Ukrainian Interceptor Drone Downs Russian Forpost UAV at 4 KM Altitude

The Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a Russian Forpost strike and reconnaissance drone at an altitude of 4 km.

The commander of the 414th Separate Strike UAV Brigade, known as the Birds of Magyar, published a video of the hit.

This type of drone is capable of performing strike-reconnaissance missions and can also carry guided munitions.

It can be equipped with KAB-20 guided bombs, whose targeting is carried out using laser guidance through the main optical-electronic system.

The interception of the Russian UAV took place at a relatively high altitude, as an FPV interceptor drone was involved from the Topota PM unit, for which such an altitude is already quite significant.

The exact model used for the interception is unknown, but the interceptor drone managed to catch up with and strike the Forpost drone at the altitude control, potentially destroying it.

According to reports, the drone was able to glide as far as the Kursk region, where it likely crashed.

The use of interceptor drones, also known as ‘anti-aircraft drones,’ has become a common practice for the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Both modified FPV drones, which hunt Russian UAVs of various types, and more specialized devices are being deployed.

One of these drones was spotted by the Russians when it attempted an unsuccessful interception and was captured by the camera of a Russian reconnaissance drone.

The UAV was moving at high speed and had horizontal and vertical control surfaces located at the front, while the rear wings were used solely for stabilization—without the ability to control.

Militarnyi previously reported that Ukraine had developed and successfully tested a drone-based interceptor designed to neutralize Russian Shahed attack drones.

The system was trialed over the Kyiv region for a month.

Forpost UAV

Forpost drone is a Russian reconnaissance-strike UAV, a licensed copy of the Israeli IAI Searcher Mk II, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries. Russia became interested in this UAV in 2009, when it purchased two Searcher II drones for $12 million to study them.

In 2010, a contract worth $300 million was signed for assembling UAVs from Israeli components at the Kazan Helicopter Plant. Since 2012, the Ural Civil Aviation Plant has been producing localized systems under the name “Forpost,” which includes the drone and the ground control station.

The UAV is equipped with electro-optical and infrared cameras, allowing it to be used around the clock. The maximum flight range is up to 250 km (with a directional antenna), and the flight duration is up to 18 hours.

In 2019, an upgraded version appeared — the Forpost-R with a Russian APD-85 engine. The weight of the UAV increased to 500 kg, and the maximum flight altitude decreased to 5 km. This modification is capable of carrying small-caliber munitions, including the KAB-20, although their effectiveness is limited.