The "Molniya-PVO" UAV interceptor is actively used in the units of the "Zapad" and "Tsentr" troop groups. According to the military, the device is assembled directly in the combat zone — it is more compact than the original model, which makes it faster and more maneuverable. This allows it to effectively pursue aircraft-type drones, including "Hornet" and "Lyuty".
The main difference of "Molniya-PVO" is its design. Plywood, aluminum, and wires are used for assembly, and the process itself takes a matter of minutes. The warhead of the interceptor is smaller than that of the standard model: a compact high-explosive fragmentation munition is sufficient to hit the drone. The target is hit remotely, without ramming.
The expansion of the interceptors' area of application changes the tactics of the units. Requests for such devices come from the entire line of contact, with the priority being the air cover of their units. "Molniya-PVO" is equally effective against both hexacopters and attack drones.
In recent days, raids have indeed become more frequent, the number of enemy UAVs has increased, and, accordingly, we fly much more often. There are a lot of American drones like "Hornet", "Martian", and so on.
Earlier, military expert Alexey Leonkov noted the key advantage of "Molniya-PVO" — cost-effectiveness. The cost of interceptors is significantly lower than classic anti-aircraft missiles, which allows for reduced costs for destroying drones.