For the first time, an explosive FPV drone struck and downed a helicopter while it was in flight..Footage of the incident shows a Ukrainian FPV drone chasing and eventually intercepting a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter during Ukrainian incursion operations into Kursk, Russia. The footage cuts out as the drone targets the helicopter's tail rotor section..Russian milblogger accounts on Telegram confirmed the downing, with Rybar reporting that the crew survived after they were able to make an emergency landing in a field..It is worth noting that Ukraine claimed to have downed a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter with a drone several days ago; however, this remains unconfirmed as there was no published footage of the strike..Drone warfare has almost become synonymous with the Russian invasion of Ukraine as the conflict has ushered in sweeping innovations and advancements in strike capabilities and tactics. FPV drones, which can carry an array of explosive payloads depending on the target, have been used extensively to target infantry, armor, and brown water capabilities on both sides of the conflict..Up until this point, FPV drones have only been used to target aircraft on the ground. The downing does not come as a surprise, however, as we have seen several instances of Ukrainian FPV drones trying to target Russian helicopters mid-flight over the past several months..This downing will ultimately change how air assets are used moving forward in the conflict. With that, we will likely see additional innovations to counter FPV attacks against helicopters, which could take shape in the form of jammers attached to the airframe. Drone capabilities continue to expand as flight range, speed, and payload increase steadily, meaning that additional downings of helicopters are likely to continue..FPV capabilities are not just limited to the Ukrainians, as Russian forces also employ identical tactics. This incident has set a precedent and marks yet another use case for FPV systems.
For the first time, an explosive FPV drone struck and downed a helicopter while it was in flight..Footage of the incident shows a Ukrainian FPV drone chasing and eventually intercepting a Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter during Ukrainian incursion operations into Kursk, Russia. The footage cuts out as the drone targets the helicopter's tail rotor section..Russian milblogger accounts on Telegram confirmed the downing, with Rybar reporting that the crew survived after they were able to make an emergency landing in a field..It is worth noting that Ukraine claimed to have downed a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter with a drone several days ago; however, this remains unconfirmed as there was no published footage of the strike..Drone warfare has almost become synonymous with the Russian invasion of Ukraine as the conflict has ushered in sweeping innovations and advancements in strike capabilities and tactics. FPV drones, which can carry an array of explosive payloads depending on the target, have been used extensively to target infantry, armor, and brown water capabilities on both sides of the conflict..Up until this point, FPV drones have only been used to target aircraft on the ground. The downing does not come as a surprise, however, as we have seen several instances of Ukrainian FPV drones trying to target Russian helicopters mid-flight over the past several months..This downing will ultimately change how air assets are used moving forward in the conflict. With that, we will likely see additional innovations to counter FPV attacks against helicopters, which could take shape in the form of jammers attached to the airframe. Drone capabilities continue to expand as flight range, speed, and payload increase steadily, meaning that additional downings of helicopters are likely to continue..FPV capabilities are not just limited to the Ukrainians, as Russian forces also employ identical tactics. This incident has set a precedent and marks yet another use case for FPV systems.
