After the destruction of its Be-12 “Chaika” aircraft, Russia is trying to make up for the loss of specialized surveillance platforms by actively deploying helicopters, other fixed-wing aircraft and reconnaissance drones, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said on television.
“They do have the Be-200, a newer version, but alongside these aircraft they are also using helicopters and other propeller planes. This complicates logistics because different platforms have to be involved. Still, the number of sorties is high—dozens per day,” Pletenchuk said.
He added that Russian forces are employing drones of various types, including operational-tactical models and armed UAVs such as the Orion, Forpost and Mohajer-6.
“If Russia continues at this pace, it will face serious problems supplying and sustaining these anti-drone flights,” he stressed.
Pletenchuk noted that Russia’s loss of the Be-12 is a positive development for Ukraine because the anti-submarine aircraft were highly effective at monitoring surface activity, and their destruction complicates the enemy’s operations at sea.
