Ukrainian forces have successfully intercepted multiple rare Russian Merlin-VR spy drones using affordable, anti-aircraft FPV drones.
The interception was confirmed by videos circulating on social media, which showed the downing of Merlin-VR and Supercam reconnaissance drones by the 38th Brigade of Ukraine.
The Merlin-VR, introduced by Russia in 2021, is capable of flying up to 16,000 feet and is designed for advanced reconnaissance in both automated and semi-automated modes. It is considered one of Russia’s more sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and its loss is notable. According to the open-source intelligence group Oryx, since February 2022, Russia has lost only two of its Merlin-VR drones, although actual losses could be higher as Oryx only tracks visually confirmed incidents.
The Merlin-VR drone, developed by Russia’s Scientific Research Institute of Modern Telecommunications Technologies (SRI STT), is said to feature a hybrid engine that offers reduced acoustic detectability. However, after Ukrainian forces shot down one of these drones in June 2022, no hybrid technology was found. Instead, it contained a conventional engine, alongside French-made thermal optics (Lynred PICO1024), an Israeli lens, and a Chinese starter-generator.
This interception highlights Ukraine’s innovative use of low-cost FPV (First-Person View) drones in neutralizing more advanced enemy systems. These adaptable drones have proven to be an effective tool for disrupting Russian reconnaissance operations.
Russia’s use of imported components in its military drones, including technology from France, Israel, and China, continues to raise questions about the true extent of its domestic defense capabilities.