The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) last year shot down two Russian helicopters in flight – a Mi-28 attack helicopter and a Mi-8 transport – using a drone worth only $1,000.
According to UNITED24, which released video footage showing Ukrainian drones in action on Sunday, the engagements were carried out by the SBU’s Special Operations Center “A.”
First, a clip captures a Ukrainian drone attacking a Russian Mi-28 over the Kursk region on Aug. 6, 2024.
Earlier, Kyiv Post reported that SBU sources confirmed soldiers from the M2 unit of the SBU Special Operations Center had successfully hit the Mi-28 with a long-range FPV drone. The footage, initially posted by Ukrainian activist Serhii Sternenko on Telegram, was verified as authentic by those SBU sources.
At the time, it was unclear exactly what weapon had been used, though early reports suggested the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) had deployed an attack drone.
While operating in the Kursk region, SBU drone operator “Glyba” became the first person in history to hit a helicopter with a drone, UNITED24 reported. Just a few days later, the feat was repeated – this time against a Mi-8 transport helicopter.
The destruction of both helicopters was not carried out with an anti-aircraft system or conventional FPV quadcopter, as initially believed, but with a Ukrainian-made Darts FPV fixed-wing drone, according to Defense Express.
“And this is the exact model that the fighters of Alpha use to down not just one, but two Russian helicopters, which is pretty exciting,” UNITED24 wrote.
Glyba’s account
Glyba said that during the first incident, he was wearing FPV goggles and flying to confirm a strike on an armored vehicle carrying infantry.
“When we found that it had been destroyed, we returned to free search and saw a spot in a field,” he recalled. “At first, we thought it was a shadow from a cloud, but when we got closer, we realized it was a helicopter. We directed the drone at it.”
“At first, we were stunned for about five seconds. But when we realized that we had hit the helicopter and the drone had worked, we were in high spirits that day,” the SBU operator added.
According to intelligence reports, the first helicopter – the Mi-28 – was carrying an assault team.
The second target, a Mi-8, was flying low.
“We spotted it early and chased it for about 10 minutes,” Glyba said, adding that the drone was designed primarily for stationary targets, not moving ones.
The Mi-28 had been hovering over a field during a tactical landing, while the Mi-8’s flightpath was predicted and intercepted before being hit “right in the tail.”
Glyba said the unit has worked with the Darts drone for almost a year and a half, with confirmed kills including cars, armored vehicles, and ammunition systems.
About the Darts drone
The Darts is an FPV fixed-wing drone, controlled like a regular FPV unmanned aircraft but with a larger warhead, greater range, and higher speed than quadcopters – all for about $1,000.
It can carry a 4-5 kg warhead to a range of 40-50 km at around 160 km/h. Defense Express notes it is roughly comparable to the Russian “Molniya” [Lightning] drone, though Darts can carry up to 10 kg of explosives, with the Molniya’s range closer to 30 km.
In the released footage, the operator states the helicopters were “shot down” rather than merely hit. However, Defense Express points out that there is no public confirmation from Russian sources, meaning it is only certain the helicopters were damaged.
“At the same time, whether the drones managed to hit the critical elements of the helicopter at such an angle is a debatable issue,” the outlet added.
The helicopters
Mi-8: A Soviet/Russian multi-purpose helicopter introduced in the 1960s, used in troop and cargo transport, medevac, airdrops, and combat missions. It can carry up to 24 passengers or several tons of cargo, and remains in service worldwide due to its reliability and versatility.
Mi-28: A modern attack helicopter designed to destroy armored vehicles, aerial targets, and enemy personnel.