Russia will deploy the new ZAK-30 "Citadel" system to protect oil refineries from drones

Russia has developed a new anti-aircraft artillery system, the ZAK-30 "Citadel," which is reportedly intended to protect oil refineries from Ukrainian drones. At the same time, experts question its actual combat capabilities.

This is reported by Defense Express.

The system was developed by Russia’s Rostec and is designed to engage various types of unmanned aerial vehicles—both helicopter-type and fixed-wing drones.

The system is equipped with a 30-mm automatic cannon in a stationary turret and is claimed to be capable of using shells with delayed-action fuses and shrapnel warheads. The process of detecting and destroying targets is partially automated.

Radar and optoelectronic systems operating in the visible and infrared ranges are intended for guidance.

However, as analysts note, these modules are virtually absent from the published images, which may indicate the use of external target designation or integration into a broader air defense system.

According to estimates by Andriy Tarasenko, a researcher in the defense-industrial complex, the system’s effective engagement range is approximately 1.2 km, and the cost of a single system ranges from 3.5 to 7.2 million euros.

Protecting a single oil refinery may require 6 to 10 such systems, which significantly increases the total cost of defending the facility.

Analysts also compare “Citadel” to the German Skynex system, which is used in Ukraine and is capable of effectively destroying not only drones but also cruise missiles. The key difference is that in Skynex, all guidance systems are integrated directly into the unit, whereas this has not been confirmed for the Russian system.

Another weakness cited is the lack of confirmed mass production of programmable munitions, which are necessary for the most effective counter-drone operations. Without them, the system will effectively use standard 30-mm shells, which significantly reduces its effectiveness.

Experts note that “Citadel” could potentially be more effective than the Russian “Pantsir” in combating UAVs; however, without mass production and confirmed combat testing, its real value remains in question.

According to analysts, the system is likely to remain more of a research or demonstration project than a real tool for protecting critical infrastructure.