Serial supplies of Russian KUB-BLA strike drones may begin in 2022.

Serial supplies of the new KUB-BLA loitering drone developed by the ZALA Aero Company (part of the Kalashnikov Group) may begin in 2022, the company’s press office said: “The new strike drone has been recommended for acceptance into service. The serial supplies are expected to begin in 2022,” the press office said. According to the press office, the new loitering drone has successfully completed its state trials.
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KUB-BLA strike drone/loitering munition (Picture source: ZALA Aero Company)

According to the developer, the UAV has high accuracy, can be covertly launched, it is virtually silent and easy to operate. “This system represents a step to completely new conduct of operations”, said Rostec’s CEO Sergey Chemezov at IDEX 2019, when the KUB-BLA was unveiled. “The high-precision drone comes within 30 minutes at a speed of 130 km/h. The shell is delivered to the target by the complex regardless of terrain or whether the target is concealed or not, both at low and high attitudes It is an extremely accurate and efficient weapon being very hard to combat by traditional air defense systems.”

According to the press office, the KUB-BLA is multipurpose and can be used as part of a swarm of drones. It can reach 80 to 130 km/h. Its flight duration is 30 minutes and its maximum payload is 3 kg. The drone can loiter in the air, detect a target and attack it from the upper hemisphere in a vertical dive.

After the launch, the drone can loiter in the air to detect a target and then attack it from the upper hemisphere, being able to perform a diving pass along the vertical trajectory.

This allows it to attack tanks in the field from the upper hemisphere, piercing the turret that has minimal armor protection in the upper part. Ordinary air defense systems face difficulties in countering the company’s advanced drone.. The unmanned attack system is ready for delivery.