X-BPLA
Russia has developed a new guided missile, X-BPLA [X - Bezpilotniy Letayuschiy Apparat, or BPLA, (unmanned aerial vehicle)], which can be used as part of the armament system for drones and helicopters, a source in the defence industry told Sputnik 18 December 2021. "X-BPLA is a new development based on guided missiles from the Kornet-D missile system. It will become part of the armament system of the combat drones, for example, Forpost and Inokhodets, as well as Ka-52 helicopter," the source said. The missile has had several successful launches off a Ka-52M helicopter and off Inokhodets, Forpost and Altius drones, the source added.
Guided ammunition are at the core of their effectiveness. Yevhen Hriniov noted "Russia lacks most of the modern guided ammunition types, and the available ones are very expensive, one of the main reasons being the small scale of their production. It is unrealistic to claim that Russians could independently manage to miniaturize the guidance systems for smart ammunition."
On 18 December 2021, a news story and a video was circulated through Russian web sites and Telegram channels showing an Orion UAV with two ATGMs mounted on its hardpoints (which is critically few for a UCAV) shooting down an unmanned helicopter target at the testing range in Crimea. The mysterious X-UAV missile is actually the Kornet-D, an ATGM which has been mounted on helicopters to engage high-value ground targets. The “elegant solution” is in essence putting two ATGMs on a UCAV, allowing for a successful demonstration with a live launch and a hit.
A whole family of light unified ammunition designed specifically for arming drones has now been developed and tested in practice. On the basis of the modified Kornet anti-tank missile system, the X-UAV was made. It can be both in the cumulative version for the destruction of armored vehicles, and in high-explosive fragmentation, as well as thermobaric. The applied laser beam guidance system allows you to attack low-speed air targets, including other drones and helicopters. Such ammunition can be used by Pacer and Forpost-R.
“ In terms of capabilities, the Kornets are superior to the ammunition of the Turkish Bayraktar drones,” Vladislav Shurygin explained. "They have a higher range, and the speed with which they reach the target . Yes, and there is no doubt about the power, they pierce Abrams tanks even “on the forehead”. And, most importantly, we have a well-established large-scale production of such missiles, they are well known to all our foreign customers and have become almost the same brand as the Kalashnikov assault rifle. You won’t have to start the production of new items from scratch for a long and painful time, and it will be easier to promote for export."
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