Ukrainian forces have been using Yakovlev Yak-52 propeller planes to intercept and neutralize Russian surveillance drones. Recent videos captured by both ground observers and Russian drones show these vintage aircraft engaging in what appears to be dogfights over southern Ukraine.
Footage released in April, revealed a Ukrainian Yak-52 maneuvering around a Russian Orlan surveillance drone near the border of the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions. The drone ultimately descended using its emergency parachute, indicating it had been damaged.
👀✈️ The view from the cockpit of “Yak-52” during the shot down of Russian “Orlan” UAV in Odesa. pic.twitter.com/cZQXtBqXQ6
— MAKS 24 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) April 27, 2024
£Ukraine started to use small planes to hit the drones. This time Yak-52 with installed Maschine gun shot down Russian „Orlan“ drone near Odessa. I shared this idea in 2022. Finally it works. pic.twitter.com/k0UBC2qjdo
— The Russian Invasion of Ukraine (@wogoa1) April 28, 2024
The unique encounters did not stop there. Recently, footage shared online shows a Yak-52 intercepting a Russian ZALA drone over the Mykolaiv region. This video, recorded by the drone, was shared by a Ukrainian Telegram channel, including geographical coordinates about 56 kilometers southwest of Mykolaiv city
The Zala operator is watching the Ukrainian Yak-52 , which took off to intercept it on the border of the Odessa and Nikolaev regions. pic.twitter.com/NElijwBGI1
— Leandro Romão (@leandroptbr) June 8, 2024
The Yak-52, originally designed for sport and training, lacks standard military armaments and targeting systems. However, its adaptability and agility have made it a surprising asset in Ukraine’s defense strategy. The planes, typically used for civilian purposes, have been repurposed to counter drones infiltrating Ukrainian airspace. With a maximum speed of 470 kilometers per hour and a flight endurance of up to 2.5 hours, the Yak-52 is well-suited for intercepting and tracking the relatively slow-moving drones.
How the Ukrainian pilots down the Russian drones is still up for debate, reports suggest that the Yak-52 variant capable of carrying GUV-8700 pods with machine guns or UB-32 pods with unguided rockets is rare, with only one such configuration produced. Therefore, these drones were likely shot down by the second crew member using handheld firearms. Recent footage shows the backseater preparing to engage the drone with a handheld weapon.
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