Russia is reportedly adapting Soviet-era aircraft into airborne platforms for FPV interceptor drones, adding another layer to its counter-UAV efforts in the war with Ukraine. The plan centers on long-serving airframes rather than new aircraft, showing how older designs are being repurposed for modern drone combat.
According to the available details, the Yak-52 trainer has been fitted with six launch rails for interceptor drone operations. That suggests the aircraft is being used as a mother ship of sorts, carrying FPV drones aloft before releasing them to pursue hostile unmanned aircraft.
The An-2 is also part of the effort. Its design dates back roughly 80 years, making it one of the oldest aircraft types still being adapted for active military support roles. Turning such an old biplane into a drone-launch platform underlines how inexpensive, widely available aircraft can still find a place in contemporary air defense experiments.
Taken together, the Yak-52 and An-2 conversions point to a broader Russian push to expand counter-drone options with improvised or low-cost systems. Rather than relying only on ground-based defenses, these airborne FPV launch setups appear aimed at creating more flexible ways to intercept Ukrainian UAVs.
