ZALA Kub-BLA

Kub-BLA (in Russian: Куб-БЛА, also advertised as Kub-UAV) is a Russian high-precision unmanned aerial vehicle and loitering munition developed by the Russian company ZALA Aero Group (part of Kalashnikov Concern).

Kub-BLA
Kub-BLA loitering munition
Type	Loitering munition
Place of origin	Russian Federation
Service history
Used by	Russian Armed Forces
Wars	Syrian civil war Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designer	ZALA Aero Group
Manufacturer	ZALA Aero Group
Produced	2019-present[1]
Specifications
Maximum speed	130 km/h

Description

Kub-BLA was first unveiled by Kalashnikov during IDEX-2019 exhibition in Abu-Dhabi. The report notes that after launch, the drone can loiter in the air, detecting a target, and then attack it from the upper hemisphere with a vertical dive.^[2] "Kub-BLA" delivers a payload according to target coordinates, which are set manually, or according to an image from the target guidance load. In addition, the drone can be used in swarm mode.^[3] A new version with a more powerful warhead begun to be supplied in late December 2023.^[4]

Combat use

The drone was used against targets in the Idlib Governorate during Syrian civil war, as well as during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv.^[3] In May 2022 footage of an attack on a M777 howitzer by a Kub drone was posted by the Russian Ministry of Defence.^[5]

According to Lostarmour project, there have been at least 44 documented uses of Kub drones as of December 2023.

Technical characteristics

Specifications:^[6][2]

• Wingspan - 1210 mm
• Length - 950 mm
• Height - 165 mm
• Payload capacity - 3 kg
• Speed - 80-130 km/h
• Flight duration - 30 minutes