Ukraine debuts shotgun-equipped drone to counter Russian UAV threat
Modern warfare is about more than jets and anti-aircraft systems. When traditional defenses proved slow or costly, interceptor drones became essential. These mobile, automated drones hunt enemy UAVs, blocking reconnaissance and attacks. Some even carry shotguns, offering a simple, cheap, and effective way to take down small aerial targets
Contents
- What Besomar drones are
- Technical characteristics of Besomar 3210-N
- Drone with a shotgun
- Shotgun drones in the Ukrainian Armed Forces
What Besomar drones are
Besomar is a Ukrainian company that develops fixed-wing drones. Besomar products are codified according to NATO standards. On the company’s website, it is stated that Besomar combines high-quality imported components with Ukrainian innovations – “effective, reliable, and at an optimal price.”
The company’s main product is the Besomar 3210-N, an air target interceptor drone and the flagship of the line. It is designed to detect and destroy UAVs, such as Orlan, SuperCam, ZALA, Shahed, Geran, and Gerbera.
The UAV is equipped with a unique air reverse brake and was created to destroy strike drones and perform other tasks. It can remain airborne for more than 60 minutes in target-waiting mode, perform a steep climb, and maintain a speed of up to 150 km/h for 15 minutes.
“Active engine cooling and a rotation controller have been installed, which significantly increases the reliability of all power units. The Besomar 3210-N interceptor drone is equipped with a thermal imaging camera that allows it to effectively detect targets in poor visibility conditions – at night, in fog, or through smoke,” the manufacturer’s website states.
It also highlights protection against enemy EW systems – the Sine-link communication system ensures stable control of the UAV in complex electronic warfare conditions. In addition, the 3210-N is equipped with “one-click landing,” meaning fully automatic landing at the push of a button without operator involvement.
Technical characteristics of Besomar 3210-N
- Maximum speed: 200 km/h
- Cruising speed: 130 km/h
- Maximum altitude: 5500 m
- Air time – 60+ minutes while waiting for a target
- Sprint speed – 150 km/h (up to 15 minutes continuously)
- Payload: up to 2 kg
Drone Besomar
photo: Militarnyi
Drone with a shotgun
“We generally design and produce airplanes. But there was a request to develop something new, something that could shoot in the air and return. We developed such a capability,” Besomar company representative Roman Shemechko told Militarnyi about the new drone modification.
The new product – a reusable interceptor drone equipped with a shotgun and an automated firing system – was presented at the IRON DEMO 2025 defense technology exhibition. The system, mounted on a fixed-wing interceptor drone, currently allows two shots, but this parameter can be increased to four.
Like the classic Besomar 3210-N, the shotgun-equipped interceptor accelerates to 200 km/h, enabling it to destroy Russian Gerbera drones (speed 100–130 km/h) and various reconnaissance UAVs.
“Since the interceptor is equipped with a digital communication system with FHSS (frequency-hopping spread spectrum), it can approach the target undetected by avoidance systems installed on Russian drones and strike it,” Militarnyi reports.
One of the system’s features is the ability to fire at the target not only in manual but also in automatic and semi-automatic modes.
“The aircraft itself initializes the target, tracks it, and fires with the pilot’s permission. When the pilot approaches a static target without sharp maneuvers, this can be done manually – the pilot is confident, locks onto the target, aims, and shoots… But more dynamic targets will be handled automatically. If the pilot approaches and sees the target is unstable, maneuvering, and he is unsure – then he simply gives permission to fire. The system then initializes the target, confirms it is centered, the sensor locks, and the shot is automatically fired,” explained Roman Shemechko.
A recoil-less system based on 12-gauge cartridges is used for engagement, ensuring UAV stability during firing.
Drone Besomar
photo: Militarnyi
Shotgun drones in the Ukrainian Armed Forces
This is not the first shotgun-equipped drone in service with the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The first reports of such drones emerged at the end of 2024. In January 2025, Militarnyi reported that a drone of the 30th Brigade, equipped with a shotgun, destroyed more than 20 Russian UAVs. Russian infantry and drones were struck near the settlements of Kupiansk, Synkivka, and Petropavlivka in Kharkiv region.
In January 2025, Ukrainian Defense Express wrote that at that time, such a method of countering Russian drones was not used intensively but rather in isolated cases. However, even then, Ukraine’s Defense Forces were working on scaling up the successful experiment with this new way of downing enemy UAVs.
In March, the Presidential Brigade reported using FPV drones with a double-barreled shotgun to intercept Russian Maviks.
To create the interceptor drone, the military adapted the FPV bomber Lucky Strike by mounting two special shotguns on it. The design compensates for shotgun recoil during firing, improving accuracy.
In March 2025, Ukrainian manufacturer Sky Defenders tested a shotgun-equipped fixed-wing UAV launched from the ground with a catapult.
“In the nose section, a shotgun with an aiming sight is installed for accurate shooting during flight. For easier target search, a rotating digital camera is mounted on the top of the drone, which, according to the company’s video, is also used on the ZigZag interceptor UAV,” Militarnyi described the drone.
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