Ukraine’s successful use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Russian energy infrastructure is forcing Russia to seek additional measures to combat this threat. Some of these developments were showcased at the Fleet-2026 International Maritime Defence Show (IMDS) in Kronstadt. Specifically, NPO AMB LLC exhibited the Albatros mobile counter-UAV system
As a company representative explained to EDR On-Line, the Albatros system is designed to establish mobile points of layered defence against unauthorized UAV intrusion attempts. These defence points include detection, identification, tracking, target classification, and transmission of target designations to external UAV engagement systems.
Among the system’s advantages, the company representative noted its multisensor capability and autonomy, allowing it to respond only to real threats; presence of a thermal imager protection mechanism against damage from direct sunlight; per-pixel fusion of the optical and thermal imaging channels with separate data archives; the ability to combine various modules to fulfil any task and customer requirements.
The system includes target detection and recognition systems, automatic tracking, target designation, target illumination, and control with an automated operator workstation. The platform with the system installed can rise to a height of up to 8 metres deployment time is up to 20 minutes, and the system mass is 1,780 kg.
According to a company representative, the Albatros system’s optical detection range for the Ukrainian An-196 Lyuty UAV is up to 10 km. The radar station included in the Albatros system can detect UAVs with an effective radar cross-section (RCS) of 0.01 m2 at a range of up to 5 km, or a UAV with an RCS of 0.4 m2 at a range of up to 8 km, or an airframe with an RCS of 2 m2 at a range of up to 10 km.
Photo by N. Morris
