The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has released new video footage showing a Ukrainian FPV drone shooting down a rare Russian Orion reconnaissance and strike drone, in what appears to be the first confirmed instance of such a high-value aerial target being destroyed by an anti-aircraft FPV system.
The footage, shared via the SBU’s official Telegram channel, showcases a two-week operational period in which the agency’s Special Operations Center “A” destroyed a range of Russian military assets. These included tanks, artillery, electronic warfare systems and multiple drones, among them the Orion, one of Russia’s most advanced combat drones.
Defense analysts have long regarded the Orion UAV as one of Russia’s most capable, and expensive, platforms. According to Ukrainian electronic warfare expert Anatoly Khrapchinsky, many of the drone’s parts are imported via third countries, with even its engine sourced from Austria.
“It’s heavy, expensive, and during the full-scale invasion, seven have been destroyed so far,” Khrapchinsky told Ukrainian Radio in a 2024 interview.
Russia’s Orion fleet also suffered a significant setback in June, when a Ukrainian drone strike targeted the Atlant-Aero facility in Taganrog, a key production site for components used in the Orion system.
While Ukraine’s FPV drone tactics have already proven effective against ground targets, this latest footage suggests that Ukrainian forces are successfully adapting the approach for use against sophisticated aerial threats, further leveling the playing field in a conflict where air superiority remains contested.
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Post Image Credit: Screenshot of SBU video
