Almaz-Antey Holding has received a patent for a new guided anti-aircraft missile. The main difference from traditional ones is the complete absence of a warhead. Instead of detonating, the missile destroys the drone with a direct ramming strike.
The authors claim that their development is 20–25 times cheaper than existing analogues and 20–35 times lighter. In addition, it is safer to produce and store, and can be manufactured at factories that do not have a license to work with explosives.
Structurally, the missile resembles a tiltrotor with propeller engines at the ends of the wings (X-shaped design). Each engine has its own electric motor, and the propeller axes are tilted mirror-wise in opposite directions relative to the vertical and horizontal. This, according to the design, provides high maneuverability and accuracy. Additional aerodynamic surfaces between the engine nacelles increase the area of the ramming part.
Conventional anti-aircraft missiles, designed to destroy aircraft and cruise missiles, are too expensive to combat small drones. The cost of one such munition is incomparable to the cost of a cheap drone. Moreover, due to their high speed, it is difficult to use them against a hovering or slowly moving target at low altitude.
The new missile fills precisely this niche: an inexpensive and agile interceptor for the near zone – directly above the battlefield or a protected object. The authors also believe that their product can attack not only aerial drones but also unmanned boats.