Russia’s New 2S38 57mm Air Defense Gun Appears as U.S. SGT Stout and German Skyranger Advance.

The war in Ukraine has intensified the requirement for mobile air defenses capable of countering reconnaissance drones, attack drones, and loitering munitions without relying exclusively on surface-to-air missiles. Russia’s 2S38 Derivatsiya-PVO, reportedly seen during the recent Center-2026 military exercise, is intended to address that requirement with a 57 mm automatic cannon and controlled-detonation ammunition. Its military relevance lies in providing ground forces with an additional close-range engagement option, as repeated drone attacks place pressure on defensive coverage and ammunition stocks.

Russia’s 2S38 Derivatsiya-PVO self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, armed with a 57 mm automatic cannon, reportedly pictured during the Center-2026 military exercise. (Photo credit: © LexKitaev via La Souris X account )

A picture published on the La Souris X account on October 20, 2026, identifies the vehicle at Center-2026 and credits photographer LexKitaev. Independent verification of its exercise activities is lacking, and the available material does not establish whether it conducted live firing or intercepted aerial targets. The reported appearance nevertheless brings renewed attention to a Russian anti-aircraft program whose intended mission has become increasingly relevant during the fighting in Ukraine.

The 2S38 first appeared publicly in presentation materials at the Army-2017 military exhibition. The Burevestnik Central Research Institute first publicly showed an actual prototype in January 2018, before it appeared at Army-2018 in Kubinka that August. The program therefore predates Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Center-2026 representing a reported later appearance rather than its public debut.

Related Topic: Rostec Pushes to Accelerate Delivery of 2S38 Anti-Aircraft Vehicle to Russian Forces for Ukraine Deployment

Developed specifically for anti-aircraft missions, Derivatsiya-PVO combines a BMP-3 tracked chassis with a remotely operated turret armed with a 57 mm automatic cannon. The vehicle is intended to accompany mechanized formations, allowing local air-defense coverage to move as troops reposition. This mobility could help protect assembly areas, artillery positions, and support elements, depending on the number of vehicles available and how they integrate with other defenses.

According to specifications published by Russian state news agency TASS, the approximately 21.5-ton amphibious vehicle fires up to 120 rounds per minute and has an advertised maximum engagement range of 6 kilometers, with an engagement altitude reaching 4.5 kilometers. It is intended to target drones and cruise missiles at close range, while the cannon also provides a secondary capability against ground targets. These figures describe stated performance limits, not a demonstrated interception envelope against small drones in combat.

The choice of a 57 mm weapon is central to the design. Its larger projectile allows more space for explosive and fragmentation payloads than smaller-caliber rounds, while controlled-detonation ammunition is intended to burst near an aerial target and distribute fragments along its flight path. This reduces dependence on a direct impact, but successful interception still requires precise tracking, accurate fire-control calculations, and reliable fuze operation.

The vehicle’s published configuration uses passive electro-optical equipment for surveillance and target tracking, reducing reliance on an onboard search radar and its associated emissions. Weather, smoke, terrain masking, and target size can nevertheless constrain optical detection. External warning and target designation would therefore be valuable for identifying approaching threats early enough to engage them.

In Ukraine, persistent aerial reconnaissance exposes troop movements and firing positions, while attack drones threaten combat vehicles and logistics. Defending dispersed forces against repeated incursions requires sufficient ammunition, rapid replenishment, and sustained coverage. Gun-based systems could help meet this demand while conserving missile stocks.

Gunfire could offer a more economical option than some missiles against suitable targets within cannon range. However, the actual cost per successful interception depends on the number of rounds required and the probability of destruction. Missiles remain essential for threats requiring greater reach or different interception characteristics, making guns a complementary defensive layer.

Europe is pursuing a comparable approach with Rheinmetall’s Skyranger 30 and Skyranger 35, which combine 30 mm and 35 mm automatic cannons, respectively, with programmable airburst ammunition. Their development places Derivatsiya-PVO within a broader revival of mobile anti-aircraft artillery, driven in part by the growing drone threat.

The designs emphasize different weapon-and-sensor combinations. Whereas the 2S38 uses a larger projectile and passive electro-optical surveillance in its published configuration, Skyranger integrates search radar and electro-optical sensors for autonomous or networked operation. Consequently, when assessing potential performance, detection coverage, tracking accuracy, and ammunition effectiveness matter as much as caliber.

The U.S. Army’s SGT Stout, formerly known as Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense, offers another point of comparison. Mounted on a wheeled Stryker armored vehicle, it combines a 30 mm cannon, Stinger surface-to-air missiles, and onboard radar. While the 2S38 centers its anti-aircraft armament on a 57 mm gun, SGT Stout combines cannon fire and missile interception, giving crews different engagement options depending on the threat.

SGT Stout also offers documented evidence of unit-level exercise employment. During Formidable Shield 2025 in Norway, soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment conducted live-fire engagements with the system. The Army identified the event as SGT Stout’s first Stinger firings during an exercise with NATO allies and partners, providing a documented benchmark for comparison with the 2S38’s reported exercise appearance.

American modernization efforts underline the continuing need to adapt mobile air defenses. The Army’s fiscal year 2027 budget documentation describes integration work for 30 mm Multi-Mode Proximity Airburst ammunition on SGT Stout, with integration testing planned during that fiscal year. This represents a planned enhancement, not a capability already available across the fleet.

Procurement progress also differs. Rheinmetall delivered Germany’s first Boxer-mounted Skyranger 30 verification vehicle in January 2025 under an order covering that vehicle and 18 production examples. For Derivatsiya-PVO, TASS reported in April 2024 that Rostec weapons industrial director Bekhan Ozdoev said design work had been completed the previous year and efforts were underway to accelerate deliveries. These milestones require separate assessment from operational readiness; the material reviewed does not establish subsequent Russian delivery quantities or widespread fielding.

The 2S38, Skyranger, and SGT Stout illustrate different responses to a shared requirement: protecting maneuvering forces against persistent aerial threats. Their practical value depends on a complete detection-to-interception process, reliable ammunition supplies, trained crews, and sufficient numbers fielded. Within a layered air defense system that combines sensors, electronic warfare, guns, and missiles, the 2S38 could expand Russia’s close-range engagement options, but its contribution will ultimately depend on demonstrated performance and large-scale deployment.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.