Global Courant
6 AK74 anti-drone gun
In the latest example of “unconventional” improvised Ukrainian weapons, we’ve now videotaped the device from half a dozen AK-74 assault rifles in action. This follows images released two days ago who showed the same weapon, but did not fire. It is now one of many improvised ones small arms solutions – some more relevant than others – which have been adopted by Ukrainian forces as counter-drone weapons.
In the footage, seen below, the weapon stands with its crosshairs on the edge of a field as two targets fly overhead. A person operating it opens fire on the targets with seemingly predictable results. It is unclear exactly what type of drones the targets were.
https://twitter.com/Fibrik_Official/status/1677189222766084096?s=20
Improvised anti-drone weapon that shoots at targets. Twitter screen cap
Originally introduced in the 1970s as a successor to the Russian AK-47 (which was introduced in the late 1940s) the AK-74 is now one of the primary service rifles in use with the Ukrainian army.
Also shown to the left of the frame is a second person firing a Degtyaryov DP-27 machine gun, a pre-World War II design used by is still in use in Ukraine, at the overhead targets. Like the improvised AK-74 weapon, the DP-27 sits atop a tripod.
DP-27 seen on the left side of the frame. Twitter screen cap
Despite the increase in volume of fire obtained by firing six AK-74s at once, the improvised weapon appears to shoot nothing. Still the video (as well as other footage) illustrates that the system is indeed functioning.
If we noted earlier, previous footage of the weapon did not show it firing. That video, which can be seen below, gives a close-up view of the system.
https://twitter.com/SavunmaTR/status/1676308265540415500?s=20
The AK-74s are mounted on an internal frame, with a central charging handle and trigger system linked to all six individual triggers.
Other footage, which you can see below, also shows the improvised multi-AK-74 weapon being built.
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https://twitter.com/trip_to_valkiri/status/1675913335122931714?s=20
More broadly, the weapon’s creation underscores the wider impact Russian loitering munitions, or kamikaze drones, have had during the war in Ukraine. Different levels of drones, including armed types of different sizes and capabilities, have been a major feature on both sides of the conflict since Russia first launched its all-out invasion last February.
Ukrainian anti-drone teamsfor example, are equipped with powerful lights and laser pointers to help take down Russian drones in particular Shahed 136 Iranian-made kamikaze types, even at night. In this context, various types of small arms have been used to shoot down enemy drones, including improvised machine gun mounts attached to light vehicles (engineering).
Drone hunters in the Mykolayiv region show off a modified UAZ-452 armed with two PKT machine guns mounted on a makeshift mount. Vladimir Shtanko/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
But near the front lines, where smaller loitering munitions pose a major lingering threat, you’ll often see soldiers firing their rifles at them hoping for a hit, though it’s quite challenging to do so. This new multi-rifle device is certainly intended to make use of commonly available weapons and ammunition to increase the volume of fire in the hopes of hitting them more easily. However, how effective it would be to do so is questionable.
There are computer aided rifle sights who are now helping with exactly this task, and they are quite effective in certain circumstances, but there is no record of them making their way to Ukraine.
While it’s debatable whether the improvised multi-AK-74 weapon would have much operational impact on Russian drones, it’s still a new sight to see from a mechanical point of view.
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