“Its total weight is approximately 14.5 kilograms.”, — write: www.unian.ua
Its total weight is approximately 14.5 kilograms.
The system is credited with a working range of more than 40 kilometers / illustrative photo ua.depositphotos.comRussia presented the KUB-2-2E barrage munition at the UMEX 2026 exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The system demonstrates Moscow’s desire to bring high-precision, mid-range strike drones to market as barrage munitions change today’s procurement priorities.
According to the publication Army Recognition, technically, the KUB-2-2E is described as a medium-class guided barrage munition with a total weight of approximately 14.5 kilograms. It carries a 4.6 kilogram thermobaric warhead, a type of payload typically associated with increased effectiveness against personnel in open terrain, within field fortifications, or inside unarmored and lightly armored vehicles.
It is noted that the system is credited with an operating range of over 40 kilometers and a maximum flight duration of over 25 minutes, which provides operators with sufficient time to reach the target area and conduct a limited barrage before combat action. The launch is carried out using a catapult, which allows it to be used without prepared infrastructure and supports decentralized operations.
The publication explained that published data on the characteristics of the KUB-2-2E indicate a flight speed of 120 to 150 km/h, with a maximum flight height of more than 2,000 meters. Guidance options include strikes to pre-programmed GNSS coordinates, as well as GPS-independent modes based on electro-optical and automatic optoelectronic guidance.
This combination is designed to support both pre-planned missions and strikes against time-sensitive or moving targets while maintaining effectiveness in environments where satellite navigation may be degraded. Control of the system is assigned to a three-person combat team, reflecting a structured approach to mission planning, launch control, and target observation or evaluation.
KUB-2-2E occupies an intermediate position between small short-range barrage munitions and larger attack UAVs launched from vehicles. The strategic importance of the KUB-2-2E presentation at UMEX 2026 lies in the export-oriented nature of the event.
“The presentation of the KUB-2-2E at UMEX 2026 highlights the continued development of mid-range barrage munitions as standard items in today’s arsenals. With a 4.6 kilogram thermobaric payload, a claimed range of over 40 kilometers, multiple guidance modes including GPS-independent options, and a launch concept suitable for distributed operations, the system reflects a wider trends shaping the capabilities of unmanned precision strikes. Its appearance in Abu Dhabi underscores that such weapons are now central to discussions about future tactical and operational effectiveness within the global defense landscape,” the paper writes.
At the same time, Defense Express added that, judging by the described capabilities, the “Kub-2-2E” probably has 3 options for targeting at once: according to the coordinates known in advance on a stationary target, manual control by the operator through the camera, and “autonomous optical-electronic guidance”, which obviously indicates the presence of pre-targeting or artificial intelligence.
Other interesting materials about weaponsAs UNIAN reported, experts estimated that the Frankenburg Mk 1 anti-aircraft missile, which reaches a length of only 65 cm, as the developer declares, can intercept not only Shahed-type propeller drones, but also jet drones moving at speeds of 450-600 km/h.
In view of the search for a solution against the Russian Geran-3 and Geran-4 jet drones, as well as the Geran-5, which is objectively a cruise missile, this is a very important application. The Estonian company Frankenburg Technologies positions its solution as a cheap and massive means of destroying such targets.
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