Russian defense conglomerate Rostec State Corporation will present its ZAK-30 Citadel anti-aircraft artillery system abroad for the first time during the El Alamein International Airshow 2026, held from September 8 to 10 at El Alamein International Airport in Egypt. Organized under the banner of state exporter Rosoboronexport, the exhibit showcases the point-defense solution following its initial domestic unveiling in late May 2026. Designed primarily to protect stationary high-value facilities around the clock, the platform is optimized to defeat both single threats and swarms of rotary- and fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
At the core of the system is a 30 mm automatic cannon turret engineered for rapid-response point defense against close-in aerial threats. Target acquisition and tracking are handled through an integrated dual-sensor suite comprising radar and electro-optical (EO) channels, with the latter incorporating thermal imaging for seamless day-and-night operational capability. According to Rostec, the system features a high degree of automation covering the entire engagement chain, from initial target detection and threat evaluation to final kinetic destruction, minimizing human reaction time against fast-moving drone threats.
The Citadel’s combat effectiveness relies heavily on its specialized line of advanced 30 mm ammunition, which utilizes programmable controlled-detonation fuzes. Upon engagement, the platform’s fire-control system calculates the optimal point along the target’s flight trajectory and programs the projectile’s remotely set fuze to burst, generating a concentrated cloud of high-velocity shrapnel directly in the drone’s path. This approach significantly reduces the volume of ammunition required to neutralize individual targets compared to conventional high-explosive or armor-piercing tracer rounds.
Rostec representatives highlighted that the Citadel has already demonstrated its performance and proven its counter-UAV capabilities under real-world combat conditions. Built for flexible deployment, the short-range artillery platform can operate as a standalone defensive node or be integrated into broader, layered air defense networks alongside existing counter-UAV systems. Given its operational track record and specialized design against modern asymmetric aerial threats, Russian defense officials anticipate strong interest in the system from international military delegations attending the Egyptian airshow.
