Photos and videos have been released showing Ukrainian troops using a light transport aircraft as a platform for deploying anti-aircraft drones for the first time in history.
The An-28 (M28) was selected as the platform, capable of carrying six anti-aircraft drones under its wings. Operators are stationed directly on board the aircraft. They use P1-SUN and Surveyor drones from the Merops system.
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Until now, there have been no examples anywhere in the world of aircraft being used in combat as carriers for anti-aircraft drones. This is what makes the Ukrainian An-28, as a carrier for the P1-SUN and Merops, so remarkable.
The video also shows that this An-28 has retained its onboard machine guns. This means the aircraft can engage enemy targets using two types of weaponry at once: miniguns and interceptor drones.
The An-28, serving as a platform for interceptor drones, is ideal due to its ability to take off from unprepared airfields and its compact size. Its wingspan is 22 meters, and its fuselage length is 12.98 meters.
The An-28 can carry up to 19 people, which limits the number of operators on board. Its maximum speed is 355 km/h, and its range is between 1,200 and 1,900 kilometers, allowing it to remain airborne for extended periods while intercepting enemy UAVs.
The Surveyor drones, part of the Merops system, are known to have a flight speed of 285 km/h and to use kinetic warheads for intercepting targets. In turn, the P1-SUN drones have a range of up to 15 kilometers, a target interception altitude of up to 5,000 meters, and a flight duration of 15–17 minutes.
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