HFM0040 – Ukraine’s Drone-Deployed Anti-Personnel Mine

A new kind of Ukrainian drone-deployed anti-personnel mine has been seen behind Russian lines. On 4 November Russian telegram channel ‘Combat Engineer‘, a Russian sapper account, shared photographs of a small mine recovered “deep in the rear of the Luhansk People’s Republic”. The mine is one of a number found by the Separate Engineer-Sapper Battalion – Karbyshev, a Russian Volunteer Corps unit. The caption noted that the body is plastic, it uses a 13g explosive charge of PETN and has an overall weight of 43g. The body of the mine has the Ukrainian HFM-prefix and is coded HFM0040. The small anti-personnel blast-effect mine has an unusual shape, which combined with the green colour of its body, looks a little like an avocado.

The Karbyshev Battalion didn’t post about the mines until two days later. Their post included additional new photographs and a detailed caption. The caption explains the tactics used to deploy the mines. The Karbyshev sapper battalion stated that Ukrainian forces used reconnaissance drones to locate a Russian position and then seeded the area with, per Russian estimates, around 200 HFM0040 anti-personnel mines to interdict possible evacuation routes. The Ukrainians then attacked the position with ’15-17 strike drones’. Karbyshev Battalion concluded by saying that “the HFM0040 mine shows the influence of the PFM-1 (ПФМ-1) ‘petal/butterfly’ mines. The droplet-shaped design is intended to give the mine aerodynamic properties, and the body is made of silicone. Due to its elasticity, only individual mines detonate upon impact with a hard surface (asphalt, concrete, compacted soil), while most remain in place where they were dropped.”

*Collected HFM0040 Mines (via Karbyshev Battalion)*

These recent sightings, however, are not the first. On 29th July, Two Majors, a large Russian telegram page, shared a pair of photographs showing 27 of the mines collected after they were dropped by drones overnight. Referring to the mines colloquially as “butterflies”, the caption notes “Approximately one hundred of these munitions were discovered after the nighttime raid” and urged people to be “extremely cautious. Watch where you are stepping, do not approach unfamiliar objects, and do not attempt to handle them yourself. Report any such findings immediately to the relevant authorities.” It is very possible that the mine has been in service for a longer period but hasn’t appeared in imagery regularly.

In late October a number of Russian social media pages began sharing one of the images from July and suggesting the mines had been seen in the Ormsk oblast, in central Russia. This was quickly denied as fake news by the local government.

*Disassembled HFM0040 Mine (via Combat Engineer)*

So how do these new mines work? EOD specialist Seán Moorhouse notes that the HFM0040 appears to have a cocked-striker inside a transverse fuze well and when the pressure plate is pushed down, it aligns a notch with the fuze well, thereby releasing the cocked-striker into the sensitive primer, initiating the blast. These components can be seen in the images shared in early November.

These aren’t the first drone-deployed anti-personnel mines we’ve seen utilised by the Ukrainians. Back in December 2024 we shaw a much simpler 3D-printed mine which utilised a screw as a striker to initiate detonation.

The HFM designation, design and the build quality of the mine suggests that the mines are produced at scale. These sorts of mine would be useful in interdicting Russian supply lines and, as described by the Russian sappers, in preventing the movement of troops in or out of areas of engagement.

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Hands On with the New Colt Canada C25

In March the Canadian Armed Forces selected a new rifle to replace their venerable C7 and C8 rifles. The Canadian Modular Assault Rifle (CMAR) program has seen Canada make an initial order for 30,000 General Service (GS) variants of the new rifle. In selecting the CMAR the Canadian Armed Forces have wrestled with the fundamental question facing many major armies around the world as they come to replace their current generation of small arms – how do you defeat enemies with level IV body armor?

*New Colt Canada C25 at the range in Copenhagen (Matthew Moss)*

The US Army has opted for power and penetration with the Next Generation Squad Weapons program and the new 6.8x51mm round but not every military sees a larger, more powerful round as the answer. While the US Army has gone all-in on the 6.8mm family of ammunition for its close combat units, other nations – for various reasons – will be more cautious, not wanting to move away from the proven 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51mm standardised ammunition natures. After assessing a number of approaches the Canadian Armed Forces and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) have chosen to stick with 5.56x45mm for their soldiers’ individual weapons. The C25 Canadian Modular Assault Rifle developed by Colt Canada in conjunction with the Canadian Armed Forces aims to improve the average Canadian soldiers’ capability to defeat enemies with modern body armor by giving them a modern, modular rifle which improves their practical accuracy.

