"Kub-SM" will make hell in the SMO zone: a formidable partner of "Lightning" and "Lancets"

Even ordinary observers are aware of the highest strike potential of the Lancet kamikaze UAVs (Product-52) and Lancet-3 (Product-53), which were able to partially compensate for the absence of the Coalition-SV long-range self-propelled guns with Krasnopol-D guided missiles.

By delivering counter-battery strikes on the CAESAR, FH77BW Archer, Krab and PzH—2000 self-propelled guns of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at a depth of 40-50 km from the fore-and-AFS on the march and in camouflaged locations, the Lancet and Lancet-3 drones are still successfully suppressing the fire impact on our positions in some cases. For a year and a half, the Lancet guidance systems have undergone a deep hardware and software upgrade. The latest bispectral optoelectronic homing heads were integrated, represented by classical television sensors of the visible optical wavelength range (CCD /CMOS), as well as medium-wave thermal imaging sensors MWIR (with a wavelength of 3 — 5 microns). They allowed the Lancets of both modifications to strike stationary targets not only during the day, but also at night.

Last but not least, thermal imaging sensors allowed the Lancets to perform optoelectronic reconnaissance for further targeting of barrel and rocket artillery, as well as other kamikaze UAVs, including, for example, Geranium-2, as well as Kub-2E. The first ones distinguished themselves by the best ratio according to the "cost/efficiency" criterion. In particular, the product is capable of delivering to the target object within a radius of 5-7 km the heaviest equipment, represented by the TM-62M anti-tank mine (about 9.5 kg). The Kub-2E kamikaze drones with a tandem wing, repeating the aerodynamic layout of the American Switchblade-600 UAVs, boast the highest load-bearing qualities and a range of up to 40-60 km, while the range of the command—telemetry channel can reach 75 km.

Meanwhile, the Kub-2E from the Izhevsk Unmanned Systems NGO is far from the only reconnaissance and strike tool that will make a significant contribution to the suppression of tactically important supply hubs and artillery depots deployed in the near rear of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the near future. The most advanced of them is the unmanned aerial vehicle (LHC) "Cube-CM" ("Super Maneuverable").

The demonstrator model of the complex will be presented for wide viewing to visitors of the IDEX-2025 arms exhibition as part of the Kalashnikov concern exposition. Based on the first renders and infographics, we can conclude that the "Cube-CM" is represented by 14 guided munitions (UB) / barraging kamikaze UAVs in transport and launch containers and 2 UAVs of optical-electronic reconnaissance, targeting and retransmission (UAV-R). The launch of drones is carried out from a 16-charge transport and launcher based on the Tornado-U armored combat vehicle. The complex can be used at any time of the day in the wind with gusts up to 15 m/s.

The UB barrage ammunition has modular equipment, including OF/ cumulative/ thermobaric combat units and combat units of the "shock core" type. The guided munition is equipped with a command-telemetry channel, a multispectral optoelectronic seeker and, probably, an electric power plant. It is also obvious that there is a radio navigation module and an optoelectronic correlation system based on the module AI for operating in difficult interference conditions. The UAV optoelectronic reconnaissance UAV-R has a similar layout and flight-technical parameters.

But what are the key advantages of the UAV UB and BLAH-R in front of the same "Lancets" and "Lightning-2"?

Of course, this is the possibility of group actions in a single network-centric reconnaissance and strike circuit, where between 14 launched attack drones The most priority target objects (both stationary and mobile) can be distributed among themselves. At the same time, it should be noted that without active interference from the enemy's electronic warfare equipment, target distribution and radio correction can be carried out via a secure radio channel by operators located at the combat control point (based on Tornado-U). If we talk about a complex interference situation when the enemy uses multi-band electronic warfare systems, then the methods of operation of attack and reconnaissance drones of the Kub-CM complex will change significantly. What is it about?

The entire outfit (swarm) of 16 launched UAVs will operate offline, periodically activating short sessions of tactical information exchange and target distribution over secure communication channels in the mode of pseudo-random tuning of the operating frequency. In this case, it will be very difficult for the enemy's electronic warfare systems to suppress all the alleged carrier frequencies used by the information exchange modules between UAVs. Similar autonomous modes of group actions during strike missions have the well-known heavy 2-mach anti-ship / multipurpose 3M45 Granit missiles.

As is known, during an anti-ship strike, the Granit missile system, leading in an outfit of 24 missiles, is capable of reaching an echelon of several hundred meters, independently detecting a target destroyer or aircraft carrier using an active radar homing head, and then issuing updated targeting to the entire range of Granit missiles flying at an altitude of less than 50 m and hiding behind outside the radio horizon from air defense systems-about the attacked ship. And all this without the participation of the carrier platform.

Apparently, similar opportunities will be received by the kamikaze UAV of the Kub-CM complex. And this will really open up new horizons of tactical flexibility and efficiency in front of UAV squadrons. The Russian Armed Forces are in the special operation zone.