A Ukrainian USV armed with the R73 air-to-air missile shot down a Russian Su-30 multirole fighter, according to reports from Ukrainian Telegram channels.
Ukraine’s unorthodox ways of using USVs for combat duties might have reached a new level by downing a Russian fighter jet after the confirmed kill of a Russian Mi-8 helicopter.
The reports state that a USV fitted with an R-73 within-visual range air-to-air missile shot down a Su-30 multirole fighter. The Mi-8 was shot down by another or the same type of USV that used the same missile.
While Mi-8 is easy to shoot down, provided that the guidance goes smoothly, a very fast and agile target like Su-30 brings up the possibility of a surprise attack in an ambush manner. This can be supported by the fact that a small USV, despite carrying missiles, would not be easily detected by the fighter, especially if it emits no radar waves.
Ukraine’s Demonstration of Air Defence USVs
The idea of putting anti-aircraft missiles on USVs had been an idea mostly unspoken among the countries actively developing USVs due to the platforms being at the maturation stage. However, the complex battlefield that Ukraine faces brought something unexpected.
The USV was first filmed by a Russian Ka-29 utility helicopter engaging it with machine guns, carrying one R-73 missile. Months after its first appearance, the USV shot down a Mi-8 helicopter using the very same missile.
The method of engagement can be described as interesting as the result itself. R-73 is an IR-guided missile that can be cued by the pilot’s helmet towards the target. However, the USV has no pilot to perform the cueing. To solve this midcourse navigation challenge, the Ukrainian engineers apparently mounted an EO/IR system introduced as the helmet to the fire control system, ensuring a reasonable turning performance despite the fixed launchers.
Will the War Inspire Air Defence USVs Next?
Without a doubt, the War has inspired many developments in the global defence industry, such as a trend of mass producing offensive UAVs, ramping up the production of artillery shells, and kamikaze USVs.
The interest in developing and commissioning kamikaze USVs might expand to air defence USVs, which can help with the defence of important sectors like oil rigs or the perimeters of critical naval assets lacking in self-defence. This is, of course, if this idea continues to prove its worth in the field, as was the case for kamikaze USVs.
Most of the countries working on USVs, like Turkiye and the U.S. already have the resources to develop such configurations given they are producing many compatible missile and sensor types compatible for this kind of application.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
The news “Ukrainian AAM-Armed USVs’ Next Victim a Russian Fighter?” is updated according to new information. Ukrainian Armed Forces have fired an AIM-9 missile not R-73.
