A Ukrainian drone team “Dronopad” [Drone Fall] destroyed two of Russia’s most expensive Merlin-VR reconnaissance drones – each valued at over $300,000 – in just 30 minutes.
The Ukrainian Army Assistance Fund “Come Back Alive” published a video of the strike on Telegram. Kyiv Post could not independently verify the time or location of the footage.
According to the Defense Express outlet, Ukrainian forces continue to effectively use anti-aircraft first-person-view (FPV) drones to target and destroy Russian reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Merlin-VR is an experimental reconnaissance drone introduced by Russia in late 2021. According to the Khortytsia operational-strategic group of troops, it is considered the country’s most expensive reconnaissance UAV, costing more than $300,000 per unit.
The drone can fly at altitudes of up to 5 kilometers (16,500 feet), remain airborne for up to 10 hours, and has a range of 600 kilometers (373 miles).
It remains unclear whether Russia has established mass production of the Merlin-VR or how many units are currently in service. However, “Come Back Alive” disclosed that more than 12 of the drones have already been eliminated as part of Ukraine’s “Dronopad” project.
“More than 12 Merlins will no longer fly in Ukrainian skies,” the organization reported. “This dozen alone cost Hr.147.6 million [$3.6 million], and the total damage to the enemy has already exceeded Hr.3.6 billion [$90 million]. The ‘Drone Fall’ continues!”
Ukrainian forces reportedly downed the first Merlin-VR drone in the summer of 2022.
Then, in early April of this year, Ukrainian forces successfully shot down another Russian “Merlin-VR” drone.
The “Khortytsia” group shared video footage of the strike, adding that the interception took place in the Lyman sector of the front.
The report stated that the drone was targeted in a coordinated effort between anti-aircraft gunners from a mechanized brigade and artillery brigade personnel.
Artillery brigade operators were the first to reach the crash site, while a drone from the mechanized brigade captured rare footage of the Russian UAV being taken down at an altitude of several kilometers.