Russian forces fail to down Ukrainian drone near Bryansk
A recording has appeared online showing a failed Russian attempt to shoot down a Ukrainian E-300 Enterprise drone near Bryansk. Here, we explore what these drones are all about.
In the video below, a Russian soldier, likely using a machine gun with a thermal sight, can be seen attempting to shoot down a Ukrainian drone near Bryansk. It's worth noting that at certain moments, the Russian soldier lost sight of the target and fired behind the drone.
The Ukrainian E-300 Enterprise drone is designed based on old biplanes like the An-2 or Po-2. It carries an aerial bomb from the FAB family, providing significant striking power through a readily available platform.
Old biplanes as unmanned bombers
Using outdated biplanes such as the An-2 or Po-2, often called 'corn dusters' and found deteriorating in fields or preserved in museums, as drones is a testament to Ukrainian ingenuity.
With some modifications, these aircraft can be adapted for unmanned flight by adding sensors, satellite and inertial navigation systems, and actuators to move the control surfaces. The result is a drone capable of flying several thousand miles, as the payload space is dedicated to the warhead and additional fuel tanks.
Previously, these biplanes were used as kamikaze drones, making them a one-time solution. Now, models are capable of accurately dropping the FAB-250 bomb at specific locations and returning to base. A portion of the biplanes always returns, which, with luck, allows a single unit to be used for multiple attacks.
These primitive drones pose minimal challenges for air defense systems like the Pantsir-S1 or even the ZSU‑23-4 Shilka. However, neither the Russians nor the Ukrainians have enough of these systems to effectively defend all at-risk locations.
