Mobile fire teams of BARS-Kursk train to shoot down drones using real UAVs

Mobile fire teams belonging to the BARS-Kursk unit have been conducting training exercises aimed at improving their ability to shoot down drones, using real unmanned aerial vehicles as part of the drills, according to a company commander with the call sign Magellan.

The commander, who also serves as a senior training group instructor, said the exercises are intended to prepare anti-aircraft machine gunners for roles at air surveillance posts as well as within mobile fire teams tasked with countering drone threats.

Adapting to drone warfare

The widespread use of drones for reconnaissance and strikes has become one of the defining features of the war in Ukraine, prompting both Russian and Ukrainian forces to develop specialized countermeasures, including dedicated mobile units equipped to detect and engage drones with small arms and other weapons.

Training with live, real UAVs rather than simulated targets is intended to give personnel more realistic experience in tracking and engaging fast-moving, often small aerial targets, which can be difficult to detect and destroy using conventional air defense methods.

BARS units, a designation used for certain volunteer and reserve formations within Russia's armed forces, have been deployed in various capacities during the conflict. Further details on the specific location, timing or scale of this particular training exercise were not provided in the available report.