Russia’s new ZAK-30 Tsitadel anti-aircraft artillery system can shoot down drones while consuming significantly less ammunition than conventional anti-aircraft guns. In some cases, the difference is severalfold, according to state corporation Rostec, which shared details of the weapon’s performance with Izvestia.

Rostec attributes this advantage to the system’s fire-control technology combined with shells equipped with controlled detonation. Together, these features substantially reduce the amount of ammunition required to eliminate an aerial target.

The ZAK-30 Tsitadel made its public debut at the First International Security Forum in May 2026. Shortly after its unveiling, the system entered combat service against Ukrainian drones. The first publicly available footage showing the weapon in action also emerged that month.

The version presented at the exhibition was designed for stationary deployment, but the system could eventually take on other roles. Military expert Dmitry Kornev told Izvestia that he expects a mobile variant to emerge in the future. He also raised the possibility of installing the anti-aircraft weapon on warships.