Ukraine shoots down Geran drone with Yak-52 and 8 shots mid-flight

English Posted on  —by Carro e motos
Ukraine shoots down Geran drone with Yak-52 and 8 shots mid-flight
Ukraine shoots down Geran drone with Yak-52 and 8 shots mid-flight (X @Archer83Able)

A recently released video shows an unusual tactic being used by Ukraine to counter Russian drones: direct gunfire from a training aircraft.

The footage, recorded in first person, shows a crew member in the rear seat of a Yak-52 opening fire on a Geran drone, which explodes mid-air after being hit.

Since 2024, Ukraine has been adapting Soviet-era aircraft to face the growing drone threat, using light weaponry operated manually during flight. In the most recent case, the operator fires about eight shots with a semi-automatic rifle before neutralizing the target, demonstrating an improvised yet effective solution given the technical limitations of installing fixed weapons on the aircraft.

Dutch volunteers deliver Yak-52 aircraft to Ukraine to combat drones
Dutch volunteers deliver Yak-52 aircraft to Ukraine to combat drones (Photo: Wilco)

The choice of this method is linked to the difficulty of structurally modifying the Yak-52 to accommodate mounted machine guns. Interestingly, Russia itself has also tested similar adaptations in its fleet, including versions with electronic warfare systems and improvised armaments, although there are still no clear records of their use in combat.

Meanwhile, Geran drones continue to be widely used by Russia both in mass attacks and in more precise operations against urban areas. In this scenario, Ukraine has resorted to different strategies, combining aircraft, helicopters, and interceptor drones to counter an increasingly present aerial threat in the conflict.

Source: The Aviationist | Photo: X @Archer83Able | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team

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