Europe has created a cheap FZ123 missile against "shahas": beats a thousand steel balls (photo)

To spread: In response to the mass use by Russia, pitchfork, European companies adapt existing UAV ammunition. Thus, Thales Belgium developed a warhead FZ123, which during the air blasting dissipates thousands of striking elements in the form of steel balls. This ammunition is designed to install a 70-mm rocket compatible with standard NO-pads. Business Insider writes in detail in its material on October 6.

FZ123 warhead contains a charge of explosive and thousands of small steel granules; During detonation, the fraction is flying a sector with a diameter of about 24 meters, which, in fact, creates a "steel cloud" to defeat small UAVs and switches. This tactic is similar to the action of a fractional cartridge, but is implemented at a range of up to several kilometers when launching from a helicopter, land starting installations or multi -barreled systems.

Combat load can be installed on a 70-mm laser rocket (for example, FZ275 LGR / FZ Thales missile family) and unmanaged versions, which makes the flexible solution for helicopters (modified Mi-8), terrestrial multi-aging facilities. According to manufacturers and exhibitions, FZ123 was first shown on European 2024, and Thales confirmed that the warhead is already being supplied and used in Ukraine. At the same time, demand from Kiev exceeds current production volumes.

FZ123 is positioned as an inexpensive solution compared to full-fledged anti-aircraft missiles: it is more expensive than drones-interceptors, but much cheaper than standard WPP rockets, and therefore serves as an intermediate economic means to protect against mass attacks of UAV. Thales Belgium representatives reported that the company plans to increase production: already declared annual release rates of up to 10,000 pieces per year.