Russian tanks with the "Tsar-Brabo" protection system have begun to be equipped with the homemade "Ezh" (Hedgehog) protection system, which has proven to be more effective against drones. In the video, the unusual appearance of this tank is actually a T-80BVM. The "Ezh" protection system, also known as the "Dikobraz" (Porcupine), is essentially the same version of the "Tsar-Brabo" protection system, but reinforced with iron rods or unbraided iron wire. When a tank is struck by an FPV drone, the cumulative jet of the drone's ammunition loses its penetrating power. There are cases where this protection system has withstood strikes from dozens of FPV drones. It's worth noting that until a proper active tank defense against FPV drones is developed, such designs will continue to develop.
The United Aircraft Corporation delivered a new batch of Su-34 fighter-bombers to the Russian Ministry of Defense in November. This is the sixth batch of Su-34 aircraft this year. The Su-34 can carry 8 tons of combat payload, distributed across 12 hardpoints. The aircraft can also be used for aerial reconnaissance missions. The Su-34 crew is protected by 17 mm of armor. The Su-34 fighter-bomber "confirmed its status as the best aircraft in its class."
The Russian army has begun actively using heavy Italmas drones. They were first reported in 2023, but technical information was scant. The drone, "Izdeliye-54" or "Italmas," is the name of a flower. Ukrainian sources refer to the drone as the BM-35. The Italmas drone was developed by Aeroscan, a member of the ZALA Aero group, the developer of the Lancet drone. The Italmas drone has a composite fuselage with easily removable fuel tanks in the wings. The drone can be used for reconnaissance and group operations; it is equipped with a night vision camera and can direct artillery fire in real time. The drone can be launched into autonomous flight and set to search for a specific target, or it can be controlled by an operator. The drone is approximately 2 meters long and has a wingspan of 1.8 meters. It is equipped with an internal combustion engine and can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h at an altitude of up to 4,000 meters. The drone has a range of over 200 km and can carry a payload of up to 40 kg. Flight time is up to 2 hours. The drone can be launched from a catapult or a mobile platform. The estimated price of the Italmas drone is 5 million rubles (US$55,000).
Russian company LazerBuzz unveiled a "Posoh" laser system designed to destroy FPV drones. The "Posoh" laser can already automatically destroy UAVs in 0.5 seconds. Technical details are scarce, but it is known that the company's goal was to create an inexpensive, compact air defense system to destroy FPV drones. Judging by the video, the air defense system is targeted using an optical channel. The "staff" laser, with a power of 3 kW, can already destroy drones at a range of up to 700 meters. According to the developer, further increasing the laser's power could significantly increase its cost. The system is powered by batteries that can be charged by a generator in the field. The "staff" air defense system is designed to protect critical infrastructure from drones. The project is ready, but requires funding for production.