*Left-side profile of the C25 (Matthew Moss)*

Canada’s New Doctrine

With the new C25 rifle Canada aims to enable close combatants to strike unprotected or more vulnerable areas of their opponents’ bodies. Conventionally, troops are taught to aim for centre mass, a significant area that contains many vital organs. With the proliferation of modern body armour, which protects this area and reduces the effectiveness of 5.56mm ammunition, Canada believes targeting less well protected areas such as: the head, neck, lower abdomen, groin and legs is the modern soldier’s best option. To reliably hit these areas, which are harder to hit than centre mass, soldiers will need to be more precise with their shot placement – Colt Canada say the C25’s configuration has been developed with this in mind. However, for this new doctrine to be truly effective Canadian troops will probably need more time at the range.

*C25 with Colt Optics’ CQS-1 red dot and 1–6x Low Power Variable Optic (Matthew Moss)*

How Does the C25 Improve Soldier Accuracy?

The C25 is an evolution of the Colt Canada C8A4 (known as the Modular Rail Rifle) so at its core the C25 uses the classic direct impingement system, or expansion gas bleed-off as Colt Canada describe it. The rifle’s length ranges between 32in (813mm) and 35.2in (895mm), depending on stock position, and weighs in at 7.61lbs (3.45 kg) unloaded and without optics and accessories, but with an MFMD mounted.

Increasing hit probability and the impact of rounds on target was the key consideration for Colt Canada when working with the Canadian Armed Forces. The C25 achieves this in a few ways: improvements to the rifle’s ergonomics (new MLOK handguard, a monolithic upper receiver and fully ambidextrous controls), a new two-stage trigger, a new 1-6X low power variable optic (LPVO) and a new muzzle device – the Millbrook Strategic Sciences MFMD or Multi-Function Muzzle Device. These features combine to improve the soldiers’ practical combat accuracy.

How do these features help improve practical accuracy?

The monolithic upper receiver provides improved rigidity and stability for the mounting of optics and enablers. The two-stage trigger provides more control under stress and greater precision, the new LPVO allows the user to aim more precisely at various ranges and the MFMD helps reduce perceived recoil with a smoother impulse as well as reducing flash and blast at the muzzle.

*C25 with 1–6x LPVO at the range (Matthew Moss)*

At the Range with the C25

In Copenhagen, I had the opportunity to get behind the C25 for the first time. Putting around 100 rounds of Sellier & Bellot SS109 through a C25 with Colt Optics’ 1-6x Low Power Variable Optic.

In terms of points of contact with the weapon, the 5-slot MLOK forend, mounting to the monolithic upper receiver, minimises flex and offers plenty of room for mounting enablers like lights and lasers. The C25 has the very ergonomic ERGO 2 pistol grip and Magpul DT carbine buttstock as standard and a full suite of ambidextrous controls.

*C25 has a 2-stage trigger (Matthew Moss)*

The C25 also benefits from a new two-stage trigger which Colt Canada says is intended to ensure a more sensitive, clearly perceptible and predictable trigger pull with each shot. The trigger had smooth first stage take-up, with the second stage breaking predictably, followed by a short reset. The rifles have a 13.7in (348 mm), 1:7 twist, cold hammer-forged chrome-moly vanadium steel barrel with improved geometry to reduce disturbance during the travel of the projectile. The C25 is optimised for Canada’s current SS109 (C77 Ball) but Colt Canada are exploring other 5.56x45mm loadings.

Colt Canada noted that C25 has been optimised to be effective out to 300m, though with the Colt Optics’ 1-6x LPVO I can see a skilled rifleman easily reaching out further. The barrel is tipped with a directly threaded MFMD, which will be standard across the whole C25 fleet – making Canada the first country to equip its all of its service rifles with a suppressor as standard. There has been a lot of hype around the MFMD so I was excited to give one a try.

The MFMD’s flow-through design is driven by fluid dynamics which leads to its very unconventional profile. Colt Canada noted that they had tested the MFMD, which is 3D printed from inconel, extensively putting 10,000 rounds through it. Canada reportedly trialled 14 suppressors from various manufacturers before selecting the MFMD.

*A muzzle-view of the MFMD (Amael Kotlarski)*

As a left-handed shooter I found the MFMD’s flow-through design minimised gas pushed out the rear of the upper receiver and into my face and I was impressed by the MFMD’s sound signature mitigation. The base module of the MFMD is designed to work as an all-in-one flash hider, muzzle brake and suppressor. It can be augmented with an additional module, the SD, which offers further suppression but the Canadian Armed Forces have opted for just the base MFMD. Despite this the base muzzle device still suppresses the C25 to around 140dB, this was certainly noticeable on the firing line.

