Russia tests multi-bullet AK-12 ammunition that splits in flight to strike small drones

According to the report, the cartridge keeps several elements together before firing and then splits them apart while the round travels toward its aerial target. The arrangement has been compared with a Matryoshka doll, because multiple components sit inside one projectile before separating. Military expert Yury Knutov said the design is intended for troops who may encounter drones without access to specialized firearms. "Our specialists have made bullets that separate into several parts, which are used against drones," Knutov said. "You just need two magazines, one loaded with regular bullets, the other with these special multi-bullets."

Pervy Tekhnichesky reported in April that Kalashnikov Concern had developed and tested the ammunition as a possible option for engaging small drones. The reported trials covered individual shots and bursts, giving an initial assessment of how the multi-part projectile performed against unmanned aircraft. Some of the separated elements reached batteries, electronic boards and power-related components during those tests, according to the report. Those parts are central to drone operation, which relates directly to the cartridge's intended use against aerial targets. The ammunition is being developed around small unmanned aircraft rather than as a general replacement for ordinary rifle rounds.

Its performance against people differs. Body armor reduces the cartridge's penetrating effect, and hitting an exposed area would still depend on accurate placement of the separated elements. That distinction keeps the round's stated purpose on small aerial targets rather than conventional engagements with protected ground personnel.

TechRadar reported that internal testing showed components reaching internal drone parts, but that result does not establish how the ammunition performs across a battlefield. Drone warfare has kept expanding during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and new countermeasures continue to appear from both sides of the front line. Military analysts regularly propose solutions on paper, while battlefield conditions often expose weaknesses that laboratory testing cannot anticipate. The multi-bullet's theoretical advantages still require combat validation, and its reliability and effectiveness in battle cannot be determined until Russian forces use the ammunition extensively under real combat pressure. Independent verification remains necessary before military observers can assess whether the technology delivers a meaningful battlefield advantage.