Russia Deploys 'Pautina' Net System to Counter Drone Attacks on Energy Facilities

Russia's state-owned technology firm Rostec has unveiled Pautina, a new defensive system designed to protect industrial infrastructure from drone attacks. Developed by Rostec subsidiary RT-Project Technologies, Pautina employs a modular metal net structure that creates a protective barrier around strategic facilities. The system is engineered to intercept drones weighing up to 200 kilograms traveling at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour.

Rostec stated that Pautina can be deployed to safeguard various critical assets, including oil storage sites, fuel terminals, power substations, and logistics warehouses. The company confirmed that the system is currently undergoing trials at several fuel and energy sector facilities. Pautina is reportedly capable of protecting buildings over 25 meters high and can be adapted to different facility sizes, offering flexible protection.

The introduction of Pautina occurs as Ukraine intensifies its drone assaults on Russian energy infrastructure. Recent months have seen significant attacks targeting vital facilities, including the Omsk oil refinery, Russia's largest, and the Moscow oil refinery. Russian officials report that these strikes have disrupted domestic energy supplies, leading to fuel shortages in some regions.

In response to the escalating attacks, the Russian government has implemented temporary restrictions on the export of certain petroleum products. The Pautina system represents a technological countermeasure by Russia to mitigate the impact of these persistent drone strikes on its energy sector and other key industrial sites.