LIMA 2025 – Kalashnikov KUB-E: targeting personnel to lightly armoured vehicles’
The KUB-E is a loitering munition (or kamikaze drone) developed by the Kalashnikov group. It is designed to carry out high-precision strikes against various types of land and sea targets, particularly in dense air defence environments
The KUB-E belongs to the loitering munitions category, meaning that it can patrol a given area before striking its target in suicide mode. It is used to neutralise lightly armoured vehicles, electronic equipment, command posts, logistics depots and even aircraft stationed at bases.
It is known for its capacity to fly silently and perform a vertical dive attack, enabling it to target the most vulnerable parts of armoured vehicles, such as the tops of turrets.
The Kalashnikov KUB-E is 0.95 metres long, it’s delta wing with winglets having a 1.21 metres span, height being 0.165 metres.
Its total mass is around 8 kg when fitted with a blast/fragmentation payload. Its speed ranges from 80 to 130 km/h. It has an endurance of 30 minutes and a range of 25km, its operating altitude being between 150 and 1,000m. It is powered by an electric motor located at the rear which activates a two-blade pushing propeller; it can be remotely controlled, autonomous navigation being available through waypoints, with GNSS navigation guidance, and remote control. It can be used day/night, in wind up to 15 m/s and temperatures from -20°C to +50°C.
The KUB-E is launched from a catapult installed on a trailer and can be rapidly deployed in the field using a dedicated transport system. After launch, the motor is switched on, the blades open and it can loiter over the target area, then dove vertically to strike accurately on target grids. It uses a satellite navigation system (GNSS), enabling an attack by day or night and in bad weather.
A KUB-E system includes 25 airframes, and the same number of warheads and batteries. One launch system, one ground control station and one battery charging station complete the kit.
The demonstration of the strategic importance of the KUB-E, andmore widely speaking of loitering munitions, is shown by the fact that since 2023 Kalashnikov has increased the production of its kamikaze drones tenfold. Beside the KUB-E the Russian company has launched other loitering munitions such as the KUB-10E and KUB-2-2E, which have different operational envelops.
Photos by J. Roukoz and Kalashnikov
