A Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter attempted to intercept a Ukrainian long-range strike UAV FP-1 with an air-to-air missile, but missed the target, according to a video released on August 21, 2026. Defense Express writes about this, as reported by UNN.
Details
The released footage shows an attempt by a Russian Ka-52 to destroy a Ukrainian drone using a missile identified in the video caption as the "Igla-V"—an aviation variant of the Soviet-Russian Igla man-portable surface-to-air missile system. At the same time, the Ka-52M can also use the newer "Igla-S" with the "Strelets" kit.
Russian attack helicopters use more than just cannon armament to intercept drones. This method of combating Ukrainian UAVs has been used since at least 2023, but the released video demonstrates an attempt to use a guided missile for this task as well.
Why the missile missed the FP-1
Missiles of the Igla family are equipped with an infrared homing head. It is designed to guide the missile toward aerial targets, including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and jet-powered drones.
At the same time, such systems may have difficulties engaging targets that emit relatively little heat. These include many Ukrainian long-range UAVs, in particular the FP-1. This feature may explain the difficulties encountered when the Russian helicopter attempted to hit the Ukrainian drone.
After the unsuccessful missile launch, the Ka-52 continued intercepting the target using cannon armament. This method requires the crew to spend more time and effort aiming at a small drone.
At the same time, the Russian military has another option. This refers to the Vikhr anti-tank missile system, which the Russians have returned to service for combating Ukrainian drones.
The Russians have returned to the Vikhr
To destroy aerial targets, the Russian side uses a version of the Vikhr with a proximity fuze. The missile uses semi-active guidance along a laser beam, allowing the helicopter crew to track the target themselves and adjust the missile's flight.
This guidance principle potentially increases the chances of hitting drones such as the FP-1. The British LMM missile, used by Ukraine, operates on a similar principle for combating aerial targets.
The Russian defense industry has already announced the start of combat use of a new version of the Vikhr. At the same time, based on the released video, it is impossible to reliably establish which missile the Ka-52 used. The video caption and the missile's behavior support the Igla version.
The use of the Igla-V or Igla-S can also be explained by the availability of these missiles in the Russian military's arsenal. In contrast, the new version of the Vikhr requires separate production, while its cost compared with missiles already in stock is difficult to determine reliably.
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