The Katran anti-aircraft machine gun system was tested for the first time in conjunction with a radar and an optoelectronic system during large-scale exercises at a training ground near Novokuibyshevsk, organized by the "PPSH" laboratory. About 140 specialists from 17 regions, responsible for protecting fuel and energy complex facilities and critical infrastructure, took part in the exercises.
During the tests, a unified operational scheme for the complex against small-sized UAVs was practiced: early detection, tracking, and target designation transfer to fire assets with subsequent target destruction. Special attention was paid to the interaction between the Lun radar station, the Krechet/+ optoelectronic sight, and the Katran combat module.
The Katran is a mobile platform with two twin 7.62-mm PKT machine guns, designed to engage small and high-speed targets at close ranges. As part of the system, it was integrated with the Krechet/+ sighting complex, equipped with a thermal imaging channel, a laser rangefinder, and powerful daytime optics, ensuring stable tracking of stealthy targets even in difficult visibility conditions.
Long-range detection is handled by the X-band Lun radar with an AFAR, capable of detecting mini-UAVs with a small effective scattering area at several kilometers and tracking dozens of targets simultaneously with automatic data transmission. Specialists specifically checked the stability of the system's operation in jamming conditions and at low-altitude drone flight trajectories.
