Russian army welcomes the debut of the first installment of the series "Oreshnik" as ordered by Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin's security service has recently introduced a new counter-drone weapon system, marking a significant development in the country's drone defense capabilities. However, the specifics of these weapons and their operational capacity remain unclear.
The new counter-drone weapons are believed to be designed for defense against unauthorized drones, a response to the increasing use of stealthy, fiber-optic-controlled drones. Unlike large, fixed air-defense systems like the S-400 or Pantsir, these new systems are mobile and aimed at providing close-range defense.
While the details of these counter-drone weapons are scarce, they have not been reported in detail by other media outlets, making them a relatively new and under-explored topic. The only known report on their use comes from Military Watch Magazine. However, the Russian government has not officially confirmed the use of these counter-drone weapons beyond this single report.
Contrary to some speculation, the "Oreshnik," a Russian hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, is not a counter-drone weapon. Developed with maneuverable reentry vehicle technology, the Oreshnik is a state-of-the-art missile system entering Russian service and planned for deployment near NATO borders. It can travel at speeds up to Mach 10 and has a range between 3,400 and 5,500 km, making it a formidable weapon. Russia first used the Oreshnik in November 2024 during a strike on a missile factory in Dnipro, Ukraine, and has started production with plans to deploy it in Belarus by the end of 2025.
It's important to note that the counter-drone weapons being used by the security service of Russian President Vladimir Putin are not related to the production or delivery of the Oreshnik military equipment. Furthermore, these counter-drone weapons are not part of any publicly announced military modernization program.
Recent reports suggest that the first batch of Oreshnik has been produced in Russia, and President Vladimir Putin has announced its delivery to the troops. However, the identity of the counter-drone weapons being used by the security service remains uncertain.
As more information becomes available, the world will gain a clearer understanding of Russia's counter-drone capabilities and its strategies for defending against increasingly sophisticated drone technology. For now, the focus remains on the new, mobile counter-drone systems being deployed by the security services, a development that underscores the growing importance of drone defense in modern warfare.
[1] Russian Hypersonic Missile 'Oreshnik' First Used in Strike on Ukraine Factory [2] Russia Starts Production of Hypersonic Missile 'Oreshnik' [3] Russia to Deploy Hypersonic Missile 'Oreshnik' in Belarus by End of 2025 [4] Russia's New Counter-Drone Weapons: What We Know So Far
- Recent developments in Russia suggest a growing focus on countering drone technology, with the introduction of new counter-drone weapons by the security service of President Vladimir Putin.
- In contrast, the Oreshnik, a Russian hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, while a significant addition to their military arsenal, serves a different purpose compared to the new counter-drone weapons.
