MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – JUNE 25, 2019: A ZALA Lancet-3 attack drone developed by Kalashnikov Concern on display at the Army 2019 International Military Technical Forum at Patriot Park. Marina Lystseva/TASS
The Russian military is reportedly using PTM-3 shaped charge anti-tank mines as warheads for Lancet loitering munitions.
Video footage showing an Izdeliye-51, the largest version of the Lancet, being equipped with mine surfaced online on August 3. This particular loitering munition also appeared to be equipped with a brand new electro-optical targeting system.
The Izdeliye-51 has an endurance of 40 minutes and can carry a warhead weighing up to three kilograms. The manufacturer, ZALA Aero Group, also produces a lighter version of the Lancet, the Izdeliye-52 which has an endurance of 30 minutes and a one-kilogram warhead.
The Soviet-designed PTM-3, which contains 1,8 kg of high explosives, features a unique stamped steel body with notches in its side. The notches allow the mine to produce a shaped charge effect on five sides: four on the sides, and one on the end face. The mine has two arming stages, pyrotechnic and mechanical, meaning it needs no major modification to act as a warhead.
The Lancet flies towards the designated area with a GLONASS-aided inertial navigation system. After arriving in the area, the operator utilizes an onboard electro-optical system via a two-way data-link to detect, track and lock on the target. A laser-ranging system then controls the detonation of the warhead.
Recently, ZALA said that both the navigation and targeting systems of the loitering munition received upgrades enabling artificial intelligence features and improving resistance against jamming. The Izdeliye-51 seen in the footage is likely one of the upgraded models.
The PTM-3’s lighter weight make it a perfect pick for the Izdeliye-51 as it would help increase the range of the loitering munition.
Just last week, a Lancet managed to hit a Ukrainian radar more than 101 kilometers away from its launch point in the Kharkiv direction. This was the longest recorded strike by the system. It was very possibly carried out by an Izdeliye-51 armed with the PTM-3.
So far, Ukrainian attempts to stop the Lancet with air defense fire, electronic warfare or counter-measures have been mostly unsuccessful. The latest upgrades will likely make the system even more effective.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
