59th Assault Brigade downs Russian Ka-52 helicopter with General Cherry OPTIX FPV drone

In the Donetsk region, units of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade of Unmanned Systems struck a Russian Ka-52 ‘Alligator’ helicopter using a fibre-optic FPV drone. The crew used a General Cherry OPTIX UAV, according to the manufacturer.

The helicopter was hit by pilots from the ‘Baltika’ crew of the 1st ‘Predators of Heights’ Battalion, part of the 59th Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces, near the village of Nadiivka in Donetsk region.

According to the manufacturer, the General Cherry OPTIX is available in three base configurations — with 10, 13 and 15-inch frames. The drones are equipped with fibre-optic spools of varying ranges: 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 km. This allows for different configurations depending on mission requirements, the company says.

The Ka-52 is a next-generation Russian reconnaissance and attack helicopter, a command aircraft of army aviation designed to destroy armoured vehicles, personnel and aerial targets. The estimated cost of an ‘Alligator’ is around $16 million.