Russia is developing a new anti-aircraft system called Citadel, which is intended to protect ports and oil refineries from attacks by enemy drones. This was reported by military expert Yuri Knutov, director of the Air Defense Forces Museum.
According to him, the announced anti-drone air defense system Citadel consists of an automatic cannon, a radar station and an electro-optical module.
Knutov explained that when a drone appears in the air, the electro-optical station locks onto the target. After that, the system opens fire with a programmable shell, which explodes near the drone and releases shrapnel that destroys the target. The system then immediately switches to the next object.
The expert noted that this operating principle will allow Russian forces to counter entire «drone swarms» that Ukraine plans to use in the future for massive strikes on Russian rear civilian and energy infrastructure facilities.