The crew of the 18th Aviation Command, part of the Southern Air Command, has set a record for the longest combat deployment of the Wovkulaka Spitfire unmanned aerial system. At a distance of 110 km, the military struck a Russian «Orlan-30» reconnaissance drone. The target was struck over the sea.
«The »Orlan-30’ is one of the Russian army’s key aerial reconnaissance assets. The drone is used to identify Ukrainian positions, direct artillery fire and transmit real-time intelligence for missile and drone strikes.
Wovkulaka Spitfire expands the capabilities of small-scale air defence
«A record isn’t just a number. It’s clear proof that everything we do systematically every day — our small victories, setbacks and missed opportunities — has been steering us in the right direction. This mission was not a gamble or a matter of intuition, but the result of careful, professional work: months of training, hundreds of hours spent mastering the equipment, and regular practice. The plan was standard — a reconnaissance mission covering 50–60 kilometres — but following a change in the tactical situation, we decided to proceed «one-way» and to press on towards the destination. When flying at such a distance without any landmarks, with only the sea to guide you, the accuracy of navigation, the trust between the pilot and the navigator, and the seamless coordination of the entire crew all play a crucial role», said a serviceman from the 18th Aviation Command.
How the crew tracked the «Orlan-30» over the sea
To intercept the target, the crew deployed the Wovkulaka Spitfire unmanned aerial system, which the Serhiy Prytula Charitable Foundation had provided to the unit as part of «Yedynozbory» — the largest defence fundraising campaign since the start of the full-scale war. Just a few weeks after receiving the system, the military set a record for the longest range of its combat deployment.
Serhiy Prytula Foundation It systematically supports the development of small-scale air defence by supplying Ukrainian-made interceptor drones to units of the Defence Forces. To date, 3,140 interceptor drones have been handed over to the military under the «Yedynozbor» programme for 59 units of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. These include the Sting, «Taras+», Wovkulaka Spitfire, «Blyskavka» and P1-Sun, amongst others.
A record-breaking damage to the «Orlan-30» demonstrates not only the high level of training of the crew, but also the capability of Ukrainian interceptor drones to carry out combat missions at record distances. This forces the enemy to withdraw its reconnaissance UAVs to a greater distance from the front line, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of their reconnaissance and complicates the execution of combat missions.
