
Putin's guards spotted with new high-tech anti-drone weapon amid rising drone threats
Vladimir Putin
, members of his security detail were observed carrying what appears to be a newly deployed
anti-drone weapon
, signaling Russia's expanding efforts to counter the growing threat posed by
unmanned aerial systems
(UAS). This marks a notable development in Russia's approach to protecting high-profile figures and critical infrastructure amid increasingly sophisticated drone threats on modern battlefields and within domestic security environments.
The new anti-drone weapon
According to Defence Blog, observers noted that one of the security officers escorting President Putin was carrying a portable, X-shaped interceptor system believed to be designed to detect, track, and disable hostile drones. This type of weapon is particularly suited to intercepting low-flying or first-person-view (FPV) drones, which are often used in close-range reconnaissance or attack missions and have proven difficult to counter with traditional defenses.
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— sentinelmonitor (@sentinelmonitor)
The sighting reflects broader Russian investments in mobile
counter-UAS technology
, aiming to respond quickly to sudden drone incursions, especially in urban or civilian areas where fixed defenses are ineffective or impractical.
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Why anti-drone systems are critical for Russia
The deployment is timely, given the increasing use of drones in the conflict with Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have employed a wide range of drones—from commercial quadcopters to loitering munitions and more advanced strike UAVs. These drones have been used for both surveillance and attacks, often bypassing traditional defense systems due to their small size and agility.
In response, Russian forces have fielded a mix of countermeasures, including mobile electronic warfare (EW) platforms such as backpack jammers and vehicle-mounted systems like the
Abzats
. These systems are capable of jamming radio signals and disrupting the control of enemy drones.
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However, with many modern drones now featuring autonomous navigation and machine learning-based evasion, electronic jamming alone is insufficient. As a result, Russia has begun integrating kinetic countermeasures—such as drone-on-drone interceptors—and is actively developing laser-based systems to physically destroy UAVs.
Laser weapons and Russia's counter-drone strategy
In 2025, Russian authorities began public testing of mobile
laser air defense systems
. While the technical details remain classified, reports confirm that several systems demonstrated the ability to rapidly detect and disable aerial targets, including drone swarms.
Despite the promise of laser-based countermeasures, their effectiveness is limited by factors such as bad weather, fog, or rain, and they require high amounts of energy, making them less suitable for mobile use over extended periods.
Implications of the new interceptor seen with Putin's guards
The interceptor seen with Putin's security detail suggests a targeted deployment of counter-UAS systems for close-range, VIP protection. Such weapons provide real-time defense in open or urban areas where drone attacks could pose a serious risk to high-ranking officials. Its compact, soldier-carried design implies it can be deployed instantly, without the need for support vehicles or stationary equipment.
This move underscores the Kremlin's prioritization of advanced drone countermeasures—not only in frontline warfare but also in the high-security environments surrounding national leadership.
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