Ukrainian crew sets record for long-range combat drone intercept
The crew of the 18th Aviation Command set an interception range record with a Wovkulaka Spitfire (Photo: Video screenshot / Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation)
Ukraine's 18th Aviation Command crew has set a new combat range record for the Wovkulaka Spitfire unmanned aerial system, the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation said, calling it the result of months of training and operational experience on Aug. 6.
Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Orlan-30 reconnaissance drone at a distance of 110 kilometers (68 miles), striking the aircraft over the sea.
The Orlan-30 is one of the Russian military's primary aerial reconnaissance platforms. It is used to detect Ukrainian positions, adjust artillery fire and provide real-time intelligence for missile and drone strikes.
"The record is more than just a number. It is clear proof that everything we have been doing systematically every day — our small victories, successful interceptions and aircraft losses — has been moving us in the right direction. This mission was not an act of intuition or a gamble. It was the result of months of training, hundreds of hours spent studying the equipment and regular exercises. The original plan was to conduct reconnaissance at a range of 50 to 60 kilometers, but after the tactical situation changed, we decided to continue toward the target on a one-way mission. At such distances, with no visual landmarks and only the sea below, accurate navigation, trust between the pilot and navigator, and coordinated teamwork become decisive," a servicemember from the 18th Aviation Commandant's Office said.
The unit used a Wovkulaka Spitfire drone interceptor to destroy the target. The 18th Aviation Commandant's Office received the system from the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation as part of the United Collection, the largest defense fundraising campaign since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Within weeks of receiving the system, the unit set a record for its longest-range combat use.
The Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation has been supporting the development of Ukraine's short-range air defense by supplying domestically produced interceptor drones to the country's Defense Forces. To date, the United Collection campaign has delivered 3,140 interceptor drones to 59 military units, including Sting, Taras+, Wovkulaka Spitfire, Blyskavka and P1-Sun systems.
"The record-setting interception of the Orlan-30 demonstrates not only the crew's high level of training but also the ability of Ukrainian interceptor drones to carry out combat missions at unprecedented distances. This forces the enemy to operate its reconnaissance drones farther from the front line, significantly reducing the effectiveness of their reconnaissance and complicating their combat operations," the foundation said.
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