Reference News Network, July 6 report: An article titled "The 'Pine' Intercept Drone: Launch and Forget, the Rest It Completes on Its Own - What Are the Advantages of Russian Drones?" was published in the Russian newspaper on July 4, authored by Yevgeny Kuzmichev. The following is an excerpt:

Small, fast, and accurate. These three words can be used to describe Russia's latest "Pine" intercept drone. It has been successfully applied in the special military operation since 2024.

The "Pine" can be called the first mass-produced "miniature" air defense drone model. This intercept drone is convenient for carrying, and it can be quickly launched toward the direction of incoming targets when facing threats from enemy drones.

After that, the "Pine" will complete everything on its own. This intercept drone operates on a "launch and forget" principle, similar to portable air defense missile systems. Its design is to destroy targets with kinetic energy. Unlike its "elders," the "Pine" does not explode near the target and cover it with shrapnel. Instead, it collides with the target drone at high speed, causing it to deviate from its course and destroying it with its own mass.

The reinforced body of the "Pine" serves as the warhead, performing the collision function. Once it hits the drone, there is no chance left for the latter.

The "Pine" is fast and highly maneuverable. With these characteristics, along with an advanced interception and tracking system that includes artificial intelligence elements, it has proven to be an efficient interceptor in the area of the special military operation.

A handheld, reusable launcher is used to launch this drone. Any soldier can aim at the target and launch this drone. All units, including marines, are actively using the "Pine" drone.

There are many video clips online showing how the "Pine" destroys aerial targets. Soldiers point the interceptor at the drone, and the launch is carried out in automatic mode, thanks to computer vision and built-in artificial intelligence algorithms.

Although enemy drones try to maneuver to avoid, the "Pine" drone uses its high speed to catch up with the aerial target and collide with it. The "Pine" can almost deal with all enemy drones. It can shoot down the heavy six-axis "Baba-Yaga" drone, first-person view (FPV) drones, reconnaissance drones, various fixed-wing drones, and loitering munitions. In addition, this interceptor has also been used against fiber-optic guided FPV drones, which are a serious threat on the battlefield. Despite their low altitude, the "Pine" can still shoot them down.

The "Pine" also made an appearance at the Victory Day parade this year. Video shows that a security personnel equipped with this drone was on guard near the VIPs.

The configuration of the "Pine" resembles another Russian drone, the "Kamikaze." It adopts a aerodynamic layout with a central fuselage and two X-shaped wings. Therefore, it can maneuver unconditionally in all axes, especially in the terminal phase of intercepting targets.

All wings are rigidly fixed, without movable control surfaces; control is achieved through the thrust of four traction motors located at the rear of the fuselage. This layout provides good maneuverability and high-speed stability, and is also very compact during storage and transportation.

The performance parameters of the drone are confidential. According to experts' data, the "Pine" can reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h, allowing it not only to intercept airborne targets coming directly towards it but also to pursue targets. Most fixed-wing or rotorcraft drones targeted by the "Pine" have speeds between 80 to 140 km/h. The operational range of this drone interceptor can reach 3 kilometers. It is also capable of destroying targets at an altitude of 2 kilometers. (Translated/Wei Lianglei)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7523793252688970281/

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