The new carbine comes in the increasingly ubiquitous flat dark earth finish, marking the end of the unique green furniture (pistol grip, stock and hand guards) of the C7 and C8 family of Canadian weapons. I’m a fan of the classic Canadian furniture colours, optimised for the plains and woodland, so I’m sad to see it replaced by FDE. Sadly, the new muzzle device also means no bayonet mounting.

*The C25 has a Magpul DT carbine buttstock, Colt Optics LPVO and an MFMD (Matthew Moss)*

All in all, the C25 left the impression of a capable weapon: robust, accurate and ergonomic. While we didn’t shoot groups on paper engaging plates and a crossing target at 100m supported and unsupported was pretty easy. The new MFMD has a practical effect, and the rifle as a package seems well placed to fulfil Canada’s pragmatic new doctrine.

As the UK’s Project Grayburn begins to ramp up rifles like the C25 are going to be key competitors in the upcoming UK rifle programme.

Special thanks to my friend and colleague Amael Kotlarski for filming some of the range footage used in this article’s video.

ILAW – The UK’s AT4

You’re probably familiar with the British Army’s NLAW but you may not have heard the term ‘ILAW’. The ILAW, or Interim Light Anti-armour Weapon, is the British Army’s designation for the Saab 84mm AT4 single-shot recoilless anti-tank weapon.

In the late 1990s the British Army began to seek a replacement for the Light Anti-armour Weapon 80, officially referred to as the L1A1 94mm HEAT Rocket System; this requirement would eventually evolve into the Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapon or NLAW. NLAW was selected in 2002 and was intended to enter service in 2006, but this slipped to 2009. As a result, in 2004, with UK operations in Iraq and Afghanistan ongoing, an interim solution was sought and the AT4 was selected.

In July 2004, then-Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram told the UK’s Parliament that:

“The Interim Light Anti-Armour Weapon (ILAW) is being procured to provide a light, short-range anti-armour capability in advance of the introduction of the Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapon (NLAW). Following a competitive down select, the Saab Bofors Dynamics AT4 anti-armour system has been chosen to meet the ILAW requirement. In parallel, the NLAW programme remains on track to meet the long-term requirement.”

UK Parliamentary records show that 1,400 AT4s were procured from Saab. The variant ordered was the AT4 CS HP – the Confined Space High Penetration variant of the system. This means it can be fired from confined spaces, but its warhead can penetrate up to 420mm of rolled homogeneous armour. The AT4 CS HP weighs 8kg and has an overall length of 1,040mm. It’s muzzle velocity is 220 m/s and its effective out to 300m.In addition to the actual AT4s procured, records also show that 350,000 9mm AT4 practice rounds were procured between 2004 and 2005 for use in AT4 trainer units.

Operationally, ILAW supplemented the L72A9 Light Anti-Structure Munition and the later L2A1 Anti-Structure Munition, both of which were used in Afghanistan. This photograph (below), taken by a Royal Navy photographer Sean Clee, represents the best look at an ILAW in action in theatre that I’ve been able to find. A member of M Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines fires an ILAW at Taliban insurgents in the town of Barikju, Northern Helmand in 2007.

*Royal Marine Commando firing a ILAW, c.2007 (Sean Clee / Royal Navy)*

Digging a little deeper thought the UK MoD’s Defence Imagery archive I came across a series of rarely seen photographs featuring ILAWs. The earliest photograph I found dates to early August 2006, a WIMIC Land Rover is seen with a pair of AT4s strapped to the bonnet during a route clearing operation near Musa Qala in Helmand Province. A photo of members of 3 Parachute Regiment operating in the same area during Operation Atomi was taken on 24 August, with an AT4 laying on the ground in the background as troops rest.

The next image I came across dates to the end of January 2007, members of M Company 42 Commando operating in Barikju, with a light machine gunner also carrying an AT4. This photo, the one seen earlier and several more we’ll examine all originate from the Operation Volcano which aimed to clear the Taliban out of compounds in and around Barikju. The next three images were taken by Sean Clee on 2 February, showing members of M Company, 42 Commando. In each of the photographs AT4s can be seen in the background. In the final image an empty launch tube of an ILAW can be seen next to a GPMG.

*Members of No.3 Company, 1 Grenadier Guards with ILAW, July 2007 (Sergeant Will Craig / British Army)*

In June 2007 British troops undertook Operation Bataka near Garmsir, this photograph was taken during the operation and features a soldier with an ILAW slung. A month later in July 2007, members of No.3 Company, 1 Grenadier Guards were photographed waiting to board a Chinook during Operation Chakush. The soldier in the foreground waits with an ILAW grounded. The final photograph I found, dates from 2nd August, 2007, also taken during Operation Chakush, features a member of B Company 1 Royal Welsh, armed with an L86 LSW, providing security during a building clearance has an ILAW slung. All of these photos show that the ILAW was in theatre by the summer of 2006 and saw operations through the following year.

