Ukraine says considered one of its uncrewed floor vessels (USV), armed with an tailored surface-to-air missile, shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter over the Black Sea close to Crimea on Monday.
If confirmed, this might mark the primary identified occasion of a drone boat efficiently concentrating on and downing an plane.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported the engagement occurred close to Cape Tarkhankut, in Russian-occupied Crimea.
The missile, a heat-seeking R-73 normally employed in air-to-air fight, was fired from a Magura V5 USV operated by Ukraine’s navy intelligence unit, GUR.
Video footage launched by Ukraine purportedly reveals the engagement, with the helicopter releasing flares to evade the missile, adopted by a fiery explosion and the helicopter’s obvious demise.
Russian navy bloggers have corroborated the incident, though unbiased verification stays pending. One other helicopter, of an unspecified sort, was reportedly broken however managed to return to base.
Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the GUR, said that whereas this was the primary profitable use of such a system, there had been earlier failed makes an attempt. The difference of the R-73 missile, nicknamed the “Sea Dragon,” highlights Ukraine’s ingenuity in countering Russian air superiority within the Black Sea area.
The event poses a brand new problem for Russian operations, significantly for helicopters usually used to focus on Ukrainian USVs. With restricted standoff vary, they might now face elevated threat from these drone boats.
Ukraine has beforehand used R-73 missiles in ground-based air defence techniques and has important stockpiles of the weapon. This newest innovation additional underscores the evolving dynamics of the battle, as either side adapt to rising applied sciences within the ongoing battle.