Soldiers of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) destroyed two Russian Su-30 fighter jets using AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles, launched from Magura-7 unmanned maritime platforms.
This was reported by the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, in a comment to The War Zone.
This marks the first recorded instance of fighter aircraft being downed by unmanned naval platforms, as well as the first use of the AIM-9 missile from such a vessel. “This is a historic moment,” said Kyrylo Budanov.
According to him, the operation took place in the Black Sea on Friday, 2 May. The DIU used three Magura-7 unmanned boats during the attack, two of which fired at the aircraft.
Budanov noted that the crew of the first Su-30 survived and was recovered by a civilian vessel in the Black Sea. According to preliminary reports, the crew of the second aircraft was killed.
He added that the DIU began equipping unmanned vessels with AIM-9 missiles in January. He did not confirm whether this was the first time a drone had fired on a target. Previously, Ukrainian drones had only deployed Soviet-designed air-to-air missiles adapted for surface-to-air use.
“We use several models on our Magura-7s – but the AIM-9 gives the best results,” he said.
- Yesterday, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of a Russian Su-30 warplane in the Black Sea, and later President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the destruction of a second Russian fighter.