Sources are conflicted on the L-designation for the ILAW, some sources suggest L1A2 and L2A1 while in 2005 the British Army’s website listed it as the L142. The ILAW remained in British inventory into the 2010s and saw active service in Afghanistan (no firm information is available on if it was deployed during the Iraq War), but was slowly replaced by the more capable and complex NLAW. As of 2025, per a Freedom of Information query, the ILAW is no longer held in UK inventory.

Iva – Russia’s New MANPADS

On 27 September we got our first look at Russia’s newest shoulder-fired man-portable air defence system (MANPADS). A short segment in a Russia-1 (state-owned Russian TV channel) News of the Week programme. The report was filmed in the Rostov region and featured a mobile anti-air unit from Russia’s 51st Air Defense Division. It showed off a number of systems used by the unit including a triple PKT machine gun mount and a mount equipped with four AK74s. But most interesting was a new kind of MANPADS, not the typical 9K34 Strela-3, 9K38 Igla or the newer 9K333 Verba which are in current Russian service.

History,Military History,Air Defense,Air Defence,MANPADS,IVA Manpads,Russian Army,IVA,man portable air defense system,Ukraine,Ukraine War,Misagh-3,QW-19

The report describes the new MANPADS as ‘Iva’ (willow in English), visually is resembles the Iranian Misagh-3 and the Chinese QW-series of MANPADS. The Misagh-3 is a derrivative of the QW series, with the Iva somewhat resembling the QW-18 and QW-19.

While the Iva doesn’t match either the Misagh-3 or the QW series exactly it appears likely that the new Russian system originated from Iran as the two countries have exchanged weapons and equipment regularly over the past decade, including the infamous Shahed-136. Its unclear if the Iva is an imported system: either manufactured in, or exported via, Iran, or if the design is being manufactured by Russia under a license agreement.

*‘Iva’ MANPADS transit case with two missiles, a control assembly and 4 batteries (Russia-1)*

The general layout, sights, and controls all point to the Iva’s lineage. There is limited imagery available of the Iranian MANPADS but from what is publicly available it is clear that while similar the Iva’s design is not identical. For example there is an additional box-shaped assembly beneath the front of the missile tube. However, the box-shaped assembly does appear on photograph of the Chinese QW-19 (SK-19) MANPADS. It should be noted that there may be a similar variant of the Iranian missile which hasn’t been publicly seen. Sadly, there a no marking visible in the footage, other than a serial number on the top of the tube but in the short video the operator says that Iva has a range of 4,000m (though its unclear if this is range or altitude ceiling). The footage gives us a good look at the Iva’s transit case which transports two missiles as well as a firing unit/control assembly and four batteries.

*Member of 160th Separate Mechanized Brigade with an FN-16 (Ukrainian Armed Forces)*

In an earlier video/article we have already covered how Ukraine is deploying Chinese MANPADS with intermittent sightings in late 2025 and throughout 2026. Ukrainian units have been photographed using Chinese FN-6 and FN-16 MANPADS.

The appearance of this new non-domestic MANPADS in Russian service highlights Russia’s demand for air-defence missiles as Ukraine continues its long-range drone and missile strikes into Russia. As yet, its unclear how many of these new Iva missiles Russia has in service or how it is procuring them. It also remains to be seen if use of the new missile will proliferate beyond units of the 51st Air Defense Division.

Thank you to Но маллия for digging up the original Russia-1 news report.

Arms of the Revolution Exhibition

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting friends at the Cody Firearms Museum for the annual Arsenals of History Symposium and I took the opportunity to go and visit a special exhibition I’ve been really excited to see. In April the museum launched their Arms of the Revolution special exhibition which has brought together an excellent array of firearms from the period.

Working with Fort Ticonderoga and the Minuteman National Historic Site and private collections they’ve brought together a comprehensive display including pistols, muskets, rifles and blunderbusses all expertly contextualised and pulled together with art from legendary painter Don Troiani. At the centre of the exhibition there’s also several projectiles which were excavated from the battlefields of Concord & Lexington.

Here’s a gallery of some photos of the exhibition:

The team at the CFM: Danny Michael, Tyler Berger and Jathan Clarke did an incredible job putting the exhibition together and bringing the ‘arms of the revolution’ to life.

Find out more about the exhibition:

www.centerofthewest.org/arms-of-the-revolution

www.facebook.com/CodyFirearmsMuseum

www.instagram.com/codyfirearmsmuseum

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Digging into the History of Zastava & Iraqi Tabuk AKs with Author Vlad Onokoy

Historian, researcher and armourer Vlad Onokoy joins me to talk about his exciting new book about Zastava AK-pattern rifles! Vlad explains how he came to write his new book and talks us through the process, combining in-depth research, first hand accounts and hands on experience. The new book sheds new light on Zastava’s history, busts some long-held myths and highlights interesting variants and little-know prototypes.

