For the First Time, the Export Variant “Lancet-E” Makes Its Debut at Army Forum 2024

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — International clients interested in acquiring Russia’s Lancet loitering munition, which has proven its effectiveness in the conflict in Ukraine and is considered one of the most “feared” Russian weapon systems by Ukrainian soldiers, now have the opportunity to do so.

At the ongoing Army 2024 International Military-Technical Forum in Moscow, ROSOBORONEXPORT JSC (a subsidiary of Rostec) unveiled the export variant of this renowned loitering munition, named Lancet-E.

The Lancet-E export system consists of the Z-16-E reconnaissance drone and two loitering munitions, the 51-E and 52-E, which differ primarily in terms of range and maximum take-off weight (MTOW).

“The unveiling of the Lancet-E export variant at Army 2024 marks the beginning of ROSOBORONEXPORT’s global marketing campaign for this advanced weapon system.”

“This weapon system has demonstrated its effectiveness on the battlefield and its ability to engage a wide range of targets, including various types of armored vehicles, fortifications, and ground targets,” said ROSOBORONEXPORT’s Director General, Alexander Mikheev, in a statement to Defence Security Asia.

 

Mikheev also estimated that more than 1,000 Lancet-E loitering munitions could potentially be exported to interested clients outside of Russia, given the system’s proven battlefield effectiveness.

“We are confident that once the needs of the Russian Armed Forces are met, any available production capacity will enable us to fulfill demands from external clients,” Mikheev added.

Furthermore, the Director General stated that ROSOBORONEXPORT is actively offering cooperation with partners in the form of licensing and joint production at their facilities as part of a broader technological collaboration.

In addition to the Lancet-E export variant, ROSOBORONEXPORT has also successfully marketed the export variant of the Kub-E loitering munition, developed by Rostec and the Kalashnikov Group.

“The Orlan-10E, Orlan-30, and Orion-E unmanned aerial systems (for reconnaissance and strike missions) are also in high demand among international clients.”

 

ROSOBORONEXPORT offers solutions for all warfare domains, including unmanned surface vessels, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV), and Ground Robotics Systems.

The Lancet loitering munition was developed by ZALA Aero, a subsidiary of Kalashnikov Concern, the same company responsible for the globally renowned AK-47 assault rifle.

The Lancet loitering munition is highly feared by Ukrainian forces, and it has become even more lethal after being upgraded by its manufacturer with Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities.

Previously, the Lancet was remotely controlled by Russian soldiers, but recent reports suggest that the drone now operates autonomously without human intervention, thanks to its AI capabilities.

In essence, the ZALA Aero-manufactured Lancet loitering munition can now detect, identify, and strike its targets independently, without any input or control from its operator.

 

Between February 2022 and December 2023, Russian forces deployed a total of 872 Lancet loitering munitions, which successfully destroyed 698 Ukrainian targets.

ZALA Aero, the Russian company that developed the Lancet, stated that the system has achieved an 80 percent success rate, destroying 80 percent of the Ukrainian military targets out of the 872 drones deployed since the conflict between the two neighboring countries began during this period. – DSA