DBDC INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE PUBLICATIONS & EVENTS UK LTD

MKE, the state-owned defence company operating under the Ministry of National Defence of Türkiye, has successfully completed live-fire trials of its newly developed 7.62 mm Anti-Drone Ammunition, designed to provide frontline forces with an effective and affordable capability against the rapidly growing threat posed by small unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

During the trials, aerial targets simulating hostile drones were successfully engaged and neutralised, demonstrating the ammunition’s effectiveness against mini and micro unmanned aerial vehicles used for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and one-way attack missions.

The new ammunition enables infantry personnel to rapidly counter aerial threats by simply loading magazines containing anti-drone rounds into their existing service weapons. No additional equipment, fire-control systems or weapon modifications are required, allowing standard infantry rifles and machine guns to be immediately employed as short-range counter-drone systems.

MKE has developed the ammunition in both 7.62×51 mm NATO and 7.62×39 mm calibres, ensuring compatibility with a broad range of existing weapon platforms, including assault rifles, machine guns, remotely operated weapon stations (ROWS), and vehicle-mounted weapon systems.

Unlike conventional ball ammunition, MKE’s anti-drone round is designed to mechanically open approximately five metres after leaving the barrel. Once activated, it disperses multiple specially engineered projectiles along its flight path, creating a controlled fragmentation pattern that significantly increases the probability of striking small, fast-moving and highly manoeuvrable aerial targets.

With a muzzle velocity of approximately 680 metres per second, the ammunition generates a projectile dispersion pattern measuring approximately one metre in diameter at 50 metres and two metres at 100 metres. This expanded engagement envelope substantially improves the likelihood of neutralising drone threats compared with conventional small-arms ammunition.

Because the ammunition is fully compatible with existing weapons, military forces can rapidly field an organic counter-UAS capability without costly platform upgrades, specialised training or additional integration requirements. This makes it particularly suitable for protecting military bases, critical infrastructure, border security installations and manoeuvring combat units.

The 7.62 mm round forms part of MKE’s wider counter-drone ammunition development programme. The company is currently developing additional anti-drone ammunition in 12.7 mm, 20 mm and 35 mm calibres, creating a layered family of ammunition solutions capable of engaging unmanned aerial threats across different operational ranges and mission profiles.

As the proliferation of low-cost drones continues to reshape modern battlefields, MKE’s new anti-drone ammunition offers armed forces a , rapidly deployable and cost-effective solution that transforms standard infantry weapons into effective last-line air defence systems against small UAS threats.

Video copyright: MKE