Russian forces are testing a new infantry weapon system that could influence the course of the war in Ukraine. This portable system, roughly the size of an anti-tank missile launcher, is currently undergoing field trials at a training ground in the DPR.
Named Solist, the system was developed by the KEMZ concern and is being tested under the supervision of ANO “Center Rivier,” which oversees defense innovations and monitors the progress of system trials.
The initiative bears some resemblance to a more spartan version of the U.S. DARPA programs.
System Architecture
The Solist is a hybrid precision-guided munition (PGM) that is launched to altitude using a rocket booster. During its free-fall descent, it is actively guided to its target by an operator.
Similar to FPV drone operations, the Solist is controlled via first-person view (FPV) guidance, allowing the operator to steer it precisely toward the target in real-time. The munition streams live imagery, providing continuous situational awareness throughout its flight.
FPV guidance enables the Solist to engage moving targets effectively. While primarily designed for top-attack strikes against armored vehicles, it can also be used against low-flying helicopters, UAVs, light-skinned vehicles, fortified positions, and personnel.
System Capabilities
The Solist allows the operator to be positioned up to 2km away from the launcher, reducing exposure to retaliatory counter-battery fire.
Its operational range varies between 0.8 km and 10 km, depending on launch conditions and target engagement.
While the Solist shares similarities with an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), it differs in its lofted trajectory, which extends its range and enhances its effectiveness against certain targets.
The munition itself measures 1.2 meters in length and weighs 20 kg.
Flight Characteristics
The Solist is a rocket-assisted, tube-launched precision-guided munition (PGM) that follows a lofted ballistic trajectory, somewhat akin to a mortar.
After launch, it ascends under rocket propulsion before coasting to a maximum altitude of 2 km. Once the rocket burns out, the munition enters free fall, gaining momentum before transitioning into its guided phase.
At this stage, the operator—wearing 3D goggles—steers the Solist optically toward the target, much like an FPV drone pilot guiding a drone.
A key advantage of the Solist is its ability to use widely available standard munitions, such as RPG-7 and SPG-9 warheads. These warheads—available in cumulative (HEAT), fragmentation, and thermobaric variants—allow the Solist to engage a wide range of targets, from armored vehicles to fortifications and personnel.
Launch Operations
The Solist is housed in a launch container for easy transport and deployment. To prepare for launch, the crew removes the protective covers and positions the container at the desired angle, stabilizing it with a light bipod. In its launch-ready state, the system resembles a mortar, albeit with a much larger caliber.
The operator prepares for launch much like an FPV drone pilot, wearing FPV goggles and holding a control panel to guide the munition.
Once the operator—who may be positioned up to 2 km away—is ready, the launch crew removes two safety fuses and moves to a safe distance.
Unlike a traditional mortar, the Solist generates no recoil at launch, allowing for a lightweight bipod. Additionally, there is no explosive sound at launch, enhancing its stealth characteristics.
EW Resistant
The Solist is significantly more resistant to electronic warfare and signal jamming than FPV drones. As it descends, it rapidly gains speed, allowing it to traverse jamming zones quickly and reestablish its communication link before impact.
During the final approach (endgame phase), if the Solist loses line of sight with the operator—and thus its communication link—it continues along its pre-established trajectory, ensuring it still reaches the target.
Most of the Solist’s components are produced in Russia, with stable procurement capabilities for both materials and hardware, ensuring uninterrupted production.
An operator testing the Solist told Izvestia: “We haven’t seen anything like this before—something this portable for infantry. In terms of cost, it falls into the category of disposable grenade launchers. Essentially, it’s a consumable weapon, mass-produced in the hundreds of thousands.”
Operational Use
Once deployed, the Solist will complement mortars and anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs), addressing their limitations in challenging terrain.
ATGMs struggle in undulating landscapes and dense forests, where line-of-sight restrictions make targeting difficult. Mortar fire, while effective, requires constant adjustment and corrections, which can also be challenging in such environments.
With its FPV guidance system, the Solist offers a high single-shot kill (SSK) capability, ensuring precision strikes even in complex terrain.
Battlefield Innovations Gather Momentum
Both Ukraine and Russia are rapidly innovating to enhance the single-shot kill (SSK) capability of their weapon systems.
Both nations are leveraging AI-powered machine vision to make drones more resistant to electronic warfare (EW) and developing fiber-optic cable-controlled FPV drones to bypass jamming.
Recent Russian drone innovations include FPV drones with machine vision, drone motherships, and fiber-optic cable-guided drones.
One notable example is the Ovat-S drone, also known as “Ovod” or “Gadfly” in English. This FPV kamikaze drone was developed to meet the evolving battlefield requirements of Russian forces.
Equipped with an onboard computer and neural network-based AI, the Ovat-S uses machine vision to identify and track targets autonomously. Once commanded to attack, the drone locks onto the target and homes using machine vision, ensuring high-precision strikes.
You can read more about the Ovat-S drone here.
The use of drone motherships allows FPV drones to be deployed deeper into enemy territory, significantly extending their strike range. These motherships serve as both carriers and communication relays, enabling more effective coordination and control over long distances.
For a detailed analysis of drone motherships, you can read more here.
In August 2024, Russia introduced fiber-optic cable-controlled FPV drones designed to be highly resistant to electronic jamming.
One of the most successful models, the Prince Vandal Novgorodsky (KVN) FPV kamikaze drone, has proven its effectiveness in combat. In response to battlefield demand, Russia is now scaling up production of KVN drones to enhance their deployment and impact.
For a detailed analysis of the KVN drone, you can read more here.
Conclusion
The Solist, a hybrid between a rocket and a drone, is designed to be both cost-effective and easily integrated into existing battlefield logistics.
By leveraging the widespread availability of trained FPV drone pilots and standard munitions—which can be repurposed as warheads—it significantly reduces operational costs. Notably, the Solist is almost entirely composed of Russian-made components, ensuring stable production and supply.
While it remains to be seen when and if the Solist will be operationally deployed, its ongoing trials demonstrate Russia’s continued innovation in guided munitions.
Regardless of the trial outcomes, the Solist is yet another step toward increasing the precision and effectiveness of guided weaponry on the battlefield.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.
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