UMEX 2026 – LEMT unveils portable drone-based counter-drone system
At the 2026 edition of the Unmanned Systems Exhibition and Conference (UMEX 2026) which took place at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi on January 20–22, Belarusian LEMT unveiled a counter drone system based on killer drones
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict is characterized by the emergence of a large number of drones used to intercept aerial targets. At virtually every international exhibition, dozens of types of interceptor drones, both multicopter and fixed-wing, are on display, designed to counter low-flying, low-speed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions.
The Belarusian company LEMT has proposed its concept for intercepting aerial targets using interceptor drones launched from a hand-held portable launcher equipped with an LCD monitor. The launcher has a Picatinny rail to which an optical sight is attached.
As LEMT explained to EDR On-Line, the nose of the interceptor drone is equipped with an optoelectronic homing head with television and thermal imaging channels. The interceptor drone is launched by the operator after visually detecting an aerial target and locking it onto the homing head before launch. Subsequent flight is automatic, without operator intervention.
The interceptor drone has a cylindrical body with an ogive head and is equipped with four electric motors with three-bladed propellers.
The counter-drone system, including launcher and drone, has a mass of 6 kg, while the launch mass of the drone itself is 3 kg. The interceptor drone is equipped with a 0.5 kg fragmentation warhead containing up to 400 fragments. The drone has a range of 6 km, a flight time of 10 minutes, and a flight speed of up to 200 km/h. Depending on its size, an aerial target can be automatically locked onto at ranges of 200 to 500 metres.
Interceptor drones can be mounted on a special weapon station that can be fitted on a mobile platform. LEMT explained that testing of the interceptor drone began in late 2025 and will be completed in 2026.
Photos by N. Novichkov