You can pick up a copy of Vlad’s book ‘From Balkans to Babylon: Zastava AKs of Yugoslavia, Serbia, and Iraq’ , published by Safar Publishing, here!

Check out some preview pages from the book, courtesy of Safar Publishing:

Vlad brings decades of experience with Zastava AKs through his work.

Pick up a copy of Vlad’s book ‘From Balkans to Babylon: Zastava AKs of Yugoslavia, Serbia, and Iraq’ here!

Rare Mk14 Anti-Structure Grenades & Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade In Ukraine

One of the rarer hand grenades to surface in Ukraine is the US Mk14 Anti-Structure grenade. These were developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, back in the 2000s.

The Mk 14 Mod 0 Anti-Structural Munition Hand Grenade has been primarily used by USSOCOM. It is reportedly a Thermobaric Fuel-Air-Explosive Blast (FAE-Blast), hand grenade with a longer duration HE-Blast pressure curve.

The ASM has a thin-walled aluminium body with a main charge filler of PBXN-109 and a PBXN-114 booster. The grenade body is black with three knurled bands with a yellow band at the top and two sticker labels which read: “HE Overpressure Grenade, NEW 0.88 lbs. Fuze 4.5 sec”.

*Mk 14 Mod 0 Anti-Structural Munition Hand Grenade (via Social Media)*

Using the principle of overpressure the ASM, much like the US Army’s new M111 grenade, reduces the risk of friendly casualties due to fragmentation during close combat. In enclosed areas the grenade creates concussion effects and can be used for for blast or demolition tasks. It has a M213-type fuze with a 3-5 second delay, though the stickers seen on the grenades state 4.5 seconds

The available evidence of Mk14 ASM presence in Ukraine is extremely slim. To date, I have only come across a handful of images of the grenades, which were reportedly taken in Ukraine. The individuals who have shared imagery of the grenades have predominantly been associated with Ukrainian special operations units.

Another extremely rare offensive hand grenade seen in Ukraine is the Nammo Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade (SOHG – HGO115M-3.5). The SOHG is a modular grenade with a plastic body packed with either Comp B filling (115g) or PBXN-11 filling (130g). It has a male-female screw interface moulded into the body that allows up to three modules (which can all be used individually) to be screwed together. This allows the system to be scaled to the target its engaging or the space its being used in – Nammo say one equals a concussion grenade, two creates enough overpressure to kill anyone in a average space and the cumulative effect of three modules provides a small scale anti-structure capability. According to Nammo the SOHG modules with a fuze weigh 230g while the modules without fuze weight 190g.

*Nammo Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade (via Social Media)*

Designated the MK21 Mod 0 in US service, SOCOM have been using them since 2010 and the US Marine Corps purchased some in 2024. Unlike the Mk 14 Mod 0 it is not a thermobaric grenade. The first sighting of them in Ukraine came in July 2024, when a Russian telegram channel posted a short video showing some of the weapons captured from Ukrainian units by a reconnaissance unit with Russia’s Tsentr (Center) battlegroup.

In November 2024, when a Russian telegram channel focused on Sapper and EOD activities shared photos of a base unit and an additional module. It’s unclear if these are captured examples or they are images pulled from the internet to illustrate the post.

Most recently, in May 2025, a pair of SOHGs were captured by Russian forces, each was captured with its own fuze, configured for individual use. All of the grenades seen in the imagery have the lot number VR123L001-002 and an NSN which denotes they are filled with Composition B. Given the presence of the Finnish National Codification Bureau number, ’58’, in the NSN, the grenades were likely provided by Finland.

Thanks to AbraxasSpa and Helvegen29 for thier help collecting imagery.

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HK SFP9 Pistols In Ukraine

While pistols may not feature heavily on combat footage from the ongoing war in Ukraine, sidearms continue to be a key piece of equipment for many combatants. Many different types of pistol are in use in Ukraine, everything from the venerable TT-33 and Makarov to Glock 19s and Ukrainian-made Forts. Many nations supporting Ukraine have provided pistols as aid, one of these is Germany, in this article/video we’ll look at the supply and issuing of the Heckler & Koch SFP9.

