- Russia is arming Soviet-era aircraft with airborne FPV interceptor drone launch systems
- The Yak-52 trainer receives six launch rails for interceptor drone operations
- The 80-year-old An-2 is taking on an unexpected role in modern drone warfare
Russia has begun equipping Yak-52 trainers and An-2 support aircraft with equipment designed to launch FPV interceptor drones against enemy UAVs.
A video released by Russian entity BARS-Sarmat revealed two different aircraft configurations built for airborne drone launches.
One configuration is intended for land launch, while the other version allows interceptor drones to be deployed directly from the air against approaching targets.
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Yak-52 trials raise questions about cockpit space and drone targets
The Yak-52 trainer aircraft carries six external launch rails mounted under its wings to keep interceptor drones ready for deployment.
The footage shows the plane taking off while carrying only four drones despite six visible launch positions on the fuselage.
The Yak-52 is designed with a limited two-seat cockpit space, making it unclear how drone control is performed aboard this aircraft, as it appears to leave little room for equipment typically required to operate FPV interceptor systems mid-flight.
Russian interceptor drones were also shown engaging several Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles during the same exercise.
Some of the drones attacked during the exercise appeared to be Mayan decoys, along with several other unidentified UAV types caught on camera in flight.
The Yak-52 conversion allows an aircraft originally built for pilot instruction to take on a completely different battlefield role without requiring an entirely new airframe.
Although several technical details remain undisclosed, the aircraft marks Russia’s latest attempt to combine existing aviation platforms with cheaper counter-drone technology.
The An-2’s larger cabin enables on-board control
The An-2 forms the second element of the program, with its larger cabin providing sufficient space for drone control equipment not available inside the more compact Yak-52.
Interceptor drones are launched from a fuselage-mounted attachment point, although Russia has not yet revealed the aircraft’s maximum payload or whether additional underwing launch stations will be introduced.
First introduced some 80 years ago, the An-2 remains one of the world’s longest-serving supply aircraft and continues to operate in both military and civil aviation roles.
Russia has previously announced plans to restore 700 Soviet An-2 aircraft, making the interceptor drone program another attempt to expand the operational value of the aging fleet.
The concept has similarities with Ukraine’s previous decision to adapt An-28 aircraft to launch P1-SUN interceptor drones equipped with an optical targeting system against Shahed UAVs.
These modified aircraft can carry as many as six interceptor drones while supporting Ukraine’s layered air defense network as a cheaper alternative to conventional air-to-air missiles.
The latest Russian conversion illustrates how both sides are increasingly adapting older aircraft for counter-drone emissions by pairing older airframes with modern FPV interceptor technology.
Via United 24 Media
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