Tag: Ukraine War

Polish Rifle Grenades for Ukrainian Drones

Earlier this summer, Polish PGN-60 rifle grenades began to appear in the hands of various Ukrainian units. These 68mm fin-stabilised, High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) grenades were developed in the 1950s, to provide Polish infantry with a ranged anti-tank and anti-personnel weapon.

Introduced in the early 1960s they were used in conjunction with the specially adapted Karabinek-granatnik wzór 1960 (Carbine-grenade launcher M1960) which had a spigot onto which the grenade’s tail was slid. The grenade was launched by a blank UNM ‘Universal Propellant Cartridge’. The 7.62×39mm wz.1960 and later wz.1960/72 are long out of Polish service, but it seems that the Polish military decided to retain the rifle grenades in storage. The rifle grenade concept was superseded in Polish service by the issuing of the lightweight RPG-76 Komar anti-armour rocket propelled grenade. These have also appeared in Ukraine.

Polish manual illustrations showing PGN-60 and KGN rifle grenades (source)

The stated penetrating power of the PGN-60 varies depending on the source; some say 160mm others suggest up to 200mm of RHA plate. The grenade itself is either Impact or Graze fuze initiated.

While we have seen use of improvised rifle grenades in Ukraine, it is unlikely the PGN-60s have been used for their original purpose, instead they appear to have been either harvested for their explosive content or used as warheads for FPV (First Person View) drones.

One example of the use of the rifle grenades by a drone team was shared by Joe McDonald, a British volunteer serving with the Ukrainian Marines in Kherson. Joe kindly shared some photos of a consignment of Polish rifle grenades his unit received in July. Included in the consignment were not only the PGN-60 HEAT grenades but also Polish KGN anti-personnel grenades. The first sighting of one of the KGN grenades came earlier, back in mid-April 2024. Sources suggest that the KGN grenades contain nearly 250 fragmentation pieces. One of Joe’s photograph shows 10 PGN-60s and five KGNs, along with their detached tail assemblies.

PGN-60 & KGN rifle grenades, July 2024 (Joe McDonald)

The yellow label markings are instructions on how to use the rifle grenade, they read [machine translated]:

  1. Unload the rifle
  2. Load magazine with propellant cartridges
  3. Put the rifle on safe
  4. Seat the grenade
  5. Chamber a propellant cartridge
  6. After each shot put the weapon on safe

Other markings include various factory, year and lot markings.

PGN-60 markings (Joe McDonald)

Joe noted that the KGN grenades have either been used as drone-dropped munitions or have been mounted on 7-inch first person view (FPV) drones in addition to a quantity of additional plastic explosive. Joe recently shared some video of five of the PGN-60 warheads electronically wired and ready for mounting on an FPV drone, these are some of the last of the grenades his unit received in July.

PGN-60 rifle grenades prepared for mounting on FPV drones (Joe McDonald)

The PGN-60s aren’t the only interesting rifle grenades to turn up. In September a photograph of a 1990-dated French 58mm PAB F2 anti-tank rifle grenade was shared. France may have provided them for their explosive content or to accompany the 1,000 FAMAS F1 Valorise rifles which have been transferred to Ukraine. Only one image of this type of rifle grenade has surface so far but from the image it appears it’s tail assembly has been removed and is likely to be utilised as part of an FPV.

A French PAB F2 anti-tank rifle grenade (via French Aid to Ukraine)

It is currently unclear just how many Polish and French rifle grenades have been transferred to Ukraine. The imagery sample featured in this article/video represents all of the imagery I have been able to find. If you have come across any additional sightings of the grenades I’d love to hear from you.

Special thanks to Joe for his help with this video. Check out Joe’s channel here.

Update – 27/10/25:

Another PGN-60 was seen in a short video shared by an officer with Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces in February 2024.

Bibliography:

Karabinek-granatnik wzór 1960/72 Rifle-grenade launcher, AK-Info, (source)

Grenades for rifle-grenade launcher systems kbkg wz.60 and kbkg wz.60/72, AK-Info, (source)

PGN-60, CAT-UXO, (source)

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Mk14 EBRs in Ukraine

In an earlier video/article we examined the M14s which appeared in Ukraine back in March 2022, since then there have been a number of intriguing sightings of what, at a glance, appear to be Mk14 Enhanced Battle Rifles or M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifles. The EBR and EMR emerged during the Global War on Terror in the early 2000s as an improved variant of the 7.62x51mm M14.

The project to develop a more compact, improved M14 reportedly evolved from a request from US Navy SEALs in 2000 for a rifle for Arctic warfare. This eventually developed into what became the Mk14 EBR with development led by Naval Special Warfare Centre Crane and input from commercial specialists and manufacturers including Smith Enterprise, Inc. and Sage International. The result was a rifle with a 18 inch barrel and new flash hider, with changes to the operating rod guide, a new stock chassis and a raft of accessories. A number of different variants were built including the Mk14 Mod 0, Mod 1 and Mod 2, the M14 EBR-RI and the USMC’s M39 EMR. In total between 2003 and 2011 just over 9,000 of these upgraded variants were assembled.  

An NSCW Crane Mk14 Mod 1 EBR, c.2006 (source)

Given the significant number assembled and the fact they have been replaced by rifles such as the M110 Semi Automatic Sniper System (which has already been seen in Ukraine) and the M110A1 CSASS it would not be unsurprising to see Mk14 EBR variants turn up in Ukraine.

Over the past two years I’ve been tracking sightings of what appear to be Mk14 EBR variants but on closer examination some of them are not what they initially seemed to be, several were in fact kit builds using the standard configuration M14s which reached Ukraine in early 2022. Some, however, do appear to be surplus Mk14s.

Yuri’s Mk14 EBR clone at the range (Nucking_Futs_Yuri)

First, let’s examine some of the kit builds seen in theatre. The first appears to have been assembled by Nucking_Futs_Yuri, an American volunteer who enlisted in the Ukrainian Army in early 2022. Yuri explained to me that in late 2022, following combat experience where he wasn’t satisfied with how well 5.56x45mm suppressed a Russian position he decided to assemble an EBR clone using a donated chassis. Yuri noted that parts for the rifle began to arrive in December 2022 and by January the rifle had been assembled. Yuri was seen with the rifle in numerous photographs and in several configurations. It had a standard 22 inch barrel, a Sage International M14ALCS chassis and a M14DCSB (Detachable Cantilevered Sight Base). He mounted a 1.5-6x Elcan SpectreDR optic on the rifle, opting for more of a battle rifle-style set up. The rifle was damaged in February 2023 by a Kornet ATGM blast which bent both the barrel and the chassis.

