Russia has registered a patent for a new anti-drone protection system designed for armored vehicles, consisting of a device similar to a “rotating umbrella” capable of launching a net to intercept kamikaze drones before they reach the vehicle.
According to the patent document from the Combined Arms Order of the Zhukov Academy, a prototype was built in 2024 and tested on the rear of a pickup truck. During the trials, a commercial drone from the DJI Mavic series simulated an FPV-type attack, while the system fired the net when the target was about 3.5 meters from the vehicle.
The developers claim that the interception was successful and that the simulated detonation occurred at a distance of approximately 3 meters, significantly reducing the damage that would have been caused by a direct impact.
The project is part of Russia’s search for new ways to protect armored vehicles against drones, which have become one of the greatest threats on the battlefield in Ukraine. In recent years, Russian forces have already adopted improvised solutions, such as the so-called “cope cages”, as well as other patents aimed at blocking drones with flexible rods or automatically launched nets.
Despite the patent registration, this does not mean the system will be adopted on a large scale by the Russian Armed Forces. Experts note that many patented technologies remain only in the experimental phase, although the project highlights the growing concern over the need to develop physical defenses capable of complementing electronic warfare systems against increasingly sophisticated drones.
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Photo: Russia’s Zhukov Armed Forces Academy. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
