Ukrainian Forces Destroy Russian Ka-52 Helicopter Worth $16M With FPV Drone, Video

May 17, 2025 00:01 LIUBAVA PETRIV

source: click on picture

Operators from Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, specifically the Bombus Balista unit, reported a successful strike on a Russian Ka-52 “Alligator” attack helicopter using an FPV drone.

In a video shared on social media on May 16, the unit claimed the helicopter was conducting what they described as a combat patrol over Ukrainian territory when it was targeted mid-flight.

“The Ka-52 attempted a combat patrol over Ukrainian fields, but did not anticipate the presence of our tactical drone group 'Bombus',” the caption read.

The post highlighted the precision of the operation and described it as a calculated strike contributing to further attrition of Russian aerial assets. The unit concluded with a brief statement: “We continue our work.”

The Ka-52 “Alligator” is a high-value asset of the Russian military. As of 2023, its estimated unit cost is approximately $16 million. According to available data, the Russian Aerospace Forces operated around 133 Ka-52 helicopters as of 2022.

Previously, it was reported that Ukrainian Special Operations Forces destroyed a $45 million Russian Buk-M3 surface-to-air missile system and a rare Uragan multiple launch rocket system during a coordinated drone and missile strike.