Yuri’s damaged Mk14 EBR clone (Nucking_Futs_Yuri)

In early May 2023, another rifle which resembled an M14 EBR-RI, with a 22in barrel and a black Sage International M14ALCS chassis, appeared in use with a member an International Legion team. This individual and his rifle was seen again in May 2024 appearing in a number of interviews with Ukrainian media. His callsign was revealed to be ‘Solo’ and he was described as a marksman and a squad leader with a unit of the International Legion’s 3rd Special Purpose Battalion. In the interview he explained that the rifle has originally been a wooden stocked M14 converted with a SAGE chassis sent to him by a friend in the US. Interestingly, between May 2023 and May 2024, it appears the rifle’s set up has evolved with new FDE rail covers added and a short tan Kydex handguard replacing the initial black longer handguard. These parts were likely acquired in Ukraine.

‘Solo’ with his Mk14 clone built off a standard M14 (Суспільне Донбас)

Most intriguingly, in November 2023, the first Mk14 Mod 1 appeared. Mod 1s are characterised by their shorter 18in barrels, a Sage M14ALCS/CV-BS with Magpul CTR FDE stock (with a cheek riser) mounted on a buffer tube extension rather than the earlier collapsing stock. The rifles also have LaRue LT-608 extended Picatinny risers and short tan handguards. The rifle is equipped with a Schmidt & Bender PMII 5-25×56 scope.

A Mk14 Mod 1 EBR with Schmidt & Bender PMII, Nov. 2023 (via social media)

The Mk14 Mod 1 was assembled at NSWC Crane in 2006, around 500 were assembled. The shorter barrel and the general configuration of parts and accessories suggest that this may be a surplus rifle transferred by the US.

A recent sighting of a Mk14 Mod 1 EBR (via Tysk)

Most recently, on 18 October, Ukrainian telegram channel Tysk shared a series of photos of a Ukrainian combatant at the range with another Mk14 Mod 1. This rifle’s parts and accessories closely match those assembled by Crane for the Mod 1, including: an 18in barrel with a SureFire FH762KM14 muzzle device, a TangoDown BG-16 FDE pistol grip, a Sage M14ALCS/CV-BS with a Magpul CTR FDE stock (this time without the cheek riser), a TangoDown BGV-MK46 FDE vertical foregrip, and a TangoDown ACB-4 FDE bipod. The rifle is also equipped with a NightForce NXS 2.5-10x24mm optic and a DOCTER MS01 3.5 MOA red dot sight which were selected to be paired with the Mod 1. [It has been noted that the Mod 1s may also be clones due to some small differences in the chassis profile and accessories used – for instance the model of VFG, scope rings, cheek riser, and the machining on the chassis. If this is the case someone has gone to an improbable amount of trouble to ‘clone’ a Mod 1, a considerable level of effort to expend in a war zone. Thanks to tanodized for input.]

From the very limited imagery available of Mk14 EBR-pattern rifles in Ukraine it appears that numerous clone builds have been assembled in-country and that the only EBRs which can be identified as potential US transfers are the two Mk14 Mod 1 variants seen so far.

A squad designated marksman with an Mk14 EBR-RI (the most common EBR variant), 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, 2012 (US Army)

If the US was to transfer a significant number of Mk14-pattern rifles I would expect them to be the Mk14 EBR-RI, the most common variant, some 6,000 of which were assembled by Rock Island Armory – TACOM [Tank-automotive and Armaments Command]. It is unsurprising clone rifles have been assembled by combatants in Ukraine as Sage International and a number of other US manufacturers offer EBR-pattern chassis which do offer some improvements over the traditional M14 configuration.

Support Us: If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including early access to custom stickers and early access to videos! You can also find us on the History of Weapons & War app. Thank you for your support!

Bibliography:

M14 to MK 14 Evolution of a Battle Rifle, D. Armstrong, via DTIC, (source)

The M14 EBR – a Continuing Evolution D. Armstrong, via DTIC, (source)

The History and Development of the M14 EBR (source)

MRSATURN7085’s ‘M14EBR’ data sheet (source)

Sage International, EBR (source)

Thank you to colleagues who consulted on this video and to Yuri.

Russian Company Develops Polymer PK Belts

In previous videos we’ve looked at Ukrainian efforts to manufacture polymer belts for PK-pattern general purpose machine guns. These were developed by Ukrainian company RAROG who has been selling them since the summer of 2022. Now PUFGUN, a Russian company has also developed a polymer PK belt.

Traditionally, the 7.62x54mmR belts used by the PK series of guns have been made from metal and are non-disintegrating, meaning they remain linked together after they’ve been used, while NATO machine guns tend to use disintegrating belts that fall apart once the rounds held in them have been fired.

On 3 September, PUFGUN announced the introduction of the new disintegrating belts, explaining some of their features:

“The tape is made of high-strength polymer – a light and durable material. 3 times lighter than metal analogues. The total weight of the package for 100 links is 220g
Due to the physical properties of the polymer, the loading of the PUFGUN loose belt is carried out faster than that of a metal belt.
Maintains functionality in temperature conditions from -40C to +70C.
Not subject to corrosion, does not require special conditions for long-term storage.”

Packs of 100 links are being sold for 548 Rubles or $5.75 on PUFGUN’s website.

PUFGUN shared a pair of photos, on 10 September, comparing the weight of a loaded traditional metal belt with one of their non-disintegrating belts, with the metal belt weighing 2.8kgs while the polymer belt weighed in at 2.37kgs. In the caption they claim that the photos were taken by Russian special forces unit Grom. OSN “Thunder”, who they state has been testing the belts since late August. The post claims Grom’s first impression was ‘quite good’. The post on PUFGUN’s telegram has since been deleted.

