Ukraine Downs Russia’s Priciest Recon UAV – The $300,000 ‘Merlin-VR’

Ukrainian forces have shot down the “Merlin-VR” – Russia’s most expensive experimental reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The “Khortytsia” operational-strategic group of troops published a video of the strike on Telegram, specifying that the hit took place in the Lyman sector of the front.

The footage shows the moment the Russian drone is targeted, struck, and then explodes before falling from the sky. Kyiv Post could not independently verify the location or timing of the video.

“The race for the enemy ‘wing’ was organized by the anti-aircraft gunners of a mechanized brigade together with their comrades from an artillery brigade,” the report said.

Artillery brigade operators reached the drone first, while the drone of a mechanized brigade captured rare footage of the Russian UAV being downed at an altitude of several kilometers, according to the statement.

“This is Russia’s most expensive reconnaissance UAV – the ‘Merlin-VR’ – an experimental drone costing over $300,000,” the Khortytsia command reported.

The “Merlin-VR” is capable of flying at altitudes of up to five kilometers, remaining in the air for 10 hours, and covering a distance of 600 kilometers.

“But this one didn’t get far – its wings were clipped,” the report added.

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces recently took out three Russian Buk air defense systems in Kursk within 12 hours. 

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Russia Launched 1,400 Drones and 1,500 Guided Bombs at Ukraine in a Week

President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russian forces deployed approximately 1,400 attack drones and 1,500 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine over the past week.

Using FPV drones, Ukrainian pilots hit a Buk-M2 launcher hidden in a forest, causing a detonation. They also damaged two Buk-M3 launchers by targeting their radars, crippling the systems’ ability to track and guide missiles. 

The Buk-M3 is valued at around $45 million, while the Buk-M1-2 costs approximately $100 million.