Ukrainian soldiers are leaning out of Soviet-era propeller planes with rifles and shotguns to shoot down Russian drones in mid-air, a stark reminder that low-tech solutions can still triumph over modern warfare technology.
World War 1 Tactics Meet Modern Drone Warfare
The 11th Army Aviation Brigade has eliminated dozens of Russian drones using vintage Yak-52 aircraft, originally designed for aerobatics training decades ago. Soldiers lean out of these propeller planes, taking aim at incoming drones with standard firearms. The Wall Street Journal reported that troops have adopted the World War 2 tradition of stenciling downed drones onto the aircraft fuselage, marking each successful kill. The footage shows drones plummeting to earth and erupting in massive fireballs after being hit, creating scenes that observers compared to combat video games.
Why Vintage Aircraft Outperform Modern Jets
The Yak-52 planes prove far more economical than Ukraine’s F-16 fighter jets for drone interdiction missions. These non-jet-powered aircraft easily match the speed of Iranian-made Shahed drones operated by Russian forces. The vintage planes maneuver close enough—within several hundred feet—to allow soldiers clear shots with rifles and shotguns. One mechanic turned gunner told the Wall Street Journal the irony of the situation: modern warfare driving soldiers back to shooting from open cockpits like their World War 1 predecessors.
High Risk, High Reward Strategy
The tactic carries significant danger. Russian air-defense missiles pose a serious threat to the slow-moving propeller aircraft, leaving Ukrainian pilots and gunners completely exposed during missions. Despite these risks, the success rate justifies the unconventional approach. Ukraine continues deploying anachronistic solutions alongside cutting-edge technology—the same week featured footage of Ukrainian forces using remotely-controlled robots to evacuate elderly civilians from combat zones. The combination demonstrates how warfare adapts, blending old and new methods to achieve tactical advantages against a better-equipped adversary.