On 14 September a video showcasing the belts was posted by Mikha Mikhalych, a Russian gun content-creator, reviewing the belts. In the video two types of belt are featured; the disintegrating belt and a non-disintegrating one. The video also features a polymer belt box developed by PUFGUN, which is said to weigh around 150g. Combining the box with the polymer belts appears to be a meaningful push towards reducing the weight of the PK’s ammunition carriage system.

On 26 September, PUFGUN announced the non-disintegrating polymer belts on their social media. These belts share the same technical specifications as the disintegrating belts but notable are made from a clear plastic rather than a black plastic. While these have previously appeared in the earlier video they are not, at the time of publication, available for purchase on the company’s site. It appears that the links will be sold in packs of 100, with a starter tab and four disintegrating connector links which allows 25-round belts to be linked together.

On 9 October, PUFGUN shared a short clip showing their non-disintegrating belt being loaded by an Rakov belt-filling machine. This video was made in collaboration with ‘Granit’, a Russian living history group which appears to have links to the Russian military. Granit also shared their own longer video showing the belts being used in a variety of old and new Russian machine guns ranging from a vintage SG-43 to the latest PK variant the 6P41M.

Much like the Ukrainian KS-122 polymer belts from RAROG, the PUFGUN belts do significantly reduce the weight on the gun itself and more broadly for transporting ready ammunition. PUFGUN have sought to address the need for both disintegrating belts, useful for troops on the move that don’t want to be encumbered by trailing empty belts, while the non-disintegrating belts are more easily reloaded and better suited to use in vehicles or static positions. It’s interesting to see both sides commercially developing polymer belts to address a perceived need shared by both sides.

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Dismounted 2A28s as Improvised Support Guns

The 2A28 Grom is the main armament of the BMP-1 and BMD-1 infantry fighting vehicles, it is essentially a 73mm low-pressure gun which fires a variety rounds ranging from HEAT to HE-Frag. Developed in the early 1960s it has been in Russian service ever since.

While it is the same calibre as its tripod-mounted cousin the SPG-9 it is designed to fire rounds with less propellant charge. In the last six months there have been a series of sightings of Russian troops testing 2A28s which have been dismounted from vehicles and mounted on craft-made or repurposed carriages for use as infantry support guns.

A 2A28 on what appears to be a 2B9 carriage (via social media)

The first of these I’ve been able to find appeared on 27 May, this example was seen in a short video being test fired. The gun itself appears to have been mounted on a carriage similar to that used by the 2B9 Vasilek automatic mortar, though there are some differences in the trails. The crew of a gunner and loader are able to get of 10 rounds in 40 seconds with the gunner adjusting his aim several times. In the background there appears to be a team training with a conventional SPG-9. It could be argued that the wheeled carriage offers and advantage over the SPG-9 which has to be deployed on foot by its crew. The dismounted 2A28s could be seen as DIY analogues of the old Swedish PV-1110s which have seen limited service with the Ukrainians.

A 2A28 mounted on a commercial trailer which is removed when setting up to fire (via social media)

Several months later on the 1 July, another dismounted 2A28 appeared. The first of two videos showed the gun being towed into position by a tractor. The 2.37 minute-long video shows the crew bringing the gun into action: uncoupling it from the tractor, fitting the trails and front support. The carriage itself has been fabricated using a commercial trailer which is removed from a frame once the trials and supports have been fitted. The frame is built around a ring for the BMP-1’s original turret ring to sit on. This appears to allow rotation using the turret ring. The BMP-1’s turret has been cutaway to enable the gunner to access the breech. A couple of photographs of the salvaged turret being adapted were also shared with the videos. It takes the crew approximately 1 minute 40 seconds to bring the gun into action, the design is quite ingenious if unwieldy. The video concludes with the gunner refusing a lanyard and firing the gun personally.

The second shorter video shows a gunner operating the gun alone loading and firing another four rounds in 17 seconds. The gun jumps and moves back significantly despite the carriage’s trails having spades to reduce recoil movement. Some sources claim the unit is part of the 25th Combined Arms Army, the Russian combatant filming the video mentions the ‘3rd Battalion’ but does not mention a regiment or brigade.

On the 26 July, a short video of a pair of 2A28s mounted on well built craft-made carriages, which appear to share a common design, was shared. While the design of the carriage appears to be the same they have different sized tyres.

Another well made dismounted gun based on a 2B9 carriage (via social media)

Most recently, on 6 September, a Russian engineer shared a couple of photos of a carriage-mounted 2A28 he came across at a unit near the front. The carriage again appears to be from a 2B9 Vasilek mortar. The 2A28’s trunion appears to be mounted directly on to the carriage.

The idea of re-purposing the 2A28 isn’t a new one with the guns seen dismounted around the world with examples from past and current conflicts in Libya, Syria and Africa. According to open source figures from Oryx an estimated 824 Russian BMP-1s had been damaged or destroyed. These knocked out BMP-1s and others which have broken down in the field are likely the source of the 2A28s in use in the craft-made support guns.

The rarity with which these DIY support guns have appeared on social media suggests that they may not be an entirely practical weapon system though their existence points to a perceived need for infantry support guns in the field. The 2A28’s effective battlefield range is likely around 500 yards, but given the guns are now unstably mounted on ad-hoc carriages, rather than a 13 tonne BMP-1 they suffer from greater recoil which may be a detriment to their effectiveness.

A pair of dismounted 2A28s testing at a range (via social media)

If the guns are to be used to harass, suppress or saturate a target at medium ranges they may be more effective but the Ukrainian battlefield is not an ideal space for an exposed crew to be manning a 2A28. With large stretches of open ground dominated by artillery and drones the dismounted 2A28s are likely to be of little value, even if crews attempted to tow them into optimal range. The dismounted 2A28, however, might prove more effective in the urban battlespace where support guns are valuable for dislodging enemy defenders from positions. Given I’ve not been able to find any verified footage of the guns in use in combat so far it is difficult to objectively gauge their effectiveness without speculation.

Update – 17/2/25:

Update – 7/10/25:

A Russian ad hoc technical with a 73mm 2A28 cannon mounted on what appears to be a chopped Moskvich 412. Date and location of the video is unconfirmed.

