Russia confirms Kaplya EFP warhead for FPV drone use

Russia has revealed a new factory-produced munition for FPV drones known as Kaplya, which Russian military sources say is intended to defeat armored vehicles fitted with cope cage armor and roof-mounted anti-drone canopies.

The munition was presented by Dmitry Kulko, a military correspondent for Russia’s Channel One, who released video and images of the payload on his Telegram channel. The footage showed the munition as a standardized, serially manufactured product supplied to FPV drone operators rather than an improvised or field-assembled device.

According to Russian descriptions, Kaplya is equipped with an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) warhead. Upon detonation, the munition forms a compact metal projectile designed to penetrate add-on cage armor and strike the underlying armored structure of vehicles. Russian sources describe the design as a response to the widespread use of protective metal grilles and anti-drone canopies on armored vehicles.

Russian military sources also state that the detonation of the Kaplya munition produces fragmentation intended to neutralize nearby personnel in addition to its anti-armor function. The munition is shown mounted on FPV attack drones configured for short-range precision strikes.

Ukrainian defense analyst Andriy Tarasenko said that a factory-produced EFP warhead of this type, with an estimated diameter of roughly 150 millimeters, could achieve armor penetration exceeding 100 millimeters while producing a strong behind-armor effect. He added that EFP-type warheads do not initiate explosive reactive armor, allowing them to bypass such protection.

The footage also highlighted additional standardized drone munitions reportedly being supplied to Russian forces. These include fragmentation warheads weighing about 1.7 kilograms, which can be used on FPV attack drones or released from quadcopter bombers, as well as thermobaric warheads weighing approximately four kilograms.

Russian media characterized the newly displayed payloads as part of a centralized supply effort, indicating a shift toward standardized FPV drone armament across multiple units. The munitions were shown alongside completed drone assemblies, suggesting integration into regular military logistics rather than decentralized workshop production.

FPV drones have become a core element of combat operations for both Russian and Ukrainian forces, with rapid adaptation driven by the proliferation of countermeasures such as cage armor and overhead vehicle protection. These battlefield adaptations have accelerated the development of drone munitions optimized for top-attack profiles and armor defeat.