Introduced in 2014, the SFP9, or VP9 as its known in the US, is a 9x19mm striker-fired polymer-framed pistol. It uses the ubiquitous short recoil, tilting barrel action and feeds from 15, 17 or 20 round magazines and is in service with numerous law enforcement agencies and the Lithuanian armed forces. Before we examine some of the sighting of the pistols in Ukraine it’s also worth noting that HK pistols, though rare, have been commercially available in Ukraine for some time and some of the SFP9s we’ll discuss in this article/video may have been procured privately by combatants.

As early as March 2023, the German government announced its intentions to provide Ukraine with 500 HK SFP9 pistols. The delivery of this first batch of pistols was announced on 16 March. Despite this I haven’t been able to find visual evidence of the pistols presence in Ukraine until February 2024, when a photo of a SFP9 OR – or ‘optics ready’ pistol was shared by a combatant. The pistol has an Olight weapon light and a red dot.

In July 2024, a Ukrainian combatant, believed to be attached to the SSO’s 73rd Naval Special Operations Center, shared a photograph showing him carrying a SFP9 as well as a Daniel Defense carbine.

In October 2024, the confirmed number of pistols provided to Ukraine jumped significantly to 3,500, indicating significant transfers of SFP9s to Ukraine. Following this the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR MO)’s Revanche International unit, subordinate to Revanche Tactical Group shared an instagram story on 9 November, showing one of the pistols at a range. The pistol, however, is marked VP9 rather than SFP9. VP9 is the US commercial name for the pistol.

On 11 November a member of the HUR’s Kraken Regiment shared a photo of another VP9 mounted with a Veridian X5L weapon light. A month later on 19 December, another Ukrainian combatant shared a range photo of a trio of pistols including a Russian MP-443 ‘Grach’, a Glock 17 Gen 4 and a new SFP9.

On 25 January 2025, ORKOVNET, the YouTube channel of the Ukrainian Orkov gunstore, shared a short range video of a VP9 marked pistol noting that the pistols were now in Ukrainian service.

An Instagram page affiliated with the HUR’s Special Purpose Unit “Timur” shared a series of photos from a range session on 3 February. One of the photos included an SFP9 SD with a threaded suppressor-ready barrel.

On 19 March a combatant with a reconnaissance and UAV team within the Special Operations Forces of the HUR MO shared a photo of a holstered SFP9 alongside a SIG P320.

A member of HUR MO Timur’s Spectre 33 unit posted several photos in early Spring 2025 featuring an SFP9 OR, with one photo showing mounted with a A-Tec PMM6 suppressor.

In April, a Japanese volunteer with one of the HUR International Legion teams shared photos of a new VP9-marked pistol. He noted that while he liked the pistol he preferred Glock triggers and he confirmed that his pistol was shipped with 17 round magazines.

On 6 April, a member of the GUR’s Revanche Tactical Group / Advanced Combat Group shared a photo showcasing a host of small arms from their armoury including new HK433s, HK416s, a UAR-10, CZ and Glock pistols and a pair of HK SFP9s.

A week later DW News shared a report on a Ukrainian camp where adolescents can receive training. From the small arms seen in the short report, including an HK416A8 and an SFP9 indicate the camp may have been run by HUR personnel.

Later in April an Instagram page affiliated with the Revanche Tactical Group shared a photo of a holstered SFP9 and another photo of one of the pistols at the range alongside a Daniel Defense carbine was shared on 23 April by the unit’s medical team.

Another probable SFP9 can be seen in a photo, posted on 6 May, by a volunteer aid organisation, in the photo members of a HUR MO International Legion unit receive gas masks somewhere in the
Zaporizhzhia region. Most recently, the pistols featured in a HUR MO International Legion training video posted on 10 May. The video shows a pair of combatants firing SFP9s at the range.

Iin mid-July, members of the 6th Separate SSO Ranger Regiment were photographed training with what appear to be SFP9s. At the end of July, a member of the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center shared a video and several photos of a brand new 2025-production SFP9 OR with a threaded barrel and suppressor-height sights. Unlike the other pistols seen so far, this SFP9 appears to have an OD green frame. From the video, it seems the pistol shipped with a 17 and a 20-round magazine as well as an Aimpoint ACRO P2 and a Streamlight TLR-8X. Several days later this was followed by a photo from another member of the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center who shared a photo of a pair of OD Green SFP9 ORs both with Aimpoint ACROs and one with a Streamlight (possibly the pistol seen earlier).

The pistols were not taken from German military stores, instead the deliveries were drawn from industry stocks and financed by German government funds. This is supported by the presence of VP9-marked pistols which indicate some of the pistols shipped were pulled from HK production that was planned for the US market. On the 17 April, the German government announce it would no longer be publicly updating its list of aid to Ukraine. As of April 2025, Germany has provided 3,500 HK SFP9s to Ukraine.

