Ukraine is deploying a newly developed counter-drone rifle round, designed to be fired from standard NATO 5.56 mm rifles such as the M4 and CZ Bren. As Forbes reported, the rounds break apart mid-flight into five fast-moving pellets, creating a shotgun-like spread capable of downing drones at up to 50 meters.

This innovation comes amid a major Russian summer offensive, where small, low-cost drones are central to identifying and targeting Ukrainian defensive positions.

Brave1 demonstrates the new rounds in action

On 30 June, Ukraine’s military tech initiative Brave1 released a video showing soldiers shooting down a small drone using the new ammunition. While technical details were not disclosed, Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi confirmed the rounds are already in limited frontline use.

When fired in rapid bursts, the rounds mimic a shotgun blast—dramatically improving the chances of hitting fast, low-flying drones.

For those wondering on how these bullets work: please check the article by United 24 Media. https://t.co/hEH0i1G40I https://t.co/YNWyENL3PD

— BRAVE1 (@BRAVE1ua) June 30, 2025

Every soldier, one magazine

Brave1 stated that production is ramping up, with the goal of supplying each soldier with one magazine of the counter-drone rounds. The design lets soldiers quickly swap magazines without switching weapons, a critical advantage under fire.

“It effectively gives each soldier the capability of a shotgun without the added burden,” writes Forbes’ tech correspondent Vikram Mittal.

Responding to Russia’s evolving drone strategy

Russia has increasingly relied on small FPV drones to scout and strike Ukrainian positions. These drones are often cheap, short-lived, and designed to evade electronic warfare systems, including fiber-optic tethered models that are immune to jamming.

Ukraine’s electronic warfare coverage is incomplete, making direct-fire solutions like the new rounds essential for soldier-level defense.

Shifting the tactical balance

According to Mittal, the rounds could disrupt Russia’s current drone-heavy tactics. If Ukrainian troops are able to shoot drones down consistently, Russian forces may have to revert to artillery strikes—which are less precise, reveal their position, and consume more resources—or risk high-casualty direct assaults without aerial support.

“These rounds may break the cat-and-mouse cycle of electronic warfare and drone evolution,” Mittal notes.

Standardized for NATO, ready for scale

The rounds have already been codified under NATO standards, signaling Ukraine’s intent to mass-produce and distribute them across the front. This marks a shift from high-tech jamming systems toward simple, kinetic, soldier-level solutions.

While success still depends on rapid visual and acoustic detection, Forbes notes that frontline footage shows soldiers often spot drones in time to react, sometimes even outrunning FPV drones.

A turning point in drone warfare

When the war began, Ukraine used large Bayraktar TB2 drones to target armored vehicles. Today, the battlefield is defined by small, inexpensive drones targeting dispersed troops. Ukraine’s new rifle rounds could force yet another evolution in drone tactics—one that returns more power to individual soldiers on the ground.

Ukraine is now fielding anti-drone bullets for NATO rifles, offering front-line troops a rapid-response tool against Russia’s increasing use of small UAVs, such as FPV and munition-dropping drones.

Ukraine introduces new bullets to fight drones with existing rifles

Brave1, Ukraine’s government-backed defense innovation grant program, published a video on 30 June showing the bullets at live-fire tests.

According to Forbes, the new rounds, fired from standard 5.56 mm NATO rifles such as the M4 and CZ Bren, fragment midair after discharge, scattering into five high-speed pellets. This shotgun-like spread enables troops to hit small drones at distances of up to 50-60 meters.

Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military outlet, reported that the bullets are already in limited operational use.

“Horoshok (an informal name for the new bullet meaning ‘pea’, – Ed.) is now in production and has been officially codified by the Ministry of Defense. With any luck, it will soon be standard issue for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, available alongside conventional ammunition,” Militarnyi wrote last week. 

The Defense Ministry has approved the design, and Brave1’s post suggests that large-scale production may follow.

“The manufacturer has already codified this development (i.e., it has been codified by the Defense Ministry, – Ed.). Our shared goal is for every infantryman to have a magazine of these rounds and be able to load them into their rifle in the event of an aerial threat,” Brave1 reported.

When a drone is detected, the soldier can swap magazines without switching weapons, saving critical seconds and avoiding the burden of carrying a separate anti-drone system, Forbes notes.

A kinetic solution to counter evolving drone threats

Ukrainian electronic warfare and air-defense systems remain active but cannot fully cover the extended front. Russia is also using UAVs designed to evade Ukrainian jamming capabilities, including short-lived but highly effective drones.

By using kinetic means instead of relying solely on jamming, these bullets may disrupt the ongoing arms race between drones and electronic warfare. Forbes highlights that Russian adaptations — like fiber-optic tethered drones immune to jamming — are pushing Ukraine to adopt direct-fire solutions.

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