Ukrainian drones struck a rare An-26KPA Kalibrovschik laboratory aircraft in Kacha, Crimea, in an attack that goes beyond the loss of a conventional transport aircraft.
The model is used to calibrate and test radio and navigation systems at airfields, playing an essential role in the safety and operation of Russian military aviation. Currently, there are no direct replacements for this specialized version.
Images analyzed by the portal Militarnyi indicate that the target was an An-26 with tail number “54,” identified in Russian records as An-26KPA RF-46873, belonging to the Russian Navy. Developed from the AN-26LL Standart, the aircraft is equipped with specific systems to verify radars, radio beacons, landing aids, aeronautical telecommunications, and even satellite navigation supplements.
According to Russian sources, about 20 aircraft were converted to the AN-26KPA standard over the years, making the version particularly rare. The loss of the aircraft was confirmed by specialized channels, which also reported fatalities and injuries at the attack site, possibly among crew members or airfield administration personnel, increasing the operational and human impact of the incident.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @front_ukrainian | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
❗️Strike drones of the 🇺🇦GUR (Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine) hit in the temporarily occupied Crimea not an ordinary An-26 transport aircraft, but a rare 🇷🇺An-26KPA “Kalibrovshchik” flying laboratory designed for checking the operation of airfield radio-technical… https://t.co/mdlWB8ejck pic.twitter.com/VSJC0Z2gkj
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) December 12, 2025
