Introduction to the DD Newsletter
The DD Newsletter provides weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Bizarre Footage of a CUAS Interceptor Drone on a MiG-29 Fulcrum
Bizarre footage has emerged from Russia, showing what is claimed to be part of an experiment to integrate a counter-uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) interceptor drone on a MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter. The quadcopter drone is lashed to the fighter using zip ties, which raises questions about the practicality of the solution. This is not the first example of a Russian weapons manufacturer creating a laughable PR stunt.
Project Archangel and the Russian Ministry of Defense
The video was made by Project Archangel, a Russian volunteer group that has dedicated itself to the creation of UAVs, mostly of the first-person view (FPV) type. These kinds of drones have become a signature weapon of the war in Ukraine, widely used by both sides. The precise relationship between Project Archangel and the Russian Armed Forces is not entirely clear, but the group is one of several that have been set up since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the aim of rapidly producing large numbers of FPV drones.
The Feasibility of the Solution
The footage shows one of Archangel’s quadcopter interceptor drones mounted under the outer wing of a Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-29SMT (izdeliye 9.19R). The jury-rigged installation involves the drone being attached to a sensor housing the jet’s radar warning receiver system, held secure there by commercial-type zip ties. Clearly, there is no way for the jet to actually launch the drone with this kind of setup, and clearing a drone for air-launch would require extensive trials, regardless.
Technical Challenges and Limitations
There is nothing to indicate the drone would survive the rigors of high-speed jet flight — especially given that it’s fitted with four vulnerable propellers. In fact, it’s doubtful if the jet would even be able to safely take off with a drone fixed to it in this manner. Then there is the very real possibility that it might interfere with the host aircraft’s self-protection system, which it is attached to.
Conclusion
For now, we can say with confidence that there is next to no chance of Russia using fighter jets to send interceptor drones into battle against hostile UAS in the skies over Ukraine any time soon. That said, there’s no doubt that Russia is increasingly looking at the potential for using drones to intercept other hostile drones. Meanwhile, there are certainly moves to develop air-launched FPVs, as well as loitering munitions, and more advanced ‘air launched effects’ (ALEs), with a degree of blurring between the definitions of these. Ultimately, these will become a more common capability on a range of aircraft types, but this effort from Archangel is clearly highly aspirational at best.