Kalashnikov has unveiled a new long-range kamikaze drone named Klub-10E, which is likely to have a significant impact on the course of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. The drone will significantly increase the threat to Ukrainian forces and infrastructure.
In an interview with TASS, Kalashnikov CEO Alan Lushnikov stated, “We have developed several new products in the Cube line. The permits for one of them are already ready, so I can tell you briefly about our new product. This is the Kub-10E strike drone. It is designed to destroy enemy unarmored military equipment and armored personnel carriers, command posts, air defense and missile defense facilities, electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare, and rear support facilities.”
The Klub-10E is relatively large in size. A video released by Kalashnikov shows Kub-BLA drones being launched alongside a Klub-10E using catapults. Based on the relative sizes of the drones and their catapults, the Klub-10E could be approximately five times larger in volume compared to the Kub-BLA.
Both the Klub-10E and its predecessor, the Kub-BLA, are kamikaze drones, but they differ significantly in terms of strike range and payload capability.
The Kub-BLA is a high-precision loitering munition designed to target ground and sea-based threats with lethal accuracy. It can hover over the battlefield, locate targets, and strike with precision. The Kub-BLA, also known as the KUB-E, has a range of up to approximately 40 kilometers and can carry up to 3 kilograms of sensors and explosive warheads.
The Kub-BLA features a compact and efficient tailless design with cranked delta wings. The design is optimized for stealth and maneuverability but not for range.
Kalashnikov developed the Klub-10E to engage targets at much longer ranges. In addition to battlefield targets, the Klub-10E is designed to strike deeper behind enemy lines. These targets include rear support facilities, combat and support units, field warehouses storing ammunition and fuel, UAV launch sites, and aircraft stationed at airfields.
According to Kalashnikov, the drone has undergone battle testing, which is why we have had puzzling reports of Russian kamikaze drone strikes deep inside Ukraine.
However, the company has not disclosed the exact range or payload capacity, only stating, “The flight range and combat power of the new guided munition significantly exceed the indicators of previous models of the line.”
Based on its size and aerodynamically efficient design, the Klub-10E could potentially have a range of several hundred kilometers. Its large, straight wings would have a high lift coefficient, suggesting its range could rival or surpass that of the Geran-2 drones.
Design & Aerodynamics
The Klub-10E features a (gasoline?) power plant with a pusher propeller mounted atop the fuselage at the wing roots. The front fuselage connects to the tail unit via a low-mounted boom attached to the fuselage bottom.
Directional stability and control comes from tailplane tips mounted twin all-moving rudders. This twin-rudder arrangement ensures the pusher propeller has an unobstructed slipstream.
Pitch control is likely managed by a combination of full-span ailerons and elevators. Aerodynamically, the Klub-10E appears relatively stealthy, although perhaps less so than the Geran-2. The non-stealthy engine and propeller are shielded by a voluminous front fuselage that likely accommodates a larger warhead than the Geran-2.
Guidance & Navigation
The Kub-BLA can autonomously strike targets using pre-programmed coordinates or an optical seeker loaded with target images. It typically relies on satellite navigation systems such as GPS or GLONASS but can switch to inertial navigation in case of satellite jamming.
Inertial navigation uses motion sensors and gyroscopes to calculate position, velocity, and orientation without external references.
Similarly, the Klub-10E employs a combination of satellite and inertial navigation for precise targeting. It currently doesn’t incorporate an optical sensor, likely because target recognition isn’t critical when striking static targets with geographical spread deep in the interiors.
The drone can operate in diverse weather conditions, including wind gusts up to 15 m/s and within temperature ranges of -30°C to +40°C. The drone cruises at 100 km/h, with operational altitudes ranging from 100 to 2,500 meters.
Conclusion
Russia appears to have developed the Klub-10E to address limitations in the Geran-2 drone, which is based on the Iranian Shahed-136 platform. These limitations include a smaller warhead and the use of Western-origin components that require substitution through alternate sourcing.
The Klub-10E’s aerodynamic design allows for seamless upgrades, such as embedded optical sensors that could add surveillance without compromising stealth. The Klub-10E likely utilizes domestically manufactured subsystems, facilitating faster upgrades and production scaling.
It is likely that Russia will continue advancing its drone technology, producing upgraded versions of the Geran-2 while deploying the Klub-10E in greater numbers to reinforce its operational capabilities.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.
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