Unmanned Systems Forces Shoot Down Russian Forpost-R Drone Over Kursk Region at 4.3 km Altitude

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces have shot down a Russian Forpost-R multirole drone capable of carrying a KAB-20 guided bomb.

The 414th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade, known as “Magyar’s Birds”, released the video.

The Russian drone was shot down over Russia’s Kursk region on July 27. The operation was executed by external drone pilots from the 7th Battalion, Topota.

This marks the sixth confirmed destruction of a Forpost-R since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the second credited to the 414th Brigade. The brigade previously shot down its first drone of this type in April 2025.

A Ukrainian Chaklun-KM interceptor drone destroyed the Russian drone at an altitude of 4.3 km.

⚡️A Russian Forpost-R has been hunted down and shot down – a heavy, high-value strike and reconnaissance UAV capable of carrying guided munitions.

The platform, capable of carrying KAB-20 laser-guided aerial bombs, was detected and destroyed on July 27, 2026, over Russia’s Kursk… pic.twitter.com/kCViSek7aC

— 414 Magyar’s Birds (@414magyarbirds) July 27, 2026

Ukrainian air defence successfully engaged and shot down drones of this type as early as the Anti-Terrorist Operation in the Donbas.

The first confirmed case occurred in August 2014, when an Israeli-made IAI Searcher UAV, bearing board number 920, was shot down near the village of Vilkhivchyk (then known as Novopetrivske). Later that autumn, another IAI Searcher with board number 905 was recovered near Novokaterynivka, while in October 2014 a third aircraft, board number 916, was shot down.

The next confirmed incident took place on May 20, 2015, when Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian Forpost UAV with board number 923. Earlier, on May 4, 2015, reports indicated that an IAI Searcher had also been shot down, although no further details were provided. The last known case during the ATO took place in October 2016, when an IAI Searcher bearing board number 915 was shot down.

Forpost UAS

The Forpost is a Russian reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial system (UAS) produced under licence from the Israeli IAI Searcher Mk II UAV, originally developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

Russia first expressed interest in the platform in 2009, purchasing two Searcher II UAVs for evaluation at a cost of US$12 million.

In 2010, Russia signed a US$300 million contract to assemble the UAVs from Israeli-supplied kits at the Kazan Helicopter Plant.

Beginning in 2012, the Ural Civil Aviation Plant launched production of a localised version of the system under the name Forpost. Each Forpost unmanned aerial system (UAS) comprises the UAV and a ground control station.

The aircraft is equipped with electro-optical and infrared imaging systems, enabling day-and-night operations. It has a maximum operational range of up to 250 km when using a directional antenna, and an endurance of up to 18 hours.

In 2019, Russia introduced an upgraded version, the Forpost-R, powered by the domestically produced APD-85 engine. The upgrade increased the UAV’s maximum take-off weight (MTOW) to 500 kg, while its service ceiling was reduced to 5 km.

This version is capable of employing light guided munitions, including the KAB-20 guided aerial bomb, although the weapon’s combat effectiveness remains limited.

KAB-20

The KAB-20 guided aerial bomb is employed by the Forpost-R and Orion unmanned aerial systems. The Orion is capable of carrying up to eight KAB-20 munitions.

The KAB-20 is a compact guided aerial bomb measuring 900 mm in length, with a 130 mm body diameter and a 350 mm wing span.

The munition has a total weight of 21 kg, including a 7 kg high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) warhead. Its maximum stand-off range does not exceed 8 km, provided it is released from a high altitude.

The munition is produced in two main variants: the KAB-20L, equipped with laser guidance, and the KAB-20S, featuring a satellite navigation guidance system, which was officially accepted into service in April 2023.

There have also been reports of a possible development of a version capable of targeting mobile phone signals; however, there is currently no confirmed information regarding its adoption into service.