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Troops from the Russian military’s 18th Combined Arms Army, active within the Dnepr Group of Forces, have gunned down at least 11 Ukrainian multirotor drones on a single day between Kherson and Zaporozhye.
Some of the drones were used for surveillance, while others were equipped to drop grenades. Video footage shared by the troops on August 10 show some of the drones receiving direct hits before crashing into the ground.
The troops reportedly used AK-12 assault rifles, typically chambered in 5.45×39mm, equipped with thermal sights to take down the drones.
The base model of the rifle, designed and manufactured by the world renowned Kalashnikov Concern, has a rate of fire of 700 rounds per minute, a muzzle velocity of 880-900 meters per second, an effective firing range of 440 meters and a maximum firing range of 3,150 meters.
It also features a Picatinny rail on the top of the receiver for mounting various optical sights and on the top, bottom and sides of the handguard to mount various accessories.
Two years ago, Sergey Urzhumtsev, chief designer of Kalashnikov, announced that the AK-12 has been modified based on the experience gained from the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, where the rifle was used and tested extensively.
It’s worth noting that Kalashnikov produces several variants of the AK-12, like the short-barreled AK-12K, the AK-15, which is chambered in 7.62×39mm, the short-barreled AK-15K, the AK-19 that is chambered in in 5.56×45mm NATO and the AK-308 that is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 Winchester).
While electronic warfare remains the first line of defense against smaller multirotor drones, the Russian military is now employing other tactics to counter this threat, including the use of rifles equipped with thermal sights and even interceptor drones.
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