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Watch the TB2 score its potential first ‘aviation’ kill

Video of TB2 destroying Russian helicopter
Photo: Screengrab

Ukraine’s Operational Command South has shared footage of one of its Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) striking a Russian helicopter in what could possibly be the first aviation kill for the TB2.

It is unclear what type of helicopter was destroyed, but the video shared by the command appears to show either an Mi-8 or an Mi-17 helicopter.

The strike took place on Snake Island, which has been targeted by several Ukrainian attacks after being taken by Russia.

It is unclear whether the operation that saw the TB2 destroy a helicopter took place before or after Ukrainian Air Force aircraft struck Russian positions on the island off Odessa.

Video captured by a TB2 showing the fighter jet strike was released on May 7, while the footage of the helicopter strike was released on May 8.

Ukraine’s Turkish-built TB2 continues to prove highly problematic for Russian assets in Ukraine and has destroyed a range of targets since the start of the invasion in February this year.

More recently, the armed drone performed what was likely the first engagement of a UAV on a naval asset in an operational real-world scenario when it struck two Project 03160 Raptor patrol boats near Snake Island.

Reports also say a TB2 played a role in the successful attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship RFS Moskva.