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WDS 2026: Russia’s Kalashnikov Debuts RUS-PE Portable Reconnaissance Strike Loitering Munition.
Russia is using the World Defence Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia to introduce the RUS-PE portable reconnaissance and strike system, its first domestically produced containerized loitering munition. The debut signals Moscow’s intent to expand exports of autonomous strike systems to the Middle East amid growing regional demand for cost-effective precision weapons.
The Russian pavilion at World Defence Show 2026 in Riyadh is hosting the world debut of the RUS-PE portable reconnaissance and strike system, as reported by Rosoboronexport and the Kalashnikov Group and observed on site by Army Recognition. The system was first announced on 2 February in an official Kalashnikov communication aimed at Middle Eastern customers, with Rosoboronexport describing RUS-PE as Russia’s first domestically manufactured containerized loitering munition and one of the flagship premieres of World Defence Show 2026, held from 8 to 12 February.
Russia has unveiled the RUS-PE portable reconnaissance and strike system at World Defence Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia, marking the first domestic Russian debut of a containerized loitering munition aimed at Middle Eastern defense markets (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group)
RUS-PE is described by its manufacturer as a man-portable reconnaissance and strike solution built around guided munitions launched from a compact container. The system is intended for rapid, precise engagement of individual or grouped enemy targets, whether stationary or on the move, at the tactical level. According to Rosoboronexport, RUS-PE occupies a central place in the Russian loitering-munition line-up showcased in Riyadh and is positioned as a major world premiere in this segment, underlining Moscow’s ambition to offer an export-ready, containerized system to partners in the region.
At the heart of the system is the guided munition itself, an X-wing air vehicle carrying a 1 kg or 2 kg warhead, depending on the version selected by the customer. The munition integrates a warhead section, control systems and a homing head for terminal guidance. It is launched pneumatically from a sealed transport and launch container, eliminating the need for external boosters and simplifying handling in the field. Once airborne, the munition transitions to cruise, with performance figures released by Russian sources indicating a cruising speed of around 140 km/h, a top speed approaching 200 km/h and an endurance of up to 30 minutes, parameters that place it in the category of compact loitering munitions designed for short-range, high-precision tasks.
The homing head is presented as a key differentiator for RUS-PE. It features a dual-channel, gyro-stabilized optical system and is linked to onboard processing that uses artificial intelligence algorithms to detect and classify both stationary and moving ground targets. This seeker enables three distinct modes of operation: fully autonomous, semi-autonomous and manual. In practice, the operator can designate an area or a specific object, allow the munition to independently track and home on the target, or retain direct control until impact. The use of AI at the seeker level is intended to reduce operator workload and shorten the sensor-to-shooter cycle, while maintaining the possibility of human supervision over the final engagement.
From an employment perspective, RUS-PE is designed to be carried and used by a single soldier. The basic package, as described by Kalashnikov representatives, includes a launch container with two guided munitions and an operator control unit with communication equipment. The operator deploys the container, launches a munition pneumatically, and then uses the data link and optical feed to search for and engage targets. Typical tasks include neutralizing firing positions, light vehicles, command posts or small groups of personnel beyond line of sight, in support of infantry or mechanized units. The system is conceived for around-the-clock operation and is qualified for a wide range of environmental conditions, with Kalashnikov officials indicating that it can be employed between −40°C and +50°C, in dusty or smoky atmospheres and with ground wind speeds up to 15 m/s, a profile consistent with expected use in Middle Eastern theatres.
Rosoboronexport has underlined that RUS-PE is not only portable but also designed for integration into wider fire-support architectures. On the eve of the show, the company’s CEO indicated that work is underway to link the munition with fire control systems of armored vehicles to increase their engagement envelope. This would allow an infantry fighting vehicle or other armored platform to launch RUS-PE munitions against targets beyond the reach or line of sight of its main gun, effectively extending its strike radius without major structural modifications. The same official emphasized that RUS-PE’s warhead and seeker configuration were conceived to allow autonomous use, reinforcing the system’s role as a self-contained precision strike asset.
Information released during World Defence Show 2026 also points to imminent serial production. A Kalashnikov representative in Riyadh has stated that RUS-PE guided munitions are scheduled to enter series manufacturing in the near future, reflecting the concern’s assessment that compact, relatively low-cost loitering munitions with autonomous guidance are becoming a standard tool in contemporary land operations. This messaging is consistent with the company’s broader narrative that leading arms producers are focusing on small, simple means of destruction that can be fielded in large numbers at unit level.
RUS-PE is showcased in Riyadh alongside other Russian loitering munitions and unmanned systems. Rosoboronexport’s stand features the KUB-2E loitering munition integrated with the Skat-350M UAV, which provides reconnaissance, target designation and relay functions, as well as the Lancet-E reconnaissance-and-strike system combining a Z-16-E UAV with loitering munitions produced by ZALA. Together, these systems illustrate the evolution of Russian industry towards layered unmanned strike complexes, with RUS-PE positioned as a portable option at the lower tactical echelon, complementing larger, vehicle-borne or UAV-launched munitions.
Kalashnikov’s communication ahead of the show explicitly framed the unveiling as aimed at the Middle Eastern market, which has seen a marked increase in demand for loitering munitions and tactical drones in recent years. World Defence Show, founded by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, places particular emphasis in its 2026 edition on unmanned systems and integrated defense solutions, providing a platform for Russian manufacturers to present export versions of systems that have been deployed in recent conflicts. For regional customers, RUS-PE is presented as a system that can be supplied as a stand-alone package or potentially integrated into local command-and-control architectures, with scope for technology partnerships highlighted by Rosoboronexport.
Beyond the technical description, the debut of RUS-PE at World Defence Show 2026 illustrates the broader trend of rapid proliferation of loitering munitions equipped with increasingly capable sensors and onboard processing. Conflicts over the past decade, including the war in Ukraine and various crises in the Middle East, have demonstrated how such systems can be used for precision strikes, harassment of rear areas and psychological effect, often at lower cost and with greater flexibility than traditional artillery or air-delivered munitions. RUS-PE, with its combination of compact form factor, AI-assisted seeker and relatively small warhead, fits into this pattern as one more example of how states are seeking to equip small units with their own autonomous strike capability, while keeping human operators in the decision loop.
As World Defence Show 2026 continues in Riyadh, the RUS-PE system will be formally presented at the Rosoboronexport stand in Hall 3, with briefings scheduled as part of the Russian company’s business program. Against a backdrop of expanding unmanned portfolios and intensifying competition in the loitering munitions market, the appearance of this portable, containerized system signals Kalashnikov’s intention to remain an active player in the export segment for AI-enabled tactical strike weapons. For potential customers, the coming months will clarify not only the performance of RUS-PE in trials and demonstrations, but also the industrial and cooperation frameworks under which it might be acquired and integrated into national force structures.