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Belarusian LEMT Debuts New Man-Portable Counter-Drone Interceptor at UMEX 2026.
Belarusian defense research organization LEMT presented a portable, drone-based counter-UAV system designed to physically intercept small unmanned aircraft. The concept highlights a growing shift toward lightweight, autonomous solutions aimed at defeating low-cost drone threats at short range.
At UMEX 2026, the Belarusian defense research organization LEMT presented a portable drone-based counter-drone system designed to neutralize small unmanned aerial vehicles using an interceptor drone guided by thermal and video sensors. The concept is presented as a man-portable solution comparable in employment philosophy to a man-portable air defense system, combining an individual launcher with an autonomous interceptor UAV intended for short-range counter-UAV missions.
Belarusian defense research organization LEMT has debuted a man-portable, drone-based counter-UAV interceptor at UMEX 2026, highlighting a kinetic, short-range solution designed to physically defeat small unmanned aerial threats (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group)
The system is described as a drone-based counter-drone solution using laser and thermal homing heads and is built around an interceptor drone operating on a ramming principle. Rather than relying on fragmentation or proximity detonation, the interceptor is designed to physically collide with hostile UAVs. Target acquisition is performed by a seeker integrating a video camera and a thermal imaging camera, enabling detection and tracking of aerial targets with low visual contrast or operating in reduced visibility conditions.
A full-scale mock-up of the system was displayed during UMEX 2026, providing a clear view of the overall configuration. The exhibited model consisted of a rifle-like launcher integrating the interceptor drone directly into its forward section. The launcher features a shoulder stock, a forward grip, and a compact central housing likely intended to accommodate electronics for guidance, target acquisition, and firing control. The interceptor drone itself is mounted at the front of the launcher and incorporates multiple exposed propellers arranged around a streamlined fuselage, reflecting a vertical or near-vertical launch capability consistent with the stated 90-degree flight angle. The nose section of the interceptor visibly integrates the optical-electronic module, illustrating the placement of the video and thermal sensors used for target detection and guidance.
A central element of the concept is an individual launcher integrating guidance, target acquisition, and launch functions into a single portable unit. The launcher enables the operator to detect and designate a target before launching the interceptor drone. Once airborne, the system supports both operator-assisted and fully automatic modes, allowing interception missions to be conducted without continuous pilot intervention after target acquisition.
The system is intended to perform a wide range of counter-UAV tasks, including surveillance and target data collection, searching, detection, and type determination using neural network-based algorithms, target acquisition and tracking, and the determination of target coordinates. It is also capable of transmitting target and sighting angle data to the weapon, enabling the interceptor drone to conduct interception and destruction of small UAVs. In addition to aerial targets, the concept also includes the capability to engage ground targets autonomously in automatic mode, without pilot intervention.
The interceptor drone is listed with a warhead weight of up to 3 kilograms, while the total system weight, including the launcher and the drone, is stated at 6 kilograms. Payload capacity is given as up to 0.5 kilograms. Performance figures indicate a maximum flight range of up to 6 kilometers, a flight duration of approximately 10 minutes, and a maximum speed of up to 200 kilometers per hour. The interceptor is capable of vertical launch with a flight angle reaching 90 degrees, providing flexibility for engagements against hovering or low-altitude targets.
The optical system integrated into the interceptor includes thermal cameras to enhance detection and tracking performance. Lock-on ranges vary according to target type, with small quadcopters such as the Phantom 4 listed at 200 meters, larger platforms such as the Matrice 300 at 400 meters, and larger drones including the Matrice 600 or fixed-wing UAVs at distances reaching 500 meters.
The presentation of this system at UMEX 2026 reflects the growing focus on compact, portable, and autonomous counter-UAV solutions as armed forces adapt to the widespread use of small drones for reconnaissance, targeting, and strike missions. By combining thermal and video guidance, automated target processing, and a physically destructive interception method, the LEMT drone gun concept illustrates one approach to addressing short-range UAV threats in increasingly contested airspaces.