In a significant development, Ukraine claimed that one of its uncrewed surface vessels (USV), equipped with a modified surface-to-air missile, shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter over the Black Sea near Crimea on Monday. If confirmed, this would be the first known instance of a drone boat successfully targeting and downing an aircraft.
The engagement took place near Cape Tarkhankut in Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence reported that the missile, a heat-seeking R-73 typically used in air-to-air combat, was fired from a Magura V5 USV operated by Ukraine’s military intelligence unit, GUR.
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Video footage released by Ukraine shows the helicopter releasing flares in an attempt to evade the missile, followed by a fiery explosion and the apparent destruction of the helicopter. Russian military bloggers have corroborated the incident, although independent verification is still pending. Another helicopter was reportedly damaged but managed to return to base.
Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov of the GUR confirmed that this marked the first successful use of the system, though previous attempts had failed. The adaptation of the R-73 missile, nicknamed the “Sea Dragon,” represents Ukraine’s growing innovation in countering Russian air superiority in the Black Sea.
This breakthrough poses a new challenge to Russian operations, particularly for helicopters traditionally used to target Ukrainian USVs. The risk to Russian helicopters has now increased, as they could be targeted by these advanced drone boats.
