Video a Merlin-VR drone, considered the most expensive in the Arsenal of Russia, is “hunted” and shot down by Ukrainians
Russian drone Merlin-VR. Photo source: Separate video capture Mechanized Brigade and 45th Separate Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine / Facebook
Kiev troops brought down a Russian Merlin-VR recognition drone, rated at over $ 300,000, through an air attack that involved the use of a Ukrainian drone and held in the front sector in Donetk, Wednesday wrote the Ukrainian Publication Defense Express..
The information was provided by the Press Office of the Operational Group of Troit Hortitia within the Ukrainian army, which confirmed that the Russian drone was detected and intercepted by the fighters of the 63 Separate Mechanized Brigade and of the 45th Artillery Brigade.
In order to intercept the target, the Ukrainian forces carried out their own drones. The collapse of the Russian drone was successfully executed by an UAV operator (unanswered) in Brigade 45, while the staff in Brigade 63 recorded the moment of interception through a room mounted on another drone.
According to Ukrainian soldiers, Merlin-VR is considered to be the most expensive recognition drone in the Arsenal of Russia.
This UAV system is valued at over $ 300,000 and can fly up to 10 hours, covering distances up to 600 kilometers completely automatically or semi-automatically.
Brigade 63 subsequently distributed images with the interception and breaking up of the Russian drone on their official Facebook account.
Ukrainian Troops Destroyed of Russian Merlin-VR Reconnaissance Uac on the Lyman Axis. ITS Cost Exceeds $ 300,000 pic.twitter.com/incjyc7i0g
– Defense Express (@defenseexpress) April 9, 2025
Merlin-VR is an experimental hybrid drone, recognition, which the Russians catalog as a “technological innovation” due to its alleged improved optics, the range and the fact that it is very silent.
The driver's manufacturer claims that the device has a hybrid engine, which offers “low detectability”. But in such a model that was shot down by Ukraine's armed forces in early June 2022, no hybrid technology was found, but only a conventional engine, notes the quoted publication.
The drone was also equipped with Lynred (Ulis) Pico1024 thermal matrices, manufactured in France, and with a regular plastic bottle instead of a fuel tank, probably to make the production of the device, writes Defense Express.
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