Ukrainian marines from the air defense missile division of the 39th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade have demonstrated the remarkable effectiveness of French Mistral man-portable air defense systems, shooting down three russian Shahed kamikaze drones during a single combat shift. The Brigade reported the successful engagement on its official page, praising the adaptability of French system to modern drone warfare.
According to the unit, the Mistral systems, initially designed to destroy helicopters and aircraft, have proven highly capable against loitering munitions like the Shahed drones. These Iranian-designed drones, widely used by russia to strike Ukrainian infrastructure and military positions, rely on piston engines that emit a distinct thermal signature, an easy target for infrared-guided missiles.
Read more: Ukrainian Paratroopers Destroy russia's First Kurier Armed Ground Robot (Video)
The Mistral is a modern French short-range air defense system that uses an infrared homing seeker operating on the "fire and forget" principle. Once launched, the missile autonomously tracks its target, allowing operators to immediately reposition or prepare for subsequent launches. With an engagement range of up to 7.5 kilometers, it is capable of neutralizing low-flying threats with high precision and reliability.
The Brigade emphasized that this adaptability, using a weapon originally meant for traditional air targets against modern kamikaze drones, illustrates the flexibility of Ukrainian air defense units. Facing constant drone attacks, Ukrainian forces have learned to integrate Western technologies into layered defense systems, combining older Soviet platforms with advanced NATO-supplied weapons.
Each successful interception of the Shahed drones saves lives and infrastructure, underscoring the importance of mobile air defense teams along Ukraine's coastline and deep inside the country. The 39th Brigade's success adds to a growing list of confirmed kills achieved by portable anti-air systems, which have become a critical component of Ukraine's defense architecture.
As Defense Express previously reported, Ukrainian forces have scored another precise hit against russia's prized air defense network. Using domestically produced Shchelepy kamikaze drones, designed to engage targets up to 150 kilometers away, Ukrainian troops destroyed the 92N6 radar, one of the core components of russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system.
The strike footage, released by Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation, captures the drone diving directly into the radar array, followed by a powerful explosion. The operation was executed by soldiers of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Read more: Ukrainian Shchelepy Drones Knock Out Key Radar of russia's S-400 System (Video)
