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Destroyed on the Ground
At the end of the observed period, photos
of the dismantled wreck of a Russian
Mi-8MTPR-1 helicopter were published.
It is likely the same aircraft with tail number
"Yellow 81," which was lightly damaged in
March 2023 after hitting power lines. The exact
cause of its recent, much more severe damage
is unknown.
Russia also lost two more helicopters to
sabotage on its territory. On Wednesday, April
17, a Mi-8 helicopter burned at Kryazh Airport
in Samara, and on Friday, April 26, a civilian
firefighting helicopter Kamov Ka-32 was
damaged by fire at Ostafyevo Airport in the
Moscow region.
On the Ukrainian side, unlike the previous
month, no aircraft or helicopters were shot
down. However, planes at Dnipro Airport were
hit by Russian Iskander missiles with cluster
munitions on Thursday, April 18. According to
available information, three MiG-29 fighters
and four civilian Yak-40 transport aircraft
were damaged. It is unclear if the fighters
were operational or just derelict. The Yak-
40s were definitely long-retired and had been
parked there since 2010. A few days later, on
Saturday, April 20, Dnipro Airport was targeted
again, and this time an operational MiG-29
was confirmed destroyed. The jet caught fire,
indicating it was fueled.
Dogfights Reminiscent of World War I
Russian reconnaissance drones enable
attacks on Ukrainian airfields and other
targets. Ukraine is combating these drones
with all possible means. Besides ground-based
anti-aircraft systems, such as mobile machine
guns, they have deployed modified training
aircraft. This has led to air battles over Ukraine
reminiscent of World War I dogfights. The use of
propeller-driven Yak-52 aircraft is improvised
but far more suitable than jet fighters, which
are too fast compared to slow drones. The Yak2
has a maximum speed of 285 km/h, making it
better suited to match the speed of drones,
such as the Orlan-10 (maximum 150 km/h) and
the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone (185 km/h).
In its original training version, the Yak-52 has no
armament. It appears the Ukrainians modified
it so that the second crew member operates
a movable machine gun from the rear cockpit.
During the observed period, a video surfaced
showing a training Yak-52 shooting down
a Russian reconnaissance drone.
ARTICLES
Ukrainian Su-25 in a low level flight.
Launchers for American and Soviet unguided
rockets side by side under the wing
of a Ukrainian Su-25.
A Mi-24 helicopter maintenance.
A Yak-52 training aircraft used by Ukrainians against
Russian drones. The side of the fuselage has a checke
-
red area likely indicating a machine gun operated by the
second crew member from the rear cockpit.
Defense against Shahed drones, which attack almost every night.
Ukrainian Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters.
INFO Eduard
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Červenec 2024