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Rare Sightings of Heckler & Koch G36 & HK433s in Ukraine

In mid-August there began to be sightings of small numbers of interesting Heckler & Koch rifles with Ukrainian special operations units. We’ve previously seen HK416s in use with a variety of units, check out our earlier article/video on those. However, it now appears that alongside H416s there are now a limited number of G36s and HK433s in use in Ukraine.

The first image of these appeared on 12 August, when Assault Bastards, a team affiliated with Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate’s (the GUR) Kraken regiment, shared a photograph of a combatant with a suppressed G36KA4 at the range. On the 18 August, shybenyk.squad, a team associated with the Kraken Operations Unit, posted a team photo with the caption “GUR MOrning. Kill & travel”, with one combatant on the far right seen holding an HK G36KA4. The rifle has an HKey forend, HK’s proprietary mounting system, and is equipped with an Aimpoint RDS and a 3X-C magnifier and an Ase Utra DUAL556-S-BL suppressor.

On 23 August, shybenyk.squad shared a group photo posing in front of a signpost for the village of Lyptsi in the Kharkiv oblast. In the photo we can make out a pair of G36KA4s. Intriguingly both appear to be loaded with STANAG pattern polymer magazines rather than HK’s translucent magazines. This would indicate that either some of the rifles were shipped with magazine well adapters or were shipped with them.

Shortly after these photos emerged a member of the Kraken regiment shared a close up photo of one of the G36KA4s with my colleagues at StreakingDelilah. It has an HK translucent magazine and is fitted with an Aimpoint T2 RDS and Aimpoint 3X-C magnifier and an Ase Utra DUAL556-S-BL [Correction: DUAL QM-2] suppressor. This appears to be the common setup and likely how the rifles were shipped. On the HKey forend we can see a short rail segment has been attached for mounting a light or laser aiming device. The rifle looks in great condition, appearing as if new out the box.

shybenyk.squad shared another group photo alongside the Assault Bastards group on the 24 August. The photo again features two previously seen G36KA4s. Speaking to Shybenyk.squad they noted that they only received a couple of the rifles.

On the 26 August another member of Kraken shared photographs of himself firing a G36KA4 at a range. The rifle has the usual accessories and is loaded with an HK translucet 30-round magazine. On 30 August, shybenyk.squad shared another image of a combatant with an G36KA4 again fitted with Aimpoint optics and an Ase Utra suppressor. The rifle has been painted up and is seen loaded with a polymer MAG (what appears to be a Mission First Tactical Extreme Duty Magazine). Again indicating magazine well adaptors are in use.

But there may have been some earlier sightings dating back to 2023. In mid-June 2023, Tysk shared a series of three photos of a Ukrainian serviceman with a G36K with a railed forend. The rifle doesn’t have any optics mounted and the folding back-up iron sights are deployed. Tysk noted that they had been sent the photos by a serving subscriber but there was no further detail on where the photos were taken – be it in Ukraine or during training abroad.

Several months later in October, a member of the 12th Assault Brigade (Azov) shared a photograph of another G36K series rifle, again with no optics and a paint job similar to the earlier rifle. The combatant who shared the photograph noted that it wasn’t his rifle but claimed that a number of them were in his unit’s armoury for a time. In early November, a German colleague DEAidUA, contacted the BMVg (German MoD) who stated to him that they had “no knowledge of the transfer of these weapons to Ukraine.” Additionally, there has been no mention of the rifles on the German government’s extensive list of aid to Ukraine. The only small arms mentioned include a number of pistols, some MG3s and the HK MG5s we’ve examined in a previous article/video.

HK433

In addition to the G36s yet another Heckler & Koch rifle has appeared in Ukraine recently – the HK433. The first sighting of an HK433 in Ukraine actually predates the recent sightings of G36s. At the very end of July a member of Kraken posted a photograph featuring an HK433 equipped with a Aimpoint T2 RDS, an Aimpoint 3X-C magnifier, a Magpul RGV front grip, a Steiner DBAL A2 laser aiming module and a Norwegian A-TEC ‘A-Flow’ suppressor. The combatant who shared the photo stated that his platoon had received 10 of these rifles for testing and evaluation purposes, though he did not state if they had been provided directly by HK. On speaking to the combatant about the rifles he noted that they had performed well but that they had not yet been used in combat but they had been taken out on operations.

It was over a month before another image of the HK433s surfaced, on 18 September four HK433s, three with Aimpoint Micro T2s and magnifiers and one with an EOTECH XPS and a magnifier, they all appear to have the A-TEC suppressors. The photo appears to be of a recce squad and was shared by Kraken’s 3rd assault company.

The most recent photo of an HK433 to surface was shared on Telegram with a caption noting the combatant that submitted the photo was part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and operating in the Kharkiv oblast. The combatant is possibly part of the National Guard’s 12th Assault Brigade.

It would seem that Ukraine has received small numbers of G36s and HK433s and that these have been issued to teams associated with. the Kraken regiment and the 12th Assault Brigade. The source of these rifles is unclear, while the G36KA4s may have come from one of the Baltic nations the HK433s are newer, less common rifles and have not yet been adopted by any militaries in the 5.56x45mm configuration. This may indicate that the rifles were provided by Heckler & Koch themselves, its unclear if the G36s may have been included in the same batch.

Update – 5/10/24: Another G36 with magazine adapter and PMAG. (Source)

Update – 6/10/24: The hammer insignia would suggest the combatant is from the same unit as the rifle pictured above.

Update – 7/10/24:

A couple of additional images of HK G636s in Ukrainian service shared by Ukrainian Special Military on IG. Again the rifles are seen evidently using magazine adapters. The rifle on the right has an unusual magazine adapter, which I’ve so far been unable to ID. It seems to be either in-the-white or, perhaps more likely, 3D printed.

Intriguingly, in photograph on the right the rifle’s serial number and markings are visible. With an ’84’ serial number prefix and a ‘DE’ marking visible. It’s pictograph selector markings (rather than S-E-F) are also visible.

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RPG-FPV – Rocket Launcher Drones in Ukraine

In a recent video/article I mentioned that the Ukraine-aligned Georgian Legion had mounted an RPG-7 on an drone and successfully tested it. Several days later video of another drone equipped with disposable RPG was shared. Posted on 10 September it shows a Queen Hornet FPV equipped with an RPG-18 anti-armour weapon. The drone is seen taking off at a range and hovering. The short clip does not show the RPG-18 being fired.

