Dutch volunteers deliver Yak-52 aircraft to Ukraine to fight drones (Photo: Wilco)
The Dutch foundation Protect Ukraine has donated a Yak-52 aircraft to the Ukrainian army to support efforts against Russian drones.
According to a report by Defence Blog, citing the Dutch media outlet Scramble, the aircraft was delivered to Ukraine at the end of October.
Protect Ukraine acquired the Yak-52 in the United Kingdom at the request of a Ukrainian aviation unit specializing in anti-drone measures. The Yak-52 is now being used to intercept slower drones, such as the kamikaze Shahed models.
The Yak-52 aircraft delivered by the volunteers was dedicated to the late pilot Kostiantyn Oborin, codename “Kamikadze“, who had been shooting down Russian Shahed drones in southern Ukraine.
Pilots attempt to bring down the drones by striking them with the aircraft’s wings or by firing directly from the cockpit. This is a risky method, considering that these planes have no radar, fly low and slow, and remain vulnerable to debris after a drone explosion.
The aircraft had previously been put up for sale by the British company Wilco Aviation, which carried out a major overhaul in 2022.
Built in 1985, the Yak-52 is equipped with a 400 hp supercharged M14PF engine. However, the aircraft has undergone significant modifications to improve performance and usability.
The upgrades include replacing the traditional ignition system with an automotive one for more reliable starts, removing heavy wiring and inverter systems in favor of modern, lightweight generator systems.
In addition, modifications were made to the lower cylinder drain design to increase the engine’s efficiency and reliability under challenging flight conditions.
Photo: Wilco. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
