The frontline in Russia has started receiving altered ammunition produced at civilian facilities for use with commercially sourced helicopters. Previously, soldiers had to improvise on the ground, but a recent video circulated by the telegraph channel of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation offered a glimpse into this shift.
“Factory ammunition is now moving toward the forefront. We are beginning to master them and operate with them,” stated Zmey, a trainer responsible for teaching drone operators, who spoke with his call sign.
He voiced optimism that the army would gain access to more rounds and a wider range of munitions. The instructor also noted the importance of a steady supply of cumulative ordnance.
“We are also developing our own high-explosive fragmentation munition. We test, reset – everything functions,” the trainer, known as Snake, added.
According to him, commercial drones deployed on the front lines enable bombing with grenades up to 800 grams, as well as VOG-17 grenade launcher ammunition.
“Each piece of ammunition in the form of VOG-17 is reconfigured for mission deployment over the enemy. A handle is attached for stabilization in flight, the fuse is adapted for instant operation, and the F-1 round itself remains largely unchanged aside from a lid and reset,” the trainer explained.
Earlier, the RF Armed Forces reportedly used a new Russian kamikaze drone named Gadfly near Avdeevka.
There were also reports of Russia developing a new drone suppression system to counter aerial threats.
These developments illustrate a broader trend of integrating commercially available hardware with specialized military guidance and munitions, enabling rapid adaptation in the field while signaling ongoing efforts to expand both supply and technical capability for frontline operations. [Source: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation]