- Category
- Latest news
Ukrainian FPV Drone Takes Down Russian Lancet UAV Mid-Air, Video
- Authors
![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
A video surfaced recently showcasing a Ukrainian FPV drone intercepting and destroying a Russian Lancet UAV mid-flight on January 11.
The Russian Lancet, a loitering munition designed for long-range precision strikes on military assets, has been a critical component of Russia’s arsenal. However, Ukraine’s growing reliance on FPV interceptor drones significantly curtailed Lancet attacks.
This Russian Lancet drone didn't make it out of an encounter with a Ukrainian FPV drone. pic.twitter.com/T9nljbuVho
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) January 11, 2025
FPV drones, equipped with shrapnel warheads and enhanced maneuverability, have proven to be highly effective in neutralizing Russian UAVs. While Lancets were previously used to target Ukrainian artillery and other strategic assets, Ukrainian FPV drones are disrupting this threat by focusing both on the ZALA reconnaissance drones that guide Lancets to their targets and strike drones themselves.
ZALA drones, known for their ability to loiter over battle zones at high altitudes, are essential for Lancet strikes. By taking out these reconnaissance drones, Ukraine has effectively crippled the Lancet’s operational network. According to reports, the use of FPV interceptors and electronic warfare measures has reduced Russian reconnaissance and attack capabilities by up to 90%.
Russian OSINT data revealed a drop in Lancet strikes, from 180 in August to just 24 in November. This decline underscores the effectiveness of Ukraine’s counter-drone strategy, which combines FPV interceptors with advanced electronic warfare systems to disrupt drone communications.
In 2024, Ukraine unveiled a domestically produced loitering munition capable of striking Russian targets with precision at distances exceeding 100 kilometers. This cutting-edge drone, featuring an X-shaped fuselage and machine vision for automatic target acquisition, has already proven its effectiveness on the battlefield by destroying a Russian anti-aircraft missile system.
Earlier, Ukrainian air defense and pilots from the 63rd Brigade successfully neutralized a rare Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Merlin-VR.
