The first footage of the combat use of the new ZAK-30 "Citadel" anti-aircraft artillery complex, which automatically intercepts drones, has been published online. The developers equipped the system with machine vision, a radar station, and ammunition with programmable detonation.
The complex was first presented to the public in May at the International Security Forum in the Moscow region. It is designed to combat various types of drones, including aircraft-type UAVs and multicopters, with most processes of detection, tracking, and target engagement performed automatically.
The main feature of the ZAK-30 is its 30-mm shells with a shrapnel warhead and programmable detonation. This ammunition creates a cloud of damaging elements at the calculated point of the trajectory, which significantly increases the probability of destroying small and maneuvering aerial targets at a distance of up to one kilometer.
To search for and track targets, the complex uses a radar station and an optoelectronic module operating in the visible and infrared ranges. The radar determines the coordinates, speed, altitude, and flight direction of the object, while the optics can track targets day and night even in radio silence mode, reducing the likelihood of the complex being detected by enemy assets.
Read more on the topic:
- The newest ZAK-30 "Tsitadel" will be mounted on a "Ural" chassis for the first time
- To defeat UAVs and aircraft at altitudes up to 7 km: The Citadel ZAK was tested with a 100-mm A190 naval gun
- "The Situation is Complex": Creators of the "Tsitadel-NPZ" Interceptor Frankly Discuss Problems with UAV Protection