A Russian reconnaissance and attack UAV of the Forpost model was shot down in the Kyiv region by Ukrainian troops from the SIMARGL interceptor unit, linked to the anti-aircraft missile and artillery battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade.
According to the Separate Presidential Brigade, the action was recorded on video and released by the unit’s own press service. The target was a Russian operational-tactical drone used for reconnaissance, surveillance and, in more recent versions, also for attack missions.
According to the statement, the first warning came in an unusual way: the pilot of the Ghost crew, identified by the call sign “Dos”, detected the UAV acoustically. From there, the team acted quickly to launch the Sting interceptor drone and neutralize the aerial target.
Also according to the brigade, the Forpost was flying at an unusually low altitude, which required a rapid and coordinated response from the Ukrainian team.
The Forpost is a Russian operational-tactical drone developed from the Israeli Searcher Mk II UAV. The model has a wingspan of around 8.5 meters, a length of approximately 5.8 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of about 500 kg. Depending on the version, its payload can reach up to 100 kg.
Equipped with electro-optical and thermal cameras, the drone can operate during the day and at night. Its maximum flight range can reach 250 km with a directional antenna, with an estimated endurance of between 16 and 18 hours. Its operational altitude can reach between 5 and 6 km.
Originally, the basic version of the Forpost was intended for aerial reconnaissance, surveillance and artillery fire correction. The modernized version, known as the Forpost-R, gained the ability to deploy weapons, including small guided munitions such as the KAB-20, carried on suspension points under the wings.
Licensed assembly of the Forpost in Russia began in the early 2010s at the Ural Civil Aviation Plant. After the end of military-technical cooperation with Israel, Moscow announced the full localization of production and the development of a modernized version with locally manufactured components.
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Source and images: Facebook Prezydentska.Bryhada | Militarnyi | Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
