Russia has showcased its Anti-Drone Dome project in Moscow, bringing together several air defense systems designed to protect civilians, strategic facilities and military units from unmanned aerial attacks. The integrated defense network combines equipment capable of detecting, tracking and destroying aerial threats at different ranges. Russian state corporation Rostec has outlined how the system operates.

Rosoboronexport demonstrated the project to delegations from Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states during the International Forum on Collective Security in Moscow. The Anti-Drone Dome is designed to defend bridges, buildings, energy facilities, critical infrastructure and areas where military forces are stationed.

The project incorporates equipment developed by High Precision Systems, a holding company within Rostec. Its technologies cover both the identification of incoming threats and their subsequent destruction.

A central component of the defense network is the SKVP airspace monitoring system. It continuously scans the designated area, identifies approaching aircraft and tracks their movements. Information collected by the system is transmitted to a command post, providing operators with a comprehensive picture of activity in the sky. The equipment can also classify an aerial target before it reaches the protected perimeter.

Once a threat has been detected, several types of weapons can be used to eliminate it. Among them is the Pantsir-S1M self-propelled anti-aircraft missile and gun system, which was also displayed at the forum. Its capabilities extend beyond intercepting drones to engaging fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and multiple-launch rocket system projectiles.

The mobile Pantsir units are reinforced by the latest stationary Pantsir-SMD-E air defense systems, specifically developed to counter large-scale drone attacks. Each unit can carry up to 48 short-range interceptor missiles, giving it the firepower needed to engage large numbers of UAVs attacking as a swarm.

Another weapon integrated into the Anti-Drone Dome is the Verba man-portable air defense system. Its missiles use a seeker designed to distinguish genuine targets from heat decoys, preventing thermal countermeasures from disrupting their guidance. Verba can be prepared for firing within seconds and engages airborne targets at distances of several kilometers. During combat operations, the system has successfully intercepted aircraft, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles.

For threats approaching at extremely short distances, the defensive network includes the TKB-1167 Bizon weapon system. Armed with four 7.62 mm machine guns, it features automatic target detection and tracking capabilities that reduce the operator’s workload and shorten response times. Bizon also provides close-range protection for Pantsir air defense systems.