This isn’t the first time a drone with a disposable RPG mounted on it has been seen in Ukraine. In January 2023, a photograph surfaced of a heavy-lift DJI Agras T-30 armed with a gimbal mounted PK-pattern machine gun and a Bulgarian Bullspike anti-armour weapon. The photo has since been shared regularly but with no further context. One post claimed it was associated with a GUR unit (Solnyshko DRB).

Still showing Bulava’s RPG-FPV (via Wild Hornets)

On 13 September, the Wild Hornets (a Ukrainian drone manufacturing organisation) shared a video of another RPG-FPV. The 56 second video, soundtracked by music from Terminator 2, showed a Queen Hornet drone equipped with what appears to be a Bulgarian Bullspike-AT. The efforts to develop an RPG-FPV based on the Queen Hornet appear to be lead by the Bulava drone team, part of the 3rd battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade. The Bullspike-AT is produced by VMZ and fired a PG-22 pattern warhead, it has an effective range of 500m and can penetrate up to 400mm of armour. It weighs in at around 3.4kg, which is well within the Queen Hornet’s 9.5kg (21lbs) payload. The video shows the RPG-FPV take off and fire at a target down range. The drone can be seen pitching down to aim and then returning level before landing. This appears to have been a test of the assembly of the system to confirm the concept. In the photographs at the beginning of the video it appears that the weapon is fired by a servo arm which depresses the weapon’s trigger.

The Bulava RPG-FPV was again briefly seen in a fundraising video shared by the unit on 15 September. A close-up of the drone shows an RPG being attached to the drone with a zip-tie and the servo arm trigger mechanism is again visible.

On the 17 September, Wild Hornets shared another short video from the Bulava team, claiming that the team had been working on ‘calibrating the drone grenade launcher’ leading to the ‘shots [becoming] more accurate.’

RPG-FPVs are something that Russia has also begun developing with one showcased at the recent ARMY 2024 defence exposition. The drone appears to consist of a ‘Gortensia’ quadcopter armed with an RPG-26 anti-armour weapon. The drones was developed by Гортензия (Gortensia) and has a range of 10km and a payload of up to 6kg. On an info sheet shared at ARMY 2024 the company claims they are developing a system that allows the drone to jettison the empty RPG tube once it has fired. Images from ARMY 2024 show a dovetail-type attachment with a cradle attached to the RPG’s tube. On 18 August, the company shared two videos of test launches of the RPG-armed Gortensia drone. The videos show the drone take off and then the drone pitches down to aim and then fires. On firing the RPG’s tube detaches from the drone, seemingly using the weapon’s recoil to jettison it. In the second video, the drone travels further down range and fires on the target at a flatter trajectory, again the tube detaches from the drone.

‘Gortensia’ quadcopter with an RPG-26 (via social media)

In mid-September Russian government organisation People’s Front shared a short video showing a octocopter armed with an RPG-22 being tested at the range. The RPG-22 is mounted on its side The long body of the extended RPG-22 body, at 850mm long, seems to somewhat impact the balance of the drone. Despite this the test fire appears to be successful, it’s unclear if this is a development by a drone company or a Russian unit.

While the RPG-FPV has more firepower than the gun-armed drones which have begun to emerge they are still a concept in development. The major positive of the RPG-FPV is the use of an anti-armour weapon which means that the drones aren’t a part of the munition, as in the case of the kamikaze/one-way FPVs, and can be reused. Similarly, the firing of the RPG’s warhead means the drone does not have to be directly over its target as with a bomber drone. This means the RPG-FPV can engage at stand-off distance and has increased survivability. The difficulty, as we’ve seen with the gun-armed drones, is aiming the launcher accurately. It’s still unclear if the drone operators are using the FPV’s primary camera to aim the weapon, this would mean the aiming process might be impacted by latency, the lack of a reticle and poor feed quality. One way to increase hit probability might be to mount the RPG vertically as Nammo did in their tests of an M72-armed drone back in late 2021. The technology and doctrine for RPG-FPVs is still developing so it will be interesting to see how these drones evolve and are employed tactically.

Update 22/9/24:

A video of an RPG-FPV, developed by an unspecified manufacturer, was shared by MASH with the caption (machine translated):

“Meet the new product in the SVO zone – the flying RPG-26. The drone has already passed tests and will soon delight the military on the front lines.

According to our information, the request for the device came from the Ugledar direction, since ours went on the offensive. The first batch of fighters is preparing for flights.

Features: stabilization mode, which does not throw the drone back after firing. On the contrary, the drone returns to the base to replace the grenade launcher. It is equipped with an RPG-26 with armor penetration of 440 mm (and the prospect of installing a “Shmel” flamethrower). It carries up to 12 kg, rises to 800 meters, flies 30 km at a speed of up to 60 km / h. The miracle costs about 600 thousand rubles, the footage shows winter tests.”

Update – 14/1024: A Wall Street Journal article (by Isabel Coles) featured photographs of one of the Ukrainian RPG-FPVs pictured during assembly and range testing.

Update – 8/11/24: An ArmyInform video looking at the Bulava RPG-FPV. It appears to show the same test launch featured in earlier videos.

Update – 29/12/24: A Russia RPG-FPV fires on a building.

A Russian FPV hits a building with a rocket launcher, possibly an RPG-18.The rocket motor burns out completely in the launch tube, so the FPV isn’t hit by backblast.

— Roy (@grandparoy2.bsky.social) 2024-12-29T03:59:36.520Z

Update – 15/2/25: Russian with RPG-FPV, no further information available. (Source)

Update – 28/2/25:

Ukraine’s Presidential Brigade shared a video showcasing the work of its drone teams. In the video an AK-FPV is highlighted.

Update – 13/5/25:

WildHornets have shared what they report is the first combat use of their RPG-armed drone.

