Inside Russia's anti-drone training: Shotguns and acrobatics
The Russian Ministry of Defence released footage of anti-drone training for soldiers heading to Ukraine. Instead of working with mobile electronic warfare systems, the soldiers are seen using shotguns, throwing rifles, and performing acrobatics.
Russian television showed soldiers practising methods to combat drones. The recording does not reveal any advanced systems; the only line of defence is a soldier with a shotgun. Additionally, soldiers practice evasive acrobatics and rifle throwing, theoretically to destroy an FPV drone in its final approach.
Russian anti-drone school — circus instead of actual training
One benefit of the Russian anti-drone school is familiarizing soldiers with drone activity and the ability to detect the flight direction by sound. Another practical aspect is training with a smoothbore shotgun, a very effective tool capable of shooting down drones from a distance of 30 to 40 metres.
The Russians use interesting models like the semi-automatic Saiga-12 or Vepr-12 shotguns, which feature interchangeable box or drum magazines with a capacity of ten or twenty rounds, respectively. These shotguns, weighing about 4 kilograms when equipped with muzzle brakes and collimator sights, are quite effective weapons.
The same cannot be said about throwing a rifle at a drone, which, even if destroyed just 2 metres away from the Russian, is likely to be fatal. FPV drones often carry bomblets or fragmentation grenades, with a lethal shrapnel range much greater than that. Only extraordinary luck and a high-quality bulletproof vest or suit could ensure survival in such situations.
Numerous recordings by Ukrainian drone operators over recent months have shown Russian soldiers making desperate attempts to down unmanned vehicles using thrown weapons or sticks. It has now become clear that Russians are "trained" in these practices.
The same applies to acrobatics, which are only effective with adequate ballistic protection for most of the body. However, this remains a significant challenge for Russia. While assault suits with shrapnel protection exist, they are typically available only to select units. With standard equipment, such acrobatics by Russian soldiers are likely to result in fatalities, as seen in numerous recordings by Ukrainian drone operators.
