Czech Viktor MR-2 Air Defense System Donated to Ukraine Proven Highly Efficient Against Russian Drone Attack.

On May 30, 2024, the Defence Minister of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, visited the Armed Forces of Ukraine's training ground to observe the training on the Viktor MR-2 air defense system. Developed by the Czech company Excalibur Army, this system has proven its effectiveness in Ukraine to counter Russian drone threats, including the Iranian-made Shahed drones, due to its rapid deployment and repositioning capabilities across various combat zones.
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The Viktor MR-2 uses 14.5 mm ammunition, which carries nearly twice the energy of standard 12.7 mm machine guns, enabling them to engage a variety of targets, including drones, aircraft, helicopters, lightly armored vehicles, enemy fortifications, and personnel, at distances up to 2 kilometers. (Picture source: Rustem Umerov)

The Viktor MR-2 system is based on the ZPU-2, a Soviet-era twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun built around the 14.5×114mm KPV heavy machine gun, introduced into Soviet service in 1949 and since adopted by over 50 countries worldwide. Variants of the ZPU include the quadruple-barreled ZPU-4, the double-barreled ZPU-2 and ZU-2, and the single-barreled ZPU-1. These machine guns use 14.5 mm ammunition, which carries nearly twice the energy of standard 12.7 mm machine guns, enabling them to engage a variety of targets, including drones, aircraft, helicopters, lightly armored vehicles, enemy fortifications, and personnel, at distances up to 2 kilometers.

The Viktor MR-2 also includes day and night anti-aircraft sights for targeting aerial threats and a sight for direct fire on ground targets. It has rapid-firing machine guns and carries a ready-to-fire supply of 300 rounds in magazines, with an additional 300 rounds in spare magazines mounted directly on the gun carriage. Extra rounds can be transported in boxes on the vehicle's cabin, and the system includes spare barrels for rapid changes in case of overheating.

Showcased at the IDET 2023 defense exhibition, the system is mounted on a Toyota Land Cruiser 70, a vehicle commonly used to mount anti-aircraft guns, including heavy ones, because of its robust construction, off-road capabilities, and reliability. Its durable chassis can handle the weight and recoil of heavy weaponry, making it a suitable platform for mobile air defense systems. The Land Cruiser's ability to traverse difficult terrains ensures it can be deployed quickly and effectively in various environments. Additionally, its global availability and ease of maintenance enhance its suitability for military use, providing a practical and cost-effective solution for mounting anti-aircraft guns like the Viktor MR-2.

The deployment of Viktor MR-2 systems in Ukraine was facilitated by Czech volunteers through the "A Gift for Putin" (Dárek pro Putina) fundraising campaign, which raised €3.75 million to procure a total of 15 systems. (Picture source: Dárek pro Putina)

The Shahed-136, known in Russian service as the Geran-2, is an Iranian-made loitering munition developed by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) and the Shahed Aviation Industries Research Center. This unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), intended for single-use attack missions, measures 3.5 meters in length, has a wingspan of 2.5 meters, and weighs approximately 200 kilograms. It is powered by a 50 HP two-stroke, four-piston engine, capable of reaching speeds up to 185 km/h. The Shahed-136 can carry a warhead weighing between 40 to 50 kilograms and has an operational range of up to 2,500 kilometers, which allows it to cause substantial damage upon impact at significant distances by following pre-programmed flight paths or being controlled manually by an operator.

The Shahed-136's construction utilizes widely available commercial components, such as sensors, a high-resolution camera for target identification, GPS for navigation, and radio systems for remote control and data transmission, making it cost-effective and straightforward to produce. Since 2022, Russia has reportedly deployed over 2,000 Shahed-136 drones against Ukraine, as the cooperation between Iran and Russia has facilitated this deployment, with Iran initially supplying these drones and later assisting in establishing localized production within Russia.

Production of the Geran-2 is supported by facilities in Russia, particularly at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone, where satellite imagery has shown active construction and expansion efforts aimed at increasing output. By the end of December 2023, approximately 3,000 Shahed-136 drones had been produced and supplied to Russian forces. This production is part of a broader contract aiming to produce 6,000 drones by September 2025, with future plans to expand production to 10,000 units. The facilities at Alabuga have increasingly taken on more aspects of the production process, including the manufacturing of critical components and warheads, explaining why Ukrainian forces sent two Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat aircraft, modified to serve as kamikaze drones, against this facility.