Additional footage from WildHornets gives us a closer look at the drone:

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Russian Recoilless Gun Drone

What is old is new. On 12 September, Russian journalist Alexander Kots shared a photograph of a recoilless gun mounted on a drone on his Kotsnews telegram channel channel. The idea certainly isn’t a new one. The use of a recoilless gun on aerial platforms dates back to the 1910s with the development of a series of recoilless guns by Commander Cleland Davis (US Navy) which were experimentally mounted on a variety of early military aircraft.

While the Davis Gun was abandoned shortly after the end of World War One, it was influential and its principle of operation was utilised in later recoilless guns. Essentially it worked along the premise of Newton’s Third Law of Motion, that all things have an equal and opposite reaction – as such Davis connected two guns back to back, with the backwards-facing gun firing a counter-weight.

Fast-forward over a century and the concepts is again revisited in miniature and mounted on a quadcopter drone. Kots described the recoilless gun in his post [machine translated]: “Large pellets are loaded in the front, and an equal counterweight is loaded in the back. Thus, a lightweight drone becomes capable of hitting small air targets without the risk of falling into a tailspin from the recoil.” The image shared appears to show a smoothbore weapon attached to the drone with plumbing clamps with several electrical wires running to it, likely for ignition of the charge.

The developer of the drone, the chief engineer of Russian company BRT, shared Kots’ post commenting [machine translated]: “Our BUBUKA hit the news. I made it, taught it to shoot, and gave it to our FPV players… – I don’t fly myself, it’s not my thing,” lamenting that “since then – no response, no greetings. I’m not even sure they tried to test it.”

The engineer followed this up by posting footage of a test of the recoilless gun, explaining [machine translated]:

“The principle is fully functional. And it was used more than 100 years ago, on plywood planes.
On the FPV, as I see it, for its use, you need to solve 2 main problems: –
– aiming at the target.
– correct ballistics of shot ammunition (dispersion, mass of shot charge, etc.).”

In the video the engineer exclaims that ‘both ways [fired] just fine’ with the grass in front of both barrels clearly impacted by the test. It’s unclear what kind of shot the recoilless gun is designed to use likely a buckshot-style round able to spread on leaving the barrel and sufficiently damage a drone to down it.

It appears that the ‘Bubuka’ may not yet have been tested or used in the field but it is an interesting design mitigating one of the major factors of firing a weapon from a drone – recoil. However, the recoilless gun has a number of drawbacks too. While the gun allows the drone to engage another drone kinetically without having to fly into it, the gun only has one shot which magnifies the difficulty of scoring a hit when aiming is difficult. It’s clear, however, that the evolution of drone warfare in Ukraine is continuing at pace with recent efforts by both sides to mount AK-pattern rifles to drones and the increasing number of drone vs drone engagements occurring.

Update 28/12/24: It appears that a Ukrainian team has also developed a recoilless gun-armed drone. Several videos were shared of an FPV drone equipped with a pair of barrels which are likely electrically initiated and have counter-weight charges as the earlier Russian drone did. The videos show a series of successful drone vs drone engagements.

Update – 3/1/25: A telegram associated with BRT has posted additional photos of their recoilless gun drone developed in early 2024 and expressed Thier frustration that a similar Ukrainian drone has had operational success.

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Gun-Armed Drone in Ukraine

Drone warfare has evolved massively in Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February, moving from commercial drones spotting enemies and dropping grenades to First Person View (FPV) drones capable of taking out a tank. One branch of the possible evolution of drones which hasn’t seen a great deal of development or practical use is the mounting of small arms on them. 

On 4 September, Wild Hornets, a Ukrainian drone manufacturing initiative, shared footage of what they claim is the first use of their gun-armed drone in combat. The video was shared with the caption [machine translated]: “this time, the first combat deployment was carried out—targeting a position with Russian forces. This test indicated the direction in which this project should move forward.”

The grainy footage from an FPV drone’s camera shows the barrel of an AK-74, mounted tilted to the right, at the bottom center of the frame. It is seen firing several full-auto bursts towards the ground but it’s difficult to see at what exactly. The drone is believed to be operated by the Bulava (Mace) drone team, which is believed to be attached to the Ukrainian Presidential Brigade.

Wild Hornets note that the rifle is mounted on one of their largest FPV drones, a Queen Hornet. The Queen Hornet FPVs can reportedly carry up to 9.5kg (21lbs) of payload so an AK-74 with a loaded magazine (even a 40-round RPK-74 magazine) would be no issue. The drone also has to contend with the rifle’s recoil and from the video it appears that on firing the drone’s flight is only slowed momentarily. The Queen Hornet was unveiled in March 2024, and began to appear on the frontline in July and have been used not only to drop munitions but to also deliver smaller drones downrange – acting as a carrier, and also as signal repeaters to enable other drones to travel further from their operators.  

The gun-armed FPV was first seen in a video shared on 16 August. Wild Hornets shared a video showing a Queen Hornet returning to Ukrainian lines with an AK-74 hanging below it – Wild Hornets claim that the rifle was a Russian AK salvaged with a magnet. A montage then shows the salvaged rifle being mounted on a Queen Hornet, with its stock removed to save weight, and test fired. The rifle appears to be held onto the drone with zip ties and a small grey box encloses the trigger – likely containing a servo to pull the trigger.

There have been efforts to mount firearms on drones outside of Ukraine and there is also some earlier evidence of Ukrainian drone teams attempting to mount guns on the large Baba Yaga heavy drones earlier with imagery appearing in April of a large, possibly gun-armed, drone being filmed from above. In May, footage of what could also lay claim to the first use of a gun-armed drone in combat was shared. The footage was shared by the 74th Battalion of the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade and shows a Baba Yaga drone equipped with a firearm, again firing bursts, the weapon appears to have a sighting post attached to allow the weapon to be aimed using the drone’s camera. The footage of the drone firing on Russian positions was reportedly filmed northwest of Marfopil, in Zaporizhzhia.

There is also evidence that the Russians have experimented similarly with gun-armed drones with Russian drone company Molot Aero sharing a video of their Vatya X8 drone equipped with a suppressed AK-74 in June. There is no evidence currently available to suggest this configuration has yet been used in the field. Photographs of the drone show a similar configuration to that assembled by Wild Hornets with a stock-less AK-74 mounted on its side on the underside of the drone. The footage shows the Molot Aero drone hovering over a range successfully shooting several balloon targets at relatively close range before it lands.

