Previously in the fall of 2024, russian media showcased military experiments with a new method to counter Ukrainian uncrewed boats: by launching armed FPV drones from aboard a helicopter to guide them towards toward enemy vessel in a suicide attack.
However this tactic turned out to be not as successful as the russians expected, says Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).
Because, why not: Special Forces of the Russian Black Sea Fleet training to destroy kamikaze USVs from helicopter using FPV drones. pic.twitter.com/Y34I8jFtP6
— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 30, 2024
“They actually tried to use the FPV launch system from Mi-8 helicopters several times. Two out of three attempts ended with FPV explosions on board the helicopter, and ever since they try not to do such experiments again. Therefore, believe me, these are all elements of information warfare and simply propaganda,” Budanov said.
Earlier, russian Kremlin-backed media also stated that russian troops had developed a unique solution: a drone that would hunt Ukrainian kamikaze boats. Regarding this practice, a journalist from Oboz.ua asked a question to the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Maliuk, during the Ukraine. Year 2025 press conference.
“About the drone, which, in their opinion, can effectively counteract our drones at sea. This is nothing more than, for now, enemy propaganda and another one of their PSYOPs. In practice, we have not yet encountered these drones, and we have essentially found a solution for their aviation.
“Both we and our colleagues from the DIU are [fighting back] their helicopters quite effectively. There are losses in both personnel and helicopters. If drones appear on the horizon, then, believe me, we will find a solution too,” the SSU chief assured.
For a reminder, in late 2024, there was an instance where a russian helicopter was shot down by a Ukrainian USV, for the first time in the history of world warfare.
“And from our sea [platforms] FPV drones are already taking off and destroying coastal infrastructure,” Maliuk emphasized. Earlier, News Hub covered how FPV drones launched from surface boats destroyed two russian Pantsir air defense systems in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.