Ukrainian Forces Down Russian “Orlan” Drone Equipped with FPV Drones
On August 22, 2025, Ukrainian forces successfully shot down a Russian “Orlan” drone carrying two FPV drones, according to Ukrainian journalist Andriy Tsaplienko, who detailed the incident on his Telegram channel. This marks a significant achievement as it is the first time the targeted Ukrainian unit has destroyed a carrier drone, previously having intercepted numerous reconnaissance drones, including “Orlan,” “Zala,” and “Supercam,” reports 24brussels.
Tsaplienko noted that these carrier drones are utilized to deliver and launch smaller strike drones over considerable distances. Their destruction is pivotal in mitigating the threat posed by UAVs in combat situations.
Earlier reports from Forbes highlighted the resurgence of World War I aerial tactics in Ukraine, wherein second pilots are attempting to intercept airborne targets with sidearms due to a lack of forward-mounted machine guns. A notable instance occurred in late April when a trainee pilot using a 1970s Yak-52 training aircraft managed to shoot down a Russian “Orlan,” valued at approximately $100,000.
