In a dramatic twist to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Air Force has resorted to what could be likened to a scene out of an early 20th-century aerial combat. Using Yakovlev Yak-52 training aircraft, Ukrainian forces are reported to have engaged and brought down Russian reconnaissance drones, reviving tactics that hark back to the dogfights of World War I.
Videos that went viral on social media depict a Yak-52 circling a descending Russian Orlan-10 drone, its parachute deployed, likely a consequence of damage inflicted by the biplane. Ukrainian media have suggested that the downing of the drone was achieved by the aircraft’s copilot using small arms, as the Yak-52 is not ordinarily equipped to carry weapons. This assertion is consistent with the World War I methods where aerial observers fired from propeller-driven planes. In this case, the drone is reported to have cost $100,000, significantly more than the cost of the rounds that brought it down.
This improvised air defense technique underscores a broader theme of innovation and resourcefulness in the face of adversity. The Yak-52 lacks sophisticated weapon systems and is typically used during daylight and under favorable weather conditions, imposing clear operational limitations. However, its use against drones conserves expensive missiles and other resources, which are in short supply for the Ukrainian military. This economical and ingenuity-driven approach aligns with past precedents where Serbian forces downed a U.S. Army Hunter UAV in Bosnia during the early 1990s using a helicopter door gunner, illustrating the timelessness of such asymmetric tactics.
Once again, in Russia’s broader conflict with Ukraine, combatants have resorted to tactics and technology reminiscent of World War I. Trench warfare has made a comeback, along with the use of “turtle tanks” and Maxim machine guns. But the aerial gunner-versus-drone dogfight might be the most dramatic example of modern warfare devolving in the brutal conditions of the Ukraine conflict.
While the Yak-52 is a product of the Soviet era, initially built for pilot training, it boasts a robust airframe and aerobatic capability, making it a surprisingly viable platform for the ‘Slow Movers Intercept’ missions it has been pressed into. The aircraft’s slow stall speed and agility enable it to engage and maneuver around slow-moving drones effectively. The use of the Yak-52 also implies a reliance on coordination with ground-based surveillance and anti-aircraft artillery systems to track and target the drones.
The Orlan-10 UAV, the victim of the Yak-52’s copilot’s marksmanship, is a mainstay of Russian reconnaissance efforts, designed for long-endurance missions and often deployed alongside loitering munitions and short-range ballistic missiles to target high-value assets deep within Ukrainian territory. Its shootdown represents a notable success for Ukrainian forces in the face of Russian technological capabilities.
Relevant articles:
– To combat Russian drones, Ukrainian forces are using veteran trainers Yak-52 , Zona Militar, 04/29/2024
– World War I Tactics Make A Comeback As A Ukrainian Gunner In The Back Of A Propeller Plane Shoots Down A Russian Drone, Forbes, 04/29/2024
– Ukrainian Yak-52 Equipped With Machine Gun Shoots Down Russian UAV – Reports, The Aviationist, 04/27/2024
– Yak-52 shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone in the sky over Odesa, Militarnyi, 04/27/2024
– Ukrainian trainer aircraft shoots down Russian spy drone, defence-blog.com, 04/28/2024