Russia has begun using Yak-52 and An-2 light aircraft as airborne platforms for transporting and launching FPV interceptor drones. The initiative was presented by the Russian BARS-Sarmat unit as a new alternative for countering unmanned aerial vehicles.
The information was reported by the Ukrainian military news outlet Militarnyi, based on a post by the Potuzhny Informator channel and a video shared on Telegram by the ROGOZIN channel.
The footage shows high-speed FPV drones with a configuration similar to the Sting and P1-Sun models. According to the report, one version was designed to be launched from the ground, while another can begin its mission from an aircraft in flight.
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Yak-52 fitted with six drone mounts
One of the platforms presented is a Yak-52, a two-seat training aircraft originally developed in the former Soviet Union. The aircraft, identified by the number 246, appears equipped with six external mounts intended for interceptor drones.
In the video, the Yak-52 takes off carrying four drones, although six attachment points can be seen installed on the aircraft’s structure.
The footage, however, does not clarify how the interceptors are controlled after launch. Space inside the Yak-52 cockpit is limited, especially considering the need to accommodate the pilot, navigation systems and possible communications equipment for the drones.
It is unclear whether control is handled by a second crew member, operators stationed on the ground or a system featuring some degree of automated navigation.
An-2 can carry operators and equipment
The second platform presented is the An-2, a transport aircraft known for its ability to operate from short and minimally prepared runways.
Because it has a larger cabin, the An-2 provides space for the installation of screens, antennas, transmission systems and stations for drone operators.
In the released footage, an interceptor appears to be launched from a mount installed beneath the fuselage. The video does not make it possible to determine how many drones the aircraft can carry simultaneously.
Any potential attachment points beneath the wings were also not clearly shown, preventing an accurate assessment of the Russian configuration’s total capacity.
Video shows alleged interceptions
The recording includes scenes presented as interceptions of Ukrainian drones. One of the targets is said to be the Maya, an unmanned aerial vehicle used as a decoy to attract the attention of air-defense and reconnaissance systems.
Other models also appear in the footage, but the quality of the material does not allow all the equipment to be identified with certainty.
So far, there has been no independent confirmation of the number of modified Yak-52 and An-2 aircraft, the project’s operational status or the actual performance of the interceptors presented.
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Source and images: Militarnyi and Telegram @rogozin_do. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
