Naval drones with missiles shoot down two Su-30s – Budanov
The Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine shot down two multi-role Su-30 (Flanker) fighters with AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles launched from Magura-7 unmanned aerial vehicles, The War Zone reports, citing the head of the Agency, Kyrylo Budanov.
Budanov said in an exclusive interview with The War Zone that this was the first time a fighter was shot down by a drone, and the first time an AIM-9 was used from a drone to destroy it.
“It’s a historical moment,” Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told us. The War Zone cannot independently verify this claim.
The incident took place in the Black Sea on Friday, said Budanov, who offered new details about what happened. Previous reporting from the Intelligence Agency, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and Russian Telegram channels stated that one Flanker was shot down by an adapted infrared-guided R-73 (AA-11 Archer) short-range air-to-air missile.
Video emerged on social media showing the first Flanker downing. Budanov said there were no videos or images of the second engagement.
The Agency used three Magura-7 drone boats in the attack, with two of them firing on the jets, according to Budanov. The Magura-7 is an air defense variant of the Magura-5, he explained, declining to elaborate on the difference between the two.
The Russian Federation, according to Russian sources, has captured an intact Ukrainian Magura V drone.