Ukraine’s FPV Drones Flying in Burma?

                       (Staff post from the YAHOO MEDIA on 24 May 2025.)

Russian Mi-17 chopper Appears To Have Been Downed By FPV Drone In Myanmar: Myanmar rebels claim they shot down a government Mi-17 helicopter with an FPV drone. A tactic developed by Ukraine to attack helicopters with small drones has apparently found its way to the jungles of the war-torn nation of Myanmar.

Rebels fighting Myanmar’s junta say they used a first-person view (FPV) drone to down an Mi-17 Hip transport helicopter attempting to land with supplies. The government, however, claims the helicopter crashed due to mechanical failure. Regardless, the claimed attack is nothing out of the realm of possibility.

There are rapidly evolving threats to helicopters in combat zones, including from lower-end drones, raising concerns about degradation in their utility on future battlefields. Video emerged on social media showing the video feed of what purports to be an FPV drone operated by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) careening toward the helicopter, which was hovering just a few feet off the ground at the time.

The video cuts off as the FPV drone gets right next to the helicopter’s rotor blades. The video then shows a different angle of what appears to be a small explosion amongst the Mi-17’s rotors. The helicopter reportedly later crashed a short distance away, killing everyone on board.

FPV Vs