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Kalashnikov Tests Multi-Bullet Cartridges Designed to Counter Drones

Russia's Kalashnikov Group says it has developed and successfully tested 5.45mm multi-bullet cartridges intended to improve the chances of hitting drones, including Ukrainian FPV UAVs, with AK-12 rifles. The company also reported delivering AK-203 rifles to a foreign customer and supplying AK-12 rifles to a state customer, highlighting continued production and export activity.

By Tertius News AI Desk 1 outlet · 1 distinct · 3 articles Version 1 Coverage Apr 9–27, 2026 Published Aug 13

Lead

Russia's Kalashnikov Group has developed and successfully tested multi-bullet assault rifle cartridges designed to counter drones in the conflict in Ukraine, the company announced through state news agency TASS. According to the company, the 5.45mm cartridges contain a multi-element projectile that significantly increases the probability of hitting UAVs when fired from an AK-12 assault rifle in both single and burst fire. The tests involved firing at a hovering drone and then at a drone simulating an attack, with bullet segments damaging the drones' engines, batteries, and structural components, causing them to crash.

Coverage Comparison

All three reports in this analysis come from TASS, the Russian state news agency, and each highlights a different aspect of Kalashnikov's recent activity. The first report, dated April 9, details the multi-bullet cartridge test. The second, from April 15, covers the delivery of a large batch of AK-203 assault rifles to a foreign customer. The third, dated April 27, reports on the supply of 2023-model AK-12 rifles to a government customer. Since all stories originate from the same outlet, there is no divergence in sourcing, but the framing is consistently positive, emphasizing the company's successes, such as "successfully tested," "ahead of schedule," and "proven itself."

Key Claims

Multi-bullet cartridges tested: Kalashnikov claims it has successfully tested 5.45mm multi-bullet cartridges designed to improve the probability of hitting fast-moving drones. The company said the cartridges are identical in size to standard 5.45x39mm ammunition and can be used with the standard 30-round AK-12 magazine. These claims come solely from Kalashnikov representatives via TASS and have not been independently verified.

Effectiveness against drones: The company reports that during testing, bullet segments struck the drones, damaging engines, batteries, electronic circuit boards, and structural components, causing them to crash. Kalashnikov also says customer representatives "highly praised" the cartridges' performance characteristics. These are company statements without independent confirmation.

Export delivery of AK-203: Kalashnikov says it delivered a large batch of 7.62mm AK-203 assault rifles to a foreign customer, completing a 2026 export contract ahead of schedule. The AK-203 is described as an improved variant of the AK-200, chambered in 7.62x39mm, with Picatinny rails and an adjustable stock. This claim is from the company's report to TASS and has not been verified by external parties.

Domestic supply of AK-12: The company shipped its first large batch of 2023-model AK-12 rifles to a state customer under a 2026 contract. The AK-12 is described as the primary individual automatic weapon of the Russian Armed Forces since 2020. The shortened AK-12K is said to have "proven itself" in the conflict zone and is widely used by assault units. These statements are from Kalashnikov's press service via TASS.

Perspectives

From the Russian perspective, as presented by TASS, Kalashnikov's developments are framed as innovative responses to battlefield needs, particularly the threat posed by Ukrainian drones. The company portrays its products as effective, reliable, and in high demand both domestically and abroad. This narrative aligns with broader Russian state messaging that emphasizes technological advancement and military capability.

An independent Western analyst might view these claims with caution, noting the lack of third-party verification and the inherent bias of state-aligned media. The effectiveness of multi-bullet cartridges against drones would require rigorous testing data and operational evidence to confirm. Additionally, the timing of these announcements—amid the ongoing conflict—suggests a possible propaganda purpose, showcasing Russian defense industry resilience.

A neutral observer with expertise in small arms would note that multi-projectile ammunition is not a new concept but has historically faced challenges with accuracy and reliability. The company's claim that the projectiles separate "in an orderly manner" to maintain ballistic stability is an interesting technical assertion that would need to be validated through independent ballistic testing.

As of now, all details about these cartridges and deliveries come solely from Kalashnikov Group through TASS. No other sources have confirmed or disputed the claims, so readers should treat them as company announcements pending further verification.

How this outlet told it

A framing line is our reading of that outlet's own text — an interpretation, not a quotation and not a fact we assert. Check it against what the outlet published.

TASS — English as of Apr 9, 2026, 12:45 PM UTC

Framing: Our reading Russia develops new technology to counter drones — Informative

Facts Included:

Kalashnikov Group developed multi-bullet assault rifle cartridges
Cartridges are for countering drones in Ukraine
Cartridges were successfully tested
Cartridges contain a multi-element projectile
Cartridges can be used with the standard 30-round AK-12 magazine

Read the source article →

TASS — English as of Apr 15, 2026, 10:45 AM UTC

Framing: Our reading Russia exports assault rifles — Informative

Facts Included:

Kalashnikov Group delivered a large batch of AK-203 assault rifles
Rifles were delivered to a foreign customer
Delivery was completed ahead of schedule
AK-203 is an improved variant of the Kalashnikov AK-200

Read the source article →

TASS — English as of Apr 27, 2026, 10:15 AM UTC

Framing: Our reading Russia supplies new assault rifles to government customer — Informative

Facts Included:

Kalashnikov Group supplied 2023-model AK-12 assault rifles
Rifles were supplied to a government customer
AK-12 is the primary individual automatic weapon of the Russian Armed Forces
AK-12K has proven itself in the special military operation zone

Read the source article →

What was claimed, and who backed it

AI-extracted; can misattribute a claim — see Methodology.

Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.

Claim	Confidence	Status
ClaimKalashnikov Group developed multi-bullet assault rifle cartridges for countering drones in Ukraine.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 9, 2026, 12:45 PM UTC
ClaimThe cartridges contain a multi-element projectile that significantly increases the probability of hitting UAVs.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 9, 2026, 12:45 PM UTC
ClaimThe cartridges can be used with the standard 30-round AK-12 magazine.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 9, 2026, 12:45 PM UTC
ClaimKalashnikov Group delivered a large batch of AK-203 assault rifles to a foreign customer.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 15, 2026, 10:45 AM UTC
ClaimThe AK-203 is an improved variant of the Kalashnikov AK-200.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 15, 2026, 10:45 AM UTC
ClaimKalashnikov Group supplied 2023-model AK-12 assault rifles to a government customer.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 27, 2026, 10:15 AM UTC
ClaimThe AK-12 is the primary individual automatic weapon of the Russian Armed Forces.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 27, 2026, 10:15 AM UTC
ClaimThe AK-12K has proven itself in the special military operation zone.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 27, 2026, 10:15 AM UTC

Transparency & Audit Trail

1 outlet · 1 distinct · 3 articles consulted: TASS — English 8 claims extracted Version 1 Written 2026-08-13