Yak-52 shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone in the sky over Odesa

In the Odesa region, a Yak-52 piston trainer aircraft shot down a Russian reconnaissance drone.

The corresponding videos were released by local Telegram channels.

The published videos show the moment of descent of an enemy reconnaissance drone on a parachute, which most likely opened due to the operation of automation, around which the Yak-52 was circling.

It can be assumed that the shooting was carried out by the second crew member with a gun or automatic weapon.

Modernization of the Yak-52 with the installation of a heading machine gun in the wing or board is unlikely due to the need for significant and technologically complex interference with the airframe.

Targeting can be performed by third-party targeting via radio communication and a situational awareness system, followed by visual identification of the target.

It is worth noting that the Yak-52, the modification of the Yak-52B, still has the ability to suspend GUV-8700 pods with machine guns or UB-32 with unguided rockets, but such a version existed in a single copy.

Yak-52

Yak-52 is a two-seat single-engine trainer aircraft with a low-wing and three-wheel landing gear, which was mass-produced from 1979 to 1998.

It has a low stall speed of 100-140 kilometers per hour, which allows it to chase drones and, at the same time, to maneuver at relatively low speeds.

The aircraft has a maximum permissible speed of 470 kilometers per hour, a range of up to 500 kilometers and a flight duration of 2.5 hours.

The length of the Yak-52 is 7.745 meters, the wingspan is 9.3 meters, and the wing area is 15 square meters.

The mass is 1035 kilograms, and the maximum takeoff and landing weight is 1315 kilograms.