A two-kilogram Ukrainian FPV drone shot down an expensive, 12-ton Russian Mi-8 helicopter close to the temporarily occupied Donetsk, reports Forbes. This remarkable success is considered one of the first instances globally where a small drone has downed a helicopter, according to journalists.
The drone was remotely operated by an operator using virtual reality goggles. A video posted on social media shows the Mi-8 transport helicopter on fire after being hit.
“Ukrainian forces deploy more than 100,000 explosive first-person-view drones a month all along the 700-mile front line of Russia’s 28-month wider war on Ukraine. The drones smash into armored vehicles, chase down exposed infantry and follow artillery fire back to its origin in order to target Russian howitzers,” Forbes writes.
Journalists say that Ukrainian drone operators first attempted to target Russian helicopters in flight back in September. “It apparently took at least 10 months of trying before a Ukrainian drone operator finally hit a Russian helicopter. The months of misses are understandable. A helicopter can fly faster than 150 miles per hour at altitudes exceeding thousands of feet—too fast and too high for a two-pound drone to get a clean shot without an enormous degree of skill or luck on the part of the operator,” Forbes reports.
Ukrainians spotted the 12-ton Russian helicopter as it was flying low, carrying three crew members and trying to conduct its strike, transport and medical evacuation missions.
“The Russian military has hundreds of helicopters and, so far, has lost just a hundred or so to Ukrainian action. One more loss isn’t catastrophic for the Russians. But now that the Ukrainians have droned their first helicopter, they may redouble their efforts to take down Russian rotorcraft. Considering how many FPV drones the Ukrainians deploy every month, the threat to Russian helicopters could intensify – a lot,” the journalists concluded.
Photos: lots_warinua; Shutterstock
