【Frontier Dynamics】UMEX 2026丨Belarusian LEMT company launches portable anti-drone interceptor

The widespread application of small drones in missions such as reconnaissance and strikes has driven a continuous rise in global demand for compact, autonomous short-range anti-drone solutions. At the 2026 Abu Dhabi Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX 2026), Belarusian defense research institution LEMT showcased a new portable anti-drone system for the first time. Featuring individual soldier operation and physical collision interception as its core characteristics, it is specifically designed to counter short-range small drone threats. This debut not only marks LEMT's first breakthrough in the anti-drone field but also aligns with the urgent demand for lightweight countermeasure equipment in regions such as the Middle East and Eastern Europe, providing a new technical path for global short-range anti-drone defense.

I. System Details

(1) Core Configuration
The system is positioned as an individual-soldier portable anti-drone solution, with a design concept benchmarking individual-soldier portable air defense systems, adopting an integrated "launcher + interceptor drone" configuration. The full-size model on display shows that the launcher resembles a rifle, equipped with a stock, front grip, and a compact central body (housing guidance, target acquisition, and launch control electronics). The interceptor drone is directly integrated at the front end of the launcher, with exposed propellers arranged around its streamlined body, supporting vertical or near-90-degree angle launches, suitable for various target scenarios such as hovering and low-altitude flight. Its countermeasure core abandons traditional fragmentation damage or proximity fuze modes, adopting the principle of physical collision. Guided by a laser and thermal imaging seeker, the interceptor drone directly collides with enemy drones to achieve destruction or suppression, which can effectively reduce the risk of collateral damage in scenarios such as urban and civilian sensitive areas. The system supports both operator-assisted and fully automatic modes. Operators can complete target detection and designation before launch, and after target acquisition, the interception mission can be executed autonomously without continuous intervention.

(2) Technical Parameters
In terms of technical parameters, the system is characterized by lightweight, short-range efficiency, fully suitable for individual soldier carrying and rapid deployment. The specific parameters are as follows: the total weight of the system (including the launcher and drone) is 6 kilograms, the interceptor drone has a maximum payload capacity of 3 kilograms and an effective payload capacity of 0.5 kilograms; in terms of flight performance, the maximum flight distance is 6 kilometers, the flight time is about 10 minutes, and the maximum speed is 200 kilometers per hour, covering the short-range tactical defense range; the locking distance is designed differently according to target types, with a locking distance of 200 meters for small quadcopters such as the "Phantom" 4, 400 meters for larger platforms such as the "Matrice" 300, and up to 500 meters for larger targets such as the "Matrice" 600 and fixed-wing drones, accurately matching the target interception needs of different scenarios.

(3) Performance Advantages
The core advantages of the system focus on three dimensions: environmental adaptability, intelligent guidance, and multi-mission expansion, significantly enhancing the actual combat effectiveness of short-range anti-drone operations. Firstly, it has strong environmental adaptability. The interceptor drone integrates an optoelectronic module with a thermal imager and a camera, which can effectively detect and track air targets under conditions of low visual contrast and low visibility, breaking through the limitations of complex weather and visual environments. Secondly, it has outstanding intelligent processing capabilities. Relying on neural network algorithms, it realizes target search, detection, type identification, acquisition and tracking, and coordinate determination, and can transmit target and aiming angle data to the interceptor drone in real-time to ensure precise interception. Thirdly, it has strong multi-mission expandability. In addition to the core anti-drone mission, it can also perform surveillance and target data collection tasks. In automatic mode, it can autonomously attack ground targets without operator intervention, achieving the dual functions of "anti-drone + ground strike".

II. Impact Analysis

(1) For LEMT: Breaking through technical barriers and opening up international market channels
The launch of this portable anti-drone interceptor is an important breakthrough for LEMT in the field of defense technology, laying the foundation for it to enter the international defense market. As its first product in the field of portable anti-drone equipment, the system, with its characteristics of light weight, low cost, and high adaptability, accurately meets the defense needs of small and medium-sized countries and grass-roots troops in regions such as the Middle East and Africa. As a core drone exhibition in the Middle East, UMEX 2026 provides a platform for the system to be showcased to global buyers. Although no procurement agreements have been reached yet, it has fully demonstrated its market potential, helping LEMT break away from the limitations of single equipment research and development, build a diversified anti-drone product matrix, and enhance its competitiveness in the global defense market.

(2) For Belarus: Improving the anti-drone system and strengthening defense autonomy and export potential
The debut of this system further improves Belarus' anti-drone equipment system and strengthens its defense autonomy and defense export capabilities. Previously, Belarus has been equipped with the "Saffron" laser anti-drone system, focusing on medium and short-range hard-kill countermeasures. This portable interceptor fills the gap in individual-soldier short-range anti-drone equipment, forming a multi-level defense pattern of "laser countermeasures + individual-soldier collision interception" and enhancing the flexibility in responding to different types of drone threats. At the same time, as a domestically developed equipment, the system reduces Belarus' dependence on imported anti-drone equipment, demonstrating the improvement of its independent innovation capability in defense technology; its design adapted to international market demand is also expected to become a new growth point for Belarus' defense exports, further expanding its traditional defense cooperation markets in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, etc.

(3) For the anti-drone industry: Enriching short-range defense paths and adapting to grass-roots combat needs
The launch of this system provides a new short-range defense technical path for the global anti-drone industry, with important industry demonstration significance. Currently, most global anti-drone equipment focuses on large-scale and integrated platforms, while portable equipment for individual grass-roots troops is relatively scarce. LEMT's product, with "individual-soldier operation + physical collision" as its core, and featuring low cost and easy deployment, can effectively meet the short-range anti-drone needs of scenarios such as grass-roots troops and security forces. Its design ideas integrating thermal imaging guidance, neural network recognition, and vertical launch also provide a reference for the research and development of similar portable anti-drone equipment, promoting the industry to develop in the direction of "complementarity between large platforms and lightweight equipment, and combination of active strike and passive interception", helping the world cope with increasingly complex short-range drone threats.