Ukrainian sea drones take down Russian helicopter in historic clash
Near Cape Tarkhankut, off the coast of Crimea, a Ukrainian Magura V5 maritime drone shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter. This is likely the first instance of its kind in history. Additionally, the Ukrainians hit a second Russian helicopter, although the damaged aircraft managed to return to base.
Ukrainian intelligence reports on the remarkable operation involving Magura V5 maritime drones. These machines measure 18 feet long and weigh about 2,200 pounds, with approximately 440 pounds allocated to the warhead. They were deployed to the Crimea region, where Russian forces detected them.
The Russians dispatched two Mi-8 helicopters to neutralize the intruders, among other measures. However, the Ukrainians were prepared for these developments; some drones were equipped with R-73 air-to-air missiles.
Drone shoots down helicopter
When the helicopters approached, the Ukrainian drones opened fire. The video shows that one of the helicopters is hit and falls after deploying thermal traps. According to the Ukrainians, the second helicopter was also hit, but the crew managed to return it to their base.
The concise Ukrainian communication lacks details on integrating aerial weapons with maritime drones. The Magura V5 units have a module with cameras and night vision, allowing them to transmit up to three video streams to the control center.
Arming the drones with R-73 missiles, named SeaDragon, suggests that weapons designed for aircraft were somehow integrated with the remotely controlled, floating platforms. The "maritime" version was given its own distinctive name. Wirtualna Polska journalist Karolina Modzelewska first reported on integrating this weapon with Magura drones as early as May 2024.
R-73 missile
The R-73 missile is the Soviet counterpart to the American AIM-9 Sidewinder, developed in the 1970s. It is a short-range, heat-seeking missile, nearly 10 feet long and weighing slightly more than 220 pounds.
The range of a rocket launched from an aircraft is estimated at 19 miles, but it is likely significantly less when launched from sea level.
