The Russian defense company KPB Polet has begun mass production of net-launching devices designed to intercept and neutralize enemy drones. An official representative described these systems as net launchers, intended to disrupt reconnaissance drones as well as larger attack drones. Production has already started, and the initial batch is slated to be sent to a designated testing zone in the near term. Military feedback on the concept has been described as positive, signaling strong interest in validating the technology under real conditions.
These net-launchers are designed to be mounted on a quadcopter platform. When an opposing unmanned aerial vehicle enters the engagement corridor, the system fires a large net at a distance of roughly four to six meters. The net, about two meters in diameter, is meant to ensnare the target and quickly overwhelm the drone’s propulsion system. Once the net engages, the propellers lose their effectiveness, and the aircraft loses lift, making sustained flight impossible. This approach emphasizes a physical capture mechanism over destructive engagement, reducing collateral risk while providing a rapid, non-kinetic means of denying a hostile UAV’s mission.
The first combat-related uses of the net-launcher concept have been publicly noted in June of the prior year. In Russia, discussions around countering UAVs have also included considerations of upgrading existing air defense assets. In late November reports highlighted plans to counter UAVs with modernization efforts for ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns. Military analysts have pointed out that the armed forces are sizable, and the introduction of an optical-electronic airspace control system combined with a dedicated computing unit could significantly improve the ability to detect, track, and engage unmanned threats across a wide area.
Earlier reports also mentioned that a kamikaze drone named Prince Vandal had been placed into mass production, illustrating the broader push to expand the domestic drone capabilities available for both reconnaissance and offensive missions. Taken together, these developments reflect a broader strategy to enhance layered air defense and active counter-UAV measures, pairing rapid, non-lethal capture options with more robust, weaponized responses where appropriate.