Russia’s 57mm 2A90 Cannon Seen as Stronger Tool Against Small Drones
Analysts say Russia’s 57mm 2A90 cannon on Derivatsiya-PVO, using programmable shells, can hit small drones more effectively than 30mm guns at up to 6 km.
Russia’s 57mm 2A90 automatic cannon, now being fitted to the promising Derivatsiya-PVO system, is well suited for countering small unmanned aerial vehicles, according to analysts from the Military Chronicle Telegram channel.
The analysts said the 57mm round has clear advantages over 30mm ammunition in several key areas, including the production of programmable shells, fragment dispersion density, engagement altitude and effective range.
According to the report, the 57mm caliber makes it easier to fit a programmable fuse inside the projectile. It also allows the shell to carry more explosive material and create a dense fragmentation field at distances of up to 6 kilometers, giving it the ability to hit small aerial targets.
Military Chronicle noted that 30mm cannons cannot operate against such targets with the same effectiveness at comparable ranges.
At the same time, the authors pointed to the limitations of systems built around this type of weapon. Combat modules based on the 2A91 are heavy and generate strong recoil, which means they cannot be mounted on light armored vehicles.