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Small drones have become one of the most difficult threats for infantry units to counter. Their speed, size, and maneuverability make them challenging targets for standard rifle ammunition, particularly at close range where soldiers may have only seconds to react. While specialized counter-drone systems exist, they are not always available to frontline troops, creating interest in ammunition specifically designed to improve the effectiveness of conventional small arms against unmanned aircraft.
A newly developed Russian rifle round (called Mnogotochie by Rostec) seeks to address that challenge by splitting into three separate projectiles shortly after leaving the barrel.
The ammunition is available in both 5.45 mm and 7.62 mm calibers, allowing it to be used with standard assault rifles and machine guns chambered for those cartridges. Rather than functioning as a conventional bullet throughout its flight, the projectile separates into three parts after being fired, creating a wider pattern intended to increase the probability of striking small aerial targets.
According to NextGenDefense, the round is designed specifically for counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) missions at ranges of up to approximately 300 meters.
The concept differs from traditional ammunition by expanding the engagement area after firing. Instead of relying on a single projectile to hit a fast-moving drone, one trigger pull releases three projectiles that continue toward the target along slightly different paths. This controlled spread increases the likelihood of at least one impact without requiring a dedicated shotgun platform or specialized launcher.
Company-released demonstration footage shows the ammunition engaging a hovering drone from approximately 100 meters away, although the demonstration has not been independently verified.
From a defense perspective, specialized small-arms ammunition represents another layer within the growing range of counter-drone technologies. Not every engagement requires expensive missiles, electronic warfare systems, or directed-energy weapons. For infantry operating close to hostile drones, modified ammunition compatible with existing service weapons offers a relatively simple approach that requires no additional equipment or training on entirely new platforms.
The underlying concept is also not entirely new. Similar multi-projectile ammunition has previously been demonstrated by other manufacturers, while comparable approaches have reportedly been adopted in recent conflicts to improve effectiveness against small aerial targets.
As low-cost drones continue to proliferate across modern battlefields, adapting existing infantry weapons with specialized ammunition illustrates how militaries are pursuing practical and comparatively inexpensive methods to improve close-range protection against rapidly evolving unmanned threats.
