Ukrainian FPV drone downs Russian Mi-8 helicopter near Donetsk – reports

Source: Forbes

Military experts saw it coming.  On July 31, a Ukrainian FPV drone, weighing one kilogram, successfully shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter over Donetsk. This event marks a potential first in aerial combat for Ukraine.

Russian military bloggers were quick to spread the sad news on social media, with some sharing footage of the burning Mi-8 near Donetsk.

Ukrainian troops have been honing their skills in drone attacks for some time. In September of last year, drone operators attempted to strike Russian helicopters in mid-air. The threat from these drones has grown so significant that Russian Air Forces began deploying helicopters to escort others for protection.

The Mi-8, with a three-member crew, was caught at a low altitude during takeoff, as described by a Russian military reporter.

Typically, an FPV drone carries a small amount of explosives. To bring down a helicopter, it must hit the rotor blades; a direct hit there can cause significant damage without requiring a large payload.

After over two years of conflict, Ukrainian drone operators have gained substantial experience in targeting enemy assets. Hitting the Mi-8’s rotor blades, which span over 365 centimeters, is now within their capabilities.

The most impressive aspect of this strike is the drone’s range. The western outskirts of Donetsk are about 5 kilometers from the front line, while the eastern outskirts are roughly 16 kilometers away. Achieving such a range likely required the assistance of a secondary drone to relay the command signal, indicating a highly coordinated operation.

Russia’s helicopter fleet numbers in the hundreds, and while they’ve lost around 100 in the conflict, this particular loss doesn’t look critical. However, if the Ukrainian troops have mastered downing helicopters using drones, it could obviously bolster up their air defense capabilities.

Given that Ukraine produces around 100,000 FPV drones monthly, the threat to Russian helicopters is now looming big.