It appears from the available visual evidence that at least a portion of the 3,500 HK pistols have been provided to Ukraine’s HUR MO direct action teams with some also appearing in the hands of elements of the SSO. Both VP9 and SFP9-marked guns have been seen in-country with at least a portion of them being SFP9 ORs, with slides cut for mounting optics. Given the very infrequent imagery of operational pistol use it is difficult to confirm uses of the SFP9s in the field with the majority of imagery available stemming from training sessions.

Special thanks to Mathias, Hao, deaidua.org, & Dikobraz for their help with this video.

3D Printed AK ‘Buckshot’ Anti-Drone Rounds

Back in December I published an article/video examining the Russian practice of creating a rudimentary anti-drone round from a 5.45x39mm cartridge case and a handful of ball bearings (BBs). The BBs are encapsulated in shrink-wrap tub ing and then loaded in the cartridge case like a conventional bullet. This was seen to be relatively effective with evidence of multiple workshops independently producing the ammunition.

The ad-hoc production of the ammunition has been seen in locations ranging from kitchen tables to well-laid out large workshops. The rounds have also been tested by Ukrainian forces and there has been some interest in replicating the buckshot cartridges but its unclear if this has come to fruition as yet, shotguns appear to be more prevalent for Ukrainian forces.

3D printing has become a key element in so many aspects of the ongoing war so it was inevitable that it would be leveraged in making this ad-hoc anti-drone ammunition. It appears that several Russian workshops have now developed 3D-printed sabots to replace the shrink-wrap tubing. It appears that this move towards 3D printed sabots is an effort to prevent the barrel being fouled by plastic from the tubing. This is an issue which has been highlighted in a number of posts including a bore scope video published by Ukrainians who tested the home-made rounds. The shrink-wrap likely disintegrates in the barrel leaving behind polymer residues whereas the 3D printed sabots seem to remain intact until they leave the barrel.

The first sighting of the 3D printed sabots came on 23 February, when a Russian telegram channel shared a video showing the printing and assembly of the anti-drone ammunition with 3D printers printing a bullet-shaped sabot. The design and production was attributed to the assault detachment of the 33rd regiment of the 20th Guards Motor Rifle Division. The design consists of a two-piece clam shell-like design which encapsulates the BBs and can be loaded into a 5.45 cartridge case like a conventional projectile. The video shows three 3D printers printing the sabots which hold 4-rounds each. It then shows how the standard cartridge’s projectile is pulled from the case, the sabots are loaded with BBs and then the sabot is tapped down into the case.

The video then shows an individual firing full auto at a target, said to be 75m away away – thought the distance is difficult to verify. It then cuts to a shot of the rifle disassembled and the individual filming states that after four magazines there is no plastic residue in the gas system, barrel or action.

On 26 February, another Russian Telegram channel, Time of Terror, which describes itself as run by a special forces drone group, shared a photograph of a cartridge loaded with sabot with the two halves of an empty sabot next to it, stating that they had been asked to develop the sabot by a subscriber and that tests were ongoing. The nose of sabot has a notably less pronounced point compared to the first example. A day later the same Telegram channel shared another photograph of the ammunition this time with a five-BB sabot, next to a bottle of Crosman copperhead BBs.

Several days later, on 2 March, a short video showing a version of the sabot without the pointed nose was shared. It appears that the point of the sabot’s nose has been filed down. The video’s captions reads [machine translated]: “Based on the feedback, certain modifications were made. After checking them and collecting feedback from other units, we will stop at the most working version.” The video shows a few bursts being fired and several hits on a target down range. The video appears to have been filmed somewhat close to the frontline.

Later the same day another photo of some of the ammunition was shared, notably with the sabots seated at different depths. The caption mentioned the changes that have been made based on feedback [machine translated]: “In the new version, the diameter of the bullet base was reduced by 0.2mm and a chamfer was added instead of rounding, the diameter of the first solid cut-ring was reduced, which ensures easier pressing.”

On 4 March, the same Telegram channel shared a video demonstrating the assembly of one of the rounds. The video shows the pulling of a bullet and then the filling of the sabot with five BBs before the two halves of the sabot are pressed together and placed in the cartridge and tapped home with a hammer. The video’s caption reads [machine translated]: “At present, we observe significant potential in the application of the proposed modernization. Tests are ongoing, collecting data, which is necessary for forming a final conclusion on this issue. It is proposed to begin developing a prototype of equipment for an accelerated pressing procedure.” This would suggest the use of a conventional bullet press rather than a pair of pliers and hammer.

The video also includes footage of testing showing the ammunition being fired at a small rectangle of cardboard. The first two strings have a horizontal spread but with most of the BBs appearing to hit the target. A series of bursts shows the more hits on the target. The engagement range appears to be around 20-25 metres.

