KUB-BLA

The KUB-BLA (Кубань) is a Russian electro-optically guided loitering munition developed by ZALA Aero, the same Kalashnikov subsidiary that produces the Lancet-3. Unlike the Lancet's distinctive X-wing layout, the KUB is a delta-wing design roughly the size and shape of a radio-controlled aircraft, powered by an electric motor for near-silent operation. It is designed to loiter autonomously over a target area using AI-assisted target recognition and then dive onto detected targets — personnel, vehicles, or light equipment — at speeds up to 130 km/h, detonating a 3 kg fragmentation warhead on impact.

The KUB-BLA's autonomous terminal guidance — claimed to operate without an operator in the loop — places it at the forefront of lethal autonomous weapons system (LAWS) development and has drawn significant scrutiny from international arms-control researchers. In Ukraine, KUBs have been documented in attacks on personnel clusters and light vehicle convoys. The combination of electric propulsion (hard to detect acoustically), AI guidance (hard to jam electronically), and low cost (~$35,000 per unit) represents a potent threat doctrine. ZALA has reportedly developed a larger KUB variant with extended range and heavier warhead options for anti-armor roles.