal interception phase. This requirement remains even when a "Carpet" plan is in effect. Observation posts and the thermal imaging head of the interceptor drone itself are used for confirmation before the final target acquisition. In some scenarios, developers can designate an automatic operating zone for the interceptor on the combat map.
Regarding the drone's body, the developers are skeptical about the widespread use of 3D printing. In their opinion, for a printed body to withstand overloads during maneuvers and transfer kinetic energy to the target without disintegrating itself, expensive raw materials and expensive printers are needed. This is possible for individual pieces, but not for mass production.
The situation with customers, according to the developers, is currently complex. Many refineries purchased equipment from well-known commercial companies a couple of years ago. The equipment worked at test sites, but not in real combat conditions. Now customers are re-verifying everything in real conditions and paying attention to the price-quality ratio. Decisions are made at several levels – from the facility to Moscow. The developers have been actively communicating with the plants since the end of last year.