British missile shoots down first Russian helicopter in Ukraine war – The Times
The British online publication The Times writes that the most modern portable missile system in the UK shot down a Russian helicopter during its first use on the Ukrainian battlefield.
Over the Luhansk region in the east of the country, a high-speed Starstreak projectile probably filmed destroying targets with three kinetic darts.
The footage of the attack shows, the newspaper writes, how tungsten Spears simply tear off the tail of a modern Russian Mi-28 after the Ukrainians opened fire using British equipment.
A source in the defense ministry believes that the video shows Starstreak in action over Ukraine.
The source adds that the anti-aircraft system deployed in the country almost a week ago. Top defense industry sources who checked the video also believe it’s a British weapon.
Military expert Kyrylo Danylchenko has already responded to the article and believes that the downing of the Mi-28 on April 1 could well have occurred thanks to British weapons, – writes BBC Ukraine.
“The severed tail beam is a direct hit of tungsten scrap – a 60-centimeter and 900-gram dart may well fall off the helicopter’s tail,” – the expert believes.
On April 1, the inforesist resource published a video taken in the territory of Donbass not controlled by the Government of Ukraine.
It is this video that corresponds to the description of British experts. However, the BBC cannot confirm its origin.
It shows an air battle in which two helicopters are taking part from the Russian side, one of which is shot down by a missile.
An expert of the armed forces on Combat Aviation points out that two modern Russian Helicopters – Ka-52 and Mi-28-are taking part in the battle.
Moreover, the Ka-52 manages to escape, and the Mi-28 is shot down by the Ukrainians with MANPADS. With one missile, instantly, the tail of a modern Russian helicopter simply torn off.
The expert pointed out that the helicopter shot down quite abnormally, “as if in a parade.”
Ukraine does not have such helicopters in its arsenal.
The expert also points out that the video before the Russian Mi-28 hit the characteristic smoke trail that occurs during launches of MANPADS such as “Arrows” or “Stingers” – only a flash in the tail.
At the same time, Starstreak darts in the final stage of launch develop a speed of about 3 swings and their impact on the target is difficult to notice, it looks like an explosion without smoke from missiles.
The Ukrainian military is currently not commenting on the possible use of British MANPADS.
Starstreak missile systems have recently started to be delivered to Ukraine. According to the British Ministry of Defense, Ukraine must already be trained in calculations to work with them.
