PREVIEW

This footage shows a Russian anti-submarine helicopter has been destroyed by a first-person-view (FPV) drone launched from a naval drone platform, in what is thought to be an unprecedented incident.

Footage released by the Ukrainian Navy shows the strike on a Kamov Ka-27 helicopter near an offshore drilling installation in the Black Sea.
The incident reportedly took place near the drilling platform known as Syvash drilling platform.

“The forces and means of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the units of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the night of March 5, struck enemy units located on the drilling rig “Syvash” (Golitsyn gas field, Black Sea waters),the Ukrainian Navy said in a statement.

The forces and means of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed a Ka-27 helicopter that was trying to land on the drilling rig site.”
Analysis of the video, released by the Ukrainian Navy, was published on 5 March by the Ukrainian defence outlet Defense Express.

According to the report, the Ukrainian Navy carried out the strike using a first-person-view drone deployed from a naval drone, successfully hitting a Russian Ka-27 helicopter that was attempting to land on the platform.

Other video released by the Ukrainian Navy first shows a naval suicide drone striking the structural supports of the Syvash platform before the helicopter attack.

Russian forces have reportedly been trying to use the offshore installation as a staging point for electronic warfare systems, air defence equipment and communications gear.

The aircraft appears to exceed roughly 115km/h and performs sharp pitch manoeuvres that are not typical of quadcopter-style FPV drones.

This suggests the drone may have been a fixed-wing FPV system, rather than a standard multirotor drone.

The strike resulted in the helicopter being destroyed and completely burned out.