Zubr: Photo credit: Rostec As the War in Ukraine shifts once again, Russia has moved to a defensive approach to the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), particularly as drone attacks have increasingly reached targets inside Russian territory. This expanding threat has created a clear need for systems that can detect and counter small, low-flying UAVs while protecting critical infrastructure. In response, Russia has accelerated the development and deployment of several short-range counter-UAS systems. PKT at the Tula museum. By Lynndon Schooler. For the first time, the Rostec holding company Vysokotochnye Kompleksy has supplied the Russian Ministry of Defense with the latest Zubr systems, designed primarily to protect critical infrastructure from drone attacks. The deliveries reportedly started in January of 2026. According to Rostec, the system includes radar stations that can detect both relatively large aerial targets and much smaller objects, including drones.The Zubr is intended to detect aerial targets, including small UAVs and loitering munitions, day or night. The system independently detects a target, acquires it, and places it under automatic tracking. This reduces the operator's workload and allows the system to respond more quickly to targets that may be difficult to observe visually.The system consists of four 7.62x54 PKT machine guns combined with a radar station, said to have a detection range of up to approximately 1.5 kilometers. The first Zubr systems have already entered service and are reportedly being used to protect infrastructure facilities. Used with anti-drone duplex or triplex ammunition, this would increase hit probability, as the video released showed a long burst to intercept a test UAV.The PKT is a tank variant of the Kalashnikov PKM machine gun, while publicly released information has also mentioned the possibility of installing the GShG-7.62, a four-barrel minigun. So far, however, publicly released demonstrations have only shown the PKT configuration. The KBP Instrument Design Bureau developed the automated machine gun system for the quad PKTs. PKT with the electronically actuated solenoid. By Lynndon Schooler. Rostec has announced the beginning of combat operations for the Zubr Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS), presenting a layer of protection for critical facilities. The development marks another shift in the war as the tables have turned and the UAV threat has evolved. Low-flying UAVs have become one of the most persistent threats on the battlefield, while long-range air-defense missiles are generally too expensive to use against every small drone, and these smaller threats are very hard to detect. This has created demand for relatively inexpensive, short-range systems that can be deployed around individual facilities.Following a request from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Zubr reportedly progressed from an initial development requirement to testing and acceptance comparatively quickly. According to information released by Rostec, the process took approximately a year and a half. By 2024, the system had reportedly undergone testing at the Kapustin Yar proving ground. Test of the Zubr. Video credit: Rostec. The Zubr system can reportedly be assembled on a trailer, on a vehicle, or on a container, increasing its flexibility to add a layer of protection over a high-value target. A fixed industrial facility, military installation, energy site, or other important location may have very different physical layouts and defensive requirements. This gives the system the ability to be fixed or mobile.The Zubr is designed to detect and automatically track small, low-flying targets under a range of weather conditions. The operator's role is focused primarily on supervising the system, assessing the situation, and authorizing engagement. PKT. By Lynndon Schooler. As mentioned above, the Zubr reportedly has the option of using either PKT machine guns or the GShG-7.62. The GShG offers a much higher rate of fire, but the PKT has advantages in availability, simplicity, and integration. With a good tracking system or AI assistance, a high volume of fire may not be needed. As some new developments have shown, AI-assisted targeting can achieve a one-shot interception. Zubr. Photo credit: Rostec. At the same time, Rostec has released only limited information about the Zubr's actual capabilities. From what we know, the advertised detection range is 1.5 km; the effective engagement ranges and ammunition capacity are currently unknown. Given the wartime environment, many of these details are unlikely to be disclosed publicly. Actual performance will also depend heavily on how the system is deployed and the types of UAVs it encounters.This system has a downside. If used in populated areas, anything that goes up must come down. These rounds don’t self-destruct, so they will come down and pose a threat to the local population. ConclusionFor now, the Zubr appears to be a relatively straightforward approach, combining existing PKT machine guns with a modern radar, automated tracking system, and fire-control system. As the war in Ukraine changes yet again, the rapid adaptation of established weapons and technologies is needed to address the increasingly sophisticated or low-tech and persistent drone threat. We will have to see how well this new system performs.