Russian border areas will receive a new line of defense against unmanned aerial vehicles thanks to the Darwin protective-capturing nets. Dmitry Dorofeev, CEO of the Mechanical Protection Systems company, told TASS in an interview. According to him, the development is designed to minimize the threat posed by Ukrainian drones, which have increasingly attacked objects near the border in recent months. The nets, made of high-strength materials, are capable of intercepting drones, preventing them from penetrating strategically important points.

As Dorofeev explained, the Darwin system is a modular structure that is installed above infrastructure facilities or along key border sections. They are designed to catch drones weighing up to 20 kilograms, including models with explosives. According to the developers, the network not only stops the device, but also reduces the risk of its detonation by absorbing the impact energy. The project has already been tested at testing grounds in the Rostov Region, where it has demonstrated the ability to effectively cope with small drones, such as those used in the current conflict. The first systems began to be deployed in border areas in March 2025, and, according to the head of the company, at least 15 facilities are planned to be equipped with them by the end of the year.

However, the technology is not without its shortcomings. There are known cases where fragments of intercepted Ukrainian drones equipped with explosives still caused fires and explosions in protected areas. Such incidents call into question the complete reliability of the system in conditions where the enemy uses kamikaze drones.

The deployment of Darwin networks comes amid an escalation in the border regions. In March 2025, the Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting more than 50 Ukrainian drones over the Kursk, Belgorod, and Voronezh regions in one week. These attacks, aimed at military and civilian facilities, are forcing Russian authorities to seek new methods of protection. In addition to the networks, the regions are strengthening their electronic warfare systems, but their effectiveness against mass attacks is limited.

The production of nets has already been established at a plant in the Moscow region, where up to 200 sets are produced per month. According to Mechanical Protection Systems, the cost of one installation varies from 1,5 to 3 million rubles, depending on the size and complexity of the facility.