Russia Develops Rifle Round That Splits into Three Projectiles Mid-Flight to Down Fast Drones

Russia Develops 'One Round, Three Projectiles' Anti-Drone Ammunition

Rostec, Russia's state defense industrial conglomerate, has announced that its subsidiary Vysokotochka has developed a new rifle-caliber round called 'Mnogotochie' (Russian for 'multiple points'). According to reports, the round splits into three sub-projectiles in flight, significantly increasing hit probability against fast-moving drones. The first production batch has already been delivered to Russian military units.

High-Density Fire Pattern for Effective Drone Engagement

Bekkhan Ozdoyev, Industrial Director of Rostec's weapons division, previously stated that Mnogotochie magazines are compatible with rifled automatic weapons and offer an effective solution for engaging drones.

The ammunition uses standard 5.45x39mm and 7.62x39mm casings fitted with a specially designed projectile that separates into three sub-projectiles upon leaving the barrel, creating a high-density coverage pattern. Rostec also disclosed that its CT 226 (5.45x39mm) and CT 228 (7.62x54mm) rounds feature the same tri-projectile design, with automatic mid-flight separation.

Compatible with Standard Weapons — No Modifications Required

According to Russia's state news agency TASS, Mnogotochie uses standard casings and standard propellant charges, simplifying mass production at ammunition factories. The three sub-projectiles spread evenly after leaving the muzzle, improving accuracy and substantially raising the probability of hitting small targets.

Rostec emphasized that weapons firing Mnogotochie retain their standard performance specifications with no need for weapon modifications or additional accessories. The round is also compatible with suppressors.

Live-Fire Demonstration: Four Rounds to Down a Drone at 100 Meters

Footage released by the company shows the 5.45mm variant successfully downing a hovering drone at approximately 100 meters (roughly 328 feet) range and around 10 meters (roughly 33 feet) altitude using just four rounds.

According to reporting by NexGen Defense, Mnogotochie's tri-projectile payload separates after leaving the barrel to form a controlled dispersion pattern, releasing three projectiles per trigger pull. Full-scale mass production has commenced, and the first batch has been delivered to the Russian military.

Effective Range of 300 Meters, Designed for Front-Line Infantry Defense

The anti-drone round is reported to have a maximum effective range of 300 meters. While limited compared to dedicated air defense systems, its purpose is to help front-line soldiers deal with close-range, low-altitude drone threats.

Drone Tactics Reshaping the Modern Battlefield

The use of small commercial and military drones has proliferated rapidly in recent conflicts, performing reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strike missions. Their relatively low cost and wide availability pose new challenges to conventional military forces, driving demand for low-cost countermeasures.

The development of specialized anti-drone ammunition like Mnogotochie reflects the changing nature of modern warfare, in which inexpensive drones have become significant players in combat operations. Rather than relying solely on costly missile-based air defense systems, militaries are increasingly exploring solutions that allow front-line infantry to engage drones directly using standard rifles loaded with purpose-built ammunition.

If Mnogotochie performs as advertised under real combat conditions, it could provide infantry units with an additional layer of low-altitude drone defense capability, complementing larger air defense systems.

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