Most recently, in direct response to Wild Hornets’ video the Georigian Legion, a unit composed of volunteers from Georgia fighting for Ukraine, shared a short video of a drone armed with an RPG-7. The footage appears to show the launcher being tested but on speaking with the Georgian Legion they confirmed that the RPG-FPV has been used during combat operations. They have reportedly used it against vehicles, fixed positions and infantry but are looking to improve the design with better optics and increased engagement range.  

One key reason we probably haven’t seen more gun-equipped drones is that mounting a firearm is a relatively poor use of a heavy lift drone. These larger, more powerful drones can be better utilised as bombers carrying large payloads over significant distances. Bombs dropped on vehicles and defensive positions have more impact than a drone equipped with a rifle-calibre firearm. It is likely very difficult to accurately aim the weapon and the magazine capacity is limited. To aim effectively the drone will probably have to fly lower than it would when bombing, thus making it more susceptible to fire from the ground.  

Update – 11/9/24:

Update – 14/10/24: A Wall Street Journal article (by Isabel Coles) featured a photograph of a drone mounted with a suppressed AK74.

Update – 22/11/24:

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Ukraine’s Newest Grenade Launcher – UKROP UGL-40

We have looked at a range of grenade launchers being used in Ukraine including standalone adaptations of GP-25s, the Ukrainian RG-1, the Russian DP-64, and a whole range of launchers that use the NATO standard 40x46mmSR rounds like the LMT M203 and the FN40GL.

In mid-August a new Ukrainian-produced 40mm launcher appeared, the UKROP UGL-40. This isn’t the first Ukrainian manufactured 40mm launcher, the Fort 600 has been in service for over a year and will be the topic for a future article/video of its own.

The UGL-40 is manufactured by UKROP, which is associated with Zbroyar. Intriguingly, in some of the available imagery of the UGL-40, LMT markings are clearly visible on the left side of the weapons receiver. It’s unclear if the launchers are imported from LMT, if they’re simply licensed on the LMT design or if a portion of the parts are manufactured by LMT and assembled by UKROP. While the barrel length and receiver design are very similar to that of the LMT M203 the stand-alone stock design differs. [H/T  – CaliFlori for spotting the markings.]

Update – February 2025: Having spoken to LMT representatives at SHOT 2025, it appears that after buying a significant number of LMT’s M203s Ukraine also bought all available components to assemble further launchers in-country. This included tubes, receivers and assorted components. These parts were combined with a chassis developed by UKROP, creating that UGL40.

LMT markings on a left side of the UGL-40’s receiver (via 12th Special Operations Brigade)

UKROP are best known for producing the UAR-10 and UAR-15 rifles used by elements of the Ukrainian armed forces. Sources suggest that the UGL-40 has a barrel length of 224mm, shorter than that of the M203 it’s based on, and in the under-barrel configuration it probably weighs around 3lbs (1.36 kg). The launcher is typically seen with a tangent sight attached to the left side of the weapon.

In retrospect and after some digging the earliest possible sighting of a UGL-40 I’ve seen dates from 20 March, in a photograph of a pair of members of Foxtrot Group with carbines equipped with under-barrel grenade launchers. Foxtrot Group, who are believed to be part of Ukraine’s SSO, posted two more photos of a team member equipped with an M4 carbine mounted with a UGL-40.

UGL-40 in standalone configuration (Western Savages)

The grenade launchers were next seen in an Instagram post on 5 July, by crab_zol, a member of the 3rd Assault Brigade, which showed him firing a UGL-40 from a trench. The launcher is seen attached to a UAR-15 rifle as an under-barrel grenade launcher.

On the 12 August, a photograph of the UGL-40 in its standalone configuration was shared online. Some sources suggest the image originated with personnel from the Ukrainian 36th Marine Brigade. The UGL-40 and UKROP markings can be clearly seen. The launcher appears to slot onto a rail of a stand-alone adaptor. The adaptor has a collapsing stock and a full length Picatinny top rail. A UGL-40 in the stand-alone configuration also appears in a kit photograph, the source of which I haven’t been able to confirm. It has been painted up and matches the UAR-15 seen below it.

UGL-40 mounted on a UAR-15 (Rubizh Brigade)

A week later on 19 August, Western Savages, a Separate Special Purpose Unit with “OMEGA” West, part of the Ukrainian National Guard’s special forces wing, shared a montage video on their new instagram page which included footage of the UGL-40 being fired during training. Speaking to Western Savages they noted that they’d received the UGL-40 a couple of months ago and had previously used the Fort-600. They noted the differences between the two launchers are negligible but the Fort-600 is a little heavier. This may suggest that the UGL-40 with its stock is slightly lighter than the Fort-600’s 2.20kg (4.85lbs). They described the UGL-40 as ‘accurate and reliable’ but have not yet used it on operations.

The 12th Special Operations Brigade “Azov” shared a video on 21 August, which featured a member of the brigade’s reconnaissance detachment discussing his kit. He shows a UAR-15 equipped with a UGL-40 along with a bandolier for carrying 40mm grenades.

UGL-40 mounted on a UAR-15 (3rd SABr)

Most recently, on the 23 August, photographs of members of the Neptune reconnaissance group were shared with one of the operators pictured holding a rifle equipped with a UGL-40. On the same day the Rubizh Brigade also posted photographs showing personnel equipped with the new grenade launchers attached to UAR-15 rifles. One of the photographs of a soldier, wearing what appears to be a reconnaissance platoon patch, also gives a good look at the launcher’s markings.

It seems that the UGL-40s have so far been issued to a mixture of units including those from both the Ukrainian Army and the National Guard. Unsurprisingly they have only been seen paired with AR-15/M16 pattern rifles and are most typically seen in the under-barrel configuration rather than as a standalone. From confirmed sightings it appears that the UGL-40 has been in service since at least Spring 2024.

Update – 2/10/24:

A photo submitted to Ukrainian military page, Ukrainian_Special_Military of Members of 12th Special Operations Brigade “Azov” of the National Guard operating in the forests of Luhansk region. One individual has a UAR-15 with what is likely a UBL40.

Update – 29/10/25:

A photo of a member of 1st combat group of the special purpose intelligence squad of the 12th Brigade NGU with a nicely painted up standalone UGL-40 and a UAR-15.

