Helmet with anti-drone weapon fired by soldier's teeth is patented by Russia

Published: 10:38 EDT, 28 October 2026 | Updated: 10:39 EDT, 28 October 2026 Russia has patented an anti-drone helmet designed to shoot down drones with the clench of one's mouth.The weapon is designed to target and destroy drones either with ammunition or a net - and comes with a laser and electronic controls used for aiming and firing. Soldiers would be able to operate the weapon without using their hands, either via a strong bite on a specialised mouthpiece or by issuing a voice command.The helmet-mounted weapon was invented by Russian developers Yuri Ladyagin and Yuri Gabliia, who have previously joined forces on an electroshock weapon and a method for combating Ukrainian fiber optic drones. Cameras used for drone detection are also understood to be a possible addition to Russia's latest attempt to combat Ukraine attacks.However, it remains unclear whether the technology could both detect an incoming drone and intercept it in time.Meanwhile, it can take years for a patent to be developed into an efficient weapon. And numerous factors must be taken into consideration, including the strain on the head and neck, the risk of accidental deployment and accuracy. Russia has patented an anti-drone helmet (pictured) designed to shoot down drones with the clench of one's mouthThe patent also fails to provide evidence of practical testing, serial manufacturing or official adoption by Russian armed forces. The idea, however, is not entirely new. In September 2024, the governor of the Donetsk region - which was illegally annexed by Russia - offered a drone detection system which was also mounted on a helmet. It was designed to detect and intercept the signals of incoming drones, differentiating it from the recent invention, as reported by German news outlet Bild. It comes after faulty invisibility cloaks turned Russian soldiers into sitting ducks for Ukrainian drones last year. The coats and blankets were designed to hide army members from thermal and night vision sensors by masking their body heat.But a fault in the technology and the Russian soldiers' lack of training in how to use the garments has made them a bold target for Ukrainian drone strikes, The Telegraph reported.Footage showed how Russians are standing out more than ever, with their arms, legs and heads seen peeking out from their clothing.This is because rather than concealing body heat, the so-called invisibility cloaks are creating cold spots against a warmer natural environment, making the Russians easier to detect.Ukrainian drones often pick up on Russian activity by using thermal imaging, allowing them to conduct precise air strikes, even at night.As a result, Russian soldiers are essentially being led towards their enemy despite believing that they are going unnoticed. READ MORE: Russia's faulty invisibility cloaks leave Putin's troops as sitting ducks for Ukraine's drones and soldiers with night-vision cameras