On the same day they also shared a short clip of a PKM machine gun being loaded with a belt holding three rounds of anti-drone 7.62x54mmR ammunition. Not much can be seen in the video but its likely that the 7.62 sabots can hold six or seven BBs. The caption notes [machine translated]: “In parallel, tests are being conducted for the modernized rifle bullet 7.62… Three rounds were fired in single mode. Results will be added later, looking ahead I will say that there is potential.”

The usefulness of having a machine gun with a belt of the anti-drone buckshot ammunition is somewhat debatable, while perhaps not ideal for a patrol or an assault having a belt of anti-drone ammunition while defending a position may be useful. A post from 8 March, shows the development of a loading punch and the use of nail varnish on the nose of the round as a means of adhering the nose of the sabot together preventing it parting. The most recent post from Time of Terror features couple of photos of a large batch of five-BB sabots. The caption states: “made a batch of 10,000. The test variants showed a very satisfactory result. I am waiting for further feedback and hope to put an end to this process as soon as possible.”

The evolution of these makeshift anti-drone rounds has moved rapidly, with the shift to 3D printing in some areas leading to the potential production of thousands of rounds. While printing may expedite one element of production the loading of the sabots and the seating of them in cartridge cases remains a bottle neck in the manufacturing of the rounds.

Update – 3/4/25

A Ukrainian testing some of the 3D printed sabots, originally developed by Russians as an anti-drone round.

More on those here – https://t.co/QbHmmgDYl6 #Ukraine #UkraineWar #SALW #UkraineRussiaWar pic.twitter.com/qpv0P87iAn
— Matthew Moss | The Armourer's Bench (@historicfirearm) April 4, 2025

Another version of the 3D printed sabots has appeared on line in a video showing a Ukrainian combatant from the . Printed as once piece the sabot has five recesses for BBs. A video shows the firing of three rounds from an AK-74 pattern rifle. A target is shown approximately 5 metres away with a pattern of impacts from the anti-drone rounds.

Ukraine’s Fixed Wing Gun Drone

Since our last article/video on gun-armed drones in September 2024, both sides have continued to develop the technology. We’ll be taking a look at the latest develeopments in gun-armed rotor-powered drones in a future article/video, in this video we’re going to take a look at the latest development: a gun-armed fixed wing UAV.

The first imagery of the ‘ZigZag’ UAV developed by Ukrainian drone manufacturer Sky Defenders was shared on social media 15 March. Shared on Sky Defenders’ official social media channels the minute long video shows a fixed wing UAV being launched, once in the sky the video cuts to an onboard camera view which features a crude but unmistakable sighting ring. In the nose of the UAV we can see a pair of tubes set side by side. The video shows a test flight of the twin prop UAV.

*The ZigZag during flight testing, without its guns mounted, February 2025 (via Sky Defenders)*

This appears to be the second fixed-wing drone developed by Sky Defenders. the first is the Vyryi M7 which is now said to be being delivered to Ukrainian units. The M7 is a loitering, or one-way, munition, powered by a single rear prop it has a 33km range and a warhead in its nose.

In an earlier video shared by a Misha a member of the Sky Defender’s team, posted on 5 March, we get a closer look at the ZigZag gun-armed drone. The video’s caption reads: “Please support the combat tests of the Zigzag interceptor aircraft. This UAV is quite an achievement for my small but really awesome team. We put all our resources into this project.”

*The ZigZag firing its left, top, gun barrel during testing (via Sky Defenders)*

The ZigZag has been in development since at least February 2025, with Sky Defenders sharing a short video from flight testing of the drone with the UAV seen without its four guns.

It appears that the drone actually has four rather than two gun barrels. There is only a short clip of the drone’s guns being tested and it doesn’t appear that the drone’s flight is impacted by the recoil of the gun. From the fuselage design it appears that the drone will not be using the counterweight recoilless gun designs used by the quadcopter gun-armed drones. It’s likely the the ZigZag is powerful enough to fire conventional-type ‘shotgun’ and withstand the recoil.

*A close up of the ZigZag’s four-gun barrels and gimbal mounted camera (via Sky Defenders)*

In the video we can see the aiming post and ring and behind it a camera on a 360-degree gimbal mount which enables aiming. While the M7 drone is a one-way-munition and not designed to return the ZigZag appears to be more robust and intended for repeated sorties. The range, weight and loitering time of the UAV is currently unknown. The role of the ZigZag appears to be as a dedicated drone hunter able to rapidly intercept opposing drones and engage them with its guns. It will be interesting to see how the ZigZag is employed.

The Sky Defenders ZigZag represents another interesting step in the rapidly evolving gun-armed drone space in Ukraine.