Russia starts to use the new Kalashnikov KUB-10E drone against Ukraine

Russia’s new Kub-10E long-range, precision-strike kamikaze drone has reportedly been used for the first time during the intensifying conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The drone’s debut occurred in the Kursk region, as reported by Ukrainian media. This incident highlights the increasing role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Ukrainian war.

The drone’s manufacturer, Telegram Channel, released a video on its official Telegram channel showcasing the kamikaze drone’s first use. Russian military bloggers subsequently shared the footage on social media site X (formerly Twitter).

Kalashnikov claims this advanced drone significantly enhances its unmanned aerial capabilities with improved range, accuracy, and combat effectiveness. While some Ukrainian media reports suggest the drone was deployed to Kursk on January 2, just days after its official unveiling, these claims could not be independently verified.

View from the Drone KUB

The deployment comes amid reports of Ukrainian tanks and infantry targeting positions in Kursk, specifically pushing into the village of Bolshoye Soldatskoye, about 15 miles northeast of the Ukrainian stronghold of Sudzha.

Both Russian and Ukrainian officials have confirmed this offensive, likely aimed at bolstering Kyiv’s position ahead of any potential peace talks. The timing of the attack, during the harsh winter, suggests a strategic move by Ukraine to demonstrate its resolve and challenge Russian control in the region.

Later that day, prominent Russian military blogger Rybar claimed that Russian troops had destroyed a British Challenger tank advancing into Kursk. Footage purporting to show the tank’s destruction was also shared, suggesting it was hit by a drone.

Rybar reported that “drone crews from the 155th Guards Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet” carried out the attack. There is no information about the specific type of drone used, and it hasn’t been independently confirmed that the destroyed tank was indeed a British-made Challenger-2.

Details on the Kub-10E

The Kub-10E, a long-range kamikaze drone from Kalashnikov’s Kub series, is expected to significantly impact Russian operations in Ukraine.

Kalashnikov officially unveiled the UAV in late December of last year, along with footage showing its launch via catapult. The Kub-10E was presented alongside its predecessor, the Kub-BLA kamikaze drone.

Kalashnikov CEO Alan Lushnikov stated in an interview, “We have developed several new products in the Cube line. The permits for one of them are already ready, so I can tell you briefly about our new product. This is the Kub-10E strike drone. It is designed to destroy enemy unarmored military equipment and armored personnel carriers, command posts, air defense and missile defense facilities, electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare, and rear support facilities.”

The Kub-10E builds upon the capabilities of the Kub-BLA but has a different design and is significantly larger. “Based on visual comparisons of the drones and their launch equipment, the Kub-10E appears to be approximately five times larger in volume than the Kub-BLA,” noted Squadron Leader Vijainder K. Thakur (retd), a former Indian Air Force officer and military expert.

KUB BLA drone

The KUB-10E UAV is designed for rapid deployment and precise strikes. The manufacturer asserts that its combat capabilities and flight range far surpass those of earlier models in the series. The drone has an operational altitude range of 100 to 2,500 meters (approximately 328 to 8,202 feet) and a cruising speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour (about 62 mph).

A Kalashnikov official previously stated, “The flight range and combat power of the new guided munition significantly exceed the performance of previous models in the series.”

“Based on its size and aerodynamically efficient design, the Kub-10E could potentially have a range of several hundred kilometers. Its large, straight wings would have a high lift coefficient, suggesting its range could rival or surpass that of the Geran-2 drones,” Thakur predicted earlier.

The Kub-10E uses a combination of inertial and satellite navigation for accurate targeting. Currently, it lacks an optical sensor, likely because hitting stationary targets deep within enemy territory doesn’t require target recognition.

This drone can operate in various weather conditions, including temperatures between -30°C and +40°C (-22°F and 104°F) and wind gusts of up to 15 meters per second (about 33.5 mph).

Thakur noted that Russia likely developed the Kub-10E to address shortcomings in the Geran-2 drone, which is based on the Iranian Shahed-136 platform. These limitations include the use of Western-made components that need to be sourced through alternative means and a smaller warhead.

The debut of the Kub-10E marks the latest addition of a UAV to the battlefield, which has become a proving ground for advanced weaponry, underscoring the increasing importance of drones in modern warfare, particularly in the Ukraine conflict.