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Who Let the Dogs Out: Robot Dogs in Ukraine

Since the February 2022 invasion the war in Ukraine has been characterised by the use of drones and remote systems. While we’ve seen aerial drone use expand and evolve extremely rapidly and naval drones have proven themselves very effective, ground based drone use has been much slower to evolve with unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) seeing some limited use delivering explosive charges, mines and taking on logistical roles.

One unmanned ground system which I didn’t expect to see is the use of ‘robot dogs’ (робот-собака). These quadrupedal, remotely operated systems were seen for the first time earlier this month, most notably with Ukraine’s 28th Mechanised Brigade.

A Unitree Go-2 robot dog being tested in Ukraine (via social media)

The first footage of the robot dogs in Ukraine was shared by members of Kurt & Company (a unit with the 28th Mechanised Brigade) on 2 August, it shows one of the dogs being demonstrated in a field navigating though fields and woodland, through brush and righting itself when it got stuck trying to climb over a fallen branch.

Another video appeared on 5 August, with the robot dog seen moving along a bombed out residential street and being carried by its operator, a member of Kurt & Company. The footage does not show the dog operating inside any buildings. The post claims the footage was filmed in Toretske, Donetsk.

On the 8 August, France24, published an article based on a demonstration of one of the robot dogs during which the model of dog was referred to as “BAD 1” and a second model “BAD 2” was referenced but described as more advanced and “could not be shown for security reasons”. The article also noted that if one of the dogs ever fell “into Russian hands… an emergency switch allows the operator to erase all its data.” AFP shared a short video from the demonstration which noted that the drones were provided by BRIT Alliance, a UK-based security company which specialises in deploying drone systems. Interestingly, some articles describe the robot dogs as ‘British built’, however, they actually appear to be Chinese Unitree Go-2 robot dogs. The Unitree name can be seen below the dog’s camera sensor in the AFP video, as well as a Kurt & Company sticker on its right side.

Ukrainian troops of the 28th Mechanised Brigade with a Go-2 robot dog (via social media)

The Unitree Go-2 has a number of interesting features including the ability to map areas using LIDAR scanning, an AI mode that helps it navigate complex terrain and a live camera feed. Unitree’s site lists them as available from $1,850 for a Go-2 air and $3,050 for a Go-2 Pro. The Go-2 Pro model weighs around 15kg, has an 8kg payload, a battery life of up to 2 hours and a top speed of just under 8mph. Intriguingly back in 2022, Russia displayed the M-81, a robot dog armed with an RPG-26, at the Army 2022 defence exposition. The M-81 was actually based on Unitree’s Go-1 robot dog.

A further video was shared on 12 August, the drone is seen camouflaged with what may be a Ukrainian digicam shirt. In the same video the word ‘B.A.D.2.’ can be seen stenciled on the body of the dog.

On the 14 August, Kurt & Company shared a series of photos of a robot dog and operator with the caption [machine translated] “Better to buy robots than lose soldiers”. In several of the photos the dog has a backpack and radio strapped and taped to its back. On examination of the images this dog appears to be of a different design and resembles the DeepRobotics Lite3 Venture model, DeepRobotics are another Chinese manufacturer. This model weighs in at 12.2kg and has a 2 hour endurance.

A DeepRobotics Lite3 Venture demonstrated in Ukraine, August 2024 (via Ukrainian Army)

The same day the brigade’s official telegram page shared another video of the robot dog being demonstrated with the caption [machine translated]:

“Asymmetric responses are effective against the enemy’s numerical superiority in manpower, and they are possible thanks to technologies and innovative approaches in the conduct of hostilities.
As an example – this robot dog at the service of “Kurt&Company”.
He has many talents and a wide potential for use on the battlefield. Just as drones once changed warfare, so our four-legged robotic friends will influence the course of hostilities.”

The short video included clips of the dog on the move, doing backflips, and walking along a bombed out residential street.

Also on the 14 August, Ukrainian Army social media channels also shared the same photographs previously shared with a caption quoting the commander of Kurt & Company as saying: “Such a dog should be in every unit”.

Left: DeepRobotics Lite3 Venture
Right: Unitree Go-2

It’s unclear how many of the robot dogs might be in use in Ukraine, or if they’ve been used on operations yet. A BILD article published on 14 August, claimed that as many as 30 have been deployed but there’s no further evidence to support this. A Новини ФАКТ article stated they had been used operationally in Toretsk but this remains unconfirmed.

While the quadrupedal design of the robot dogs means they are, in theory at least, more capable of climbing stairs than tracked or wheeled UGVs their utility remains to be seen. They have less capability to carry payloads and its unclear if they’ll be used in a one-way role with explosive payloads – though given every other unmanned system in Ukraine has, it is probably a just matter of time. Unlike some of the simpler tracked and wheeled UGVs the Go-2 robot dogs are probably more expensive, harder to maintain and have a larger profile making them more vulnerable to enemy fire. It has been noted that they will also likely be utilised in reconnaissance of enemy trenches ahead of assault teams but again evidence of this has not yet surfaced.

A Unitree Go-2 robot dog being tested in Ukraine (via social media)

It seems that the role the dogs would be best used for is reconnaissance in urban areas where aerial drones can’t easily navigate inside structures, removing the need to send troops to recce buildings to locate the enemy. It seems that this is the role that the Ukrainians have in mind for the dogs. While China, the US and a range of other militaries have tested robot dogs, including the mounting of small arms and even light anti-armour weapons, if they are utilised in combat in Ukraine this will represent a battlefield first for this type of system.

Update – 20/8/24: An another video of one of the Chinese Robot Dogs, a Unitree Go-2, in Ukraine posted on 19 August.

Update – 8/9/24: Some additional video featuring both models of robot dog previously identified.

Update – 15/1/25:

RoboCopDog.A robot dog with what appears to be a thermal camera with the Rapid Operational Response Unit (KORD) of the Ukrainian National Police.More on these robot dogs in #Ukraine here: armourersbench.com/2024/08/16/w…

— Matthew Moss – Armourer's Bench (@matthewmoss.bsky.social) 2025-01-15T12:27:16.637Z

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