Ukraine turns Soviet-era two-seat trainer into hunter-killer of Russian drones
The Yakovlev Yak-52, a training aircraft that's popular with civilian pilots performing aerobatics, is being repurposed by Ukraine for a more aggressive application – destroying Russian drones.
One of the key features of the war in Ukraine has been the ingenuity of Kyiv's forces and their ability to turn non-combat equipment into offensive weapons.
An example of that happened over Odessa when a Ukrainian Yak-52 was filmed chasing down a Russian Orlan 10 reconnaissance drone.
The Yak-52 is a two-seater and the man in the back seat – where the instructor would normally sit – is believed to have been shooting at the drone, possibly with a light machine gun.
Eventually, the drone's parachute deploys and it then floats down towards the ground.
And it seems this isn't a one-off, as pictures have appeared online showing a Yak with several drone kill markings painted on the fuselage.
There has also been footage taken by a Russian Zala drone of a Yak-52 close up.
The video shows the rear canopy open with the man in the back presumably getting ready to fire a weapon.
The Yak-52
The Yakovlev Yak-52 is a Soviet-designed two-seat primary trainer aircraft that was used extensively by Eastern Bloc countries for pilot training.
It went into production in 1978, being manufactured by Romanian company Aerostar under licence from Moscow until production ceased in 1998.
It has a top speed of 177mph and a range of 342 miles. Inside the tandem cockpit there are dual controls for the instructor and student.
It also has retractable tricycle landing gear, which was unusual for Soviet aircraft of this type at the time.
With its powerful radial engine and ability to withstand G forces, it has become a favourite on the airshow circuit, with civilian pilots performing aerobatics.
But because it's a relatively slow aircraft, it's ideal for targeting slow-flying drones as a fast-flying fighter would simply overshoot the target or fail to lock on.
The Orlan 10
The Orlan 10 drone that the Yak shot down is a staple of Russian reconnaissance and surveillance.
It's used in Ukraine to provide electronic warfare, target acquisition and artillery spotting.
The incident that was caught on camera also shows how the line is being blurred between combat and non-combat equipment.
It shows how with creativity and ingenuity, you can repurpose bits of kit and use them for an entirely different purpose – something the Ukrainians are very good at.
However, it remains unclear as to whether more evidence will emerge of Russian drones being destroyed by this type of aircraft.
Flying so slowly, they are obviously pretty vulnerable to air defence so they'll have limited use.
But there is a great morale-boosting effect in seeing this old trainer downing Russian drones that cost about the same as a Yak.
And it is another example of Ukraine's absolute determination to win this war.
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