The increasing activity of Russian drones, particularly reconnaissance drones, forces the Armed Forces of Ukraine to seek new, less costly ways to deal with them. Instead of shooting down drones with expensive “ground-to-air” missiles costing around $100,000 each, Ukrainian military has found creative solutions to protect their airspace.
Improvised Flotillas
Ukrainian military have organized mobile groups based on trucks armed with machine guns to combat drones. This solution allows for effective resistance against drones without the use of expensive missiles. Additionally, a training aircraft Yak-52 has been adapted for these purposes, with a shotgun installed on the rear seat. This creative approach enables the military to shoot down drones using simple yet effective means.
“Drone Hunters”
Another interesting innovation is the use of transport helicopters Mi-8 equipped with machine guns. The setup involves a machine gun installed in the frontal part of the helicopter, from which the shooter fires through the front glass, attempting to bring down the drone. This tactic resembles the times of World War II when machine gunners on bombers defended their aircraft from enemy fighters.
Recently, a video emerged online showing a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter armed with weapons on board shooting down a Russian drone. The shooter, essentially sandwiched between two pilots, fires through the front glass, hitting the drone flying beneath the helicopter.
Helicopter Modifications and New Capabilities
Mi-8 helicopters have the capability to carry weapons under the wing consoles, as well as on the open side doors. Although only a few variants of this model were initially equipped with armament under the nose, any model with transparent glazing can be fitted with a machine gun or cannon. The Ukrainian military fleet includes around 75 Mi-8 and similar Mi-17 helicopters, of which approximately 50 were armed before the war, minus 25 lost during combat operations, and an additional 50 new helicopters received from allies.
Challenges of using machine guns on helicopters
The Mi-8 cabin is spacious enough to accommodate three crew members: two pilots and a gunner, who sit side by side. However, this configuration poses certain inconveniences, especially due to the smoke that fills the cabin after each shot. Nevertheless, the Mi-8 with a machine gunner on board demonstrates high effectiveness in combating drones. One of the first successful cases of shooting down a modern drone in this way was an incident in Bosnia in the early 1990s.
The Ukrainian army shows its ability to quickly adapt to new challenges by using creative approaches and unconventional solutions to counter Russian drones. Through improvisations such as mobile fleets, armed trucks, and adapting Mi-8 helicopters, Ukrainian military forces continue to effectively defend the country’s airspace, minimizing costs and utilizing available resources.
