David vs. Goliath: $800 Ukrainian drone destroys $7 million Russian helicopter
Briefly

David vs. Goliath: $800 Ukrainian drone destroys $7 million Russian helicopter
"A small kamikaze unmanned aircraft takes off from Ukrainian positions, equipped not only with an explosive charge but also with a camera that allows its flight path to be observed in real time. Shortly afterward, it encounters a Russian Mi-8 military helicopter, which the Ukrainian pilot manages to hit. Almost immediately, the enemy aircraft plummets to the ground in a fiery mess."
"We had already tried several times. The last time was just a few days before. That morning, we launched the FPV [first-person view] drone, not specifically to shoot down the helicopter, but to search for any other targets. At first, we saw a Ka-52 [another type of Russian helicopter], but its speed was too much, and our FPV couldn't reach it. As we turned around, we came across the Mi-8. Very, very lucky [...]"
Drones dominate frontline activity in Pokrovsk, eastern Ukraine, shaping combat operations. A small kamikaze unmanned aircraft launched from Ukrainian positions carried explosives and an onboard camera transmitting real-time footage. The FPV drone encountered and struck a Russian Mi-8 military helicopter, which immediately crashed in flames. Ukrainian forces used the attack to reinforce defensive positions amid diplomatic pressure on Kyiv to negotiate with Russia. The pilot, 27-year-old Baltika, had attempted similar strikes previously and deployed the FPV primarily to scout targets, spotting a Ka-52 first but later engaging the slower Mi-8. Multiple surveillance drones recorded the strike, producing viral footage and widespread congratulations.
Read at english.elpais.com
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