Kalashnikov, maker of the iconic AK-47, unveils cheap kamikaze drone for ‘smaller armies’
- Kalashnikov drone – officially named the KUB-UAV – will be simple to operate, effective and cheap, its manufacturers claim
- The target market will be ‘smaller armies’ around the world
The Russian company that gave the world the iconic AK-47 assault rifle has unveiled a suicide drone that may similarly revolutionise war by making sophisticated drone warfare technology widely and cheaply available.
The Kalashnikov Group put a model of its miniature exploding drone on display last week at a major defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, where the world’s arms companies gather every two years to show off and market their latest wares.
The tiny item was dwarfed by the tanks, armoured vehicles and fighter jets that were also on display. But it has as much potential to change the face of war as its older cousin, the AK-47, widely referred to simply as the Kalashnikov.
With its low price, high efficiency and ease of use, the Kalashnikov rifle became the weapon of choice for revolutionaries and insurgents around the world, empowering disgruntled citizens against their governments in Latin America, Africa and Asia.
It remains a potent tool to this day: the Pentagon purchases second-hand Kalashnikov rifles for its allies in Syria and Afghanistan, rather than give them more expensive American-made guns.