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Incredible footage shows the moment a British air defence system shot a Russian drone straight out of the sky over Ukraine.
The ASRAAM system has a 90% strike rate and the Russian drone – a ZALA drone believed to be reconnaissance – was completely destroyed.
The drone was flying over the Kherson region, on the front line of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The ASRAAM system is an infrared homing air-to-air missile, designed to be fired from fighter jets, but in Ukraine it has been adapted to be used as a ground-based launcher.
In December UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced 200 ASRAAM missiles would be sent to Ukraine, following the deaths of 28 Ukrainians in multiple Russian strikes.
Mr Shapps said at the time: ‘Putin’s latest wave of murderous air strikes are desperate and futile attempt to regain momentum after the catastrophic loss of hundreds of thousands of conscripts.
The drone was targeted by the ASRAAM system (Picture: OC South)
The drone was shot out of the sky (Picture: OC South)
It was captured falling back to earth over Kherson (Picture: OC South)
‘We continue to stand by Ukraine’s defence, which is why today we are sending hundreds of air defence missiles to restock British gifted air defence systems capable of striking down Russian drones and missiles with incredible accuracy.’
The Ministry of Defence and MBDA, a company producing missiles, developed the altered missiles and trained up Ukrainian crews.
The New Voice of Ukraine reported: ‘The guidance system helps to pick up the target’s heat signature and hit it from different angles.
‘The missile can detect, track, and hit targets that are not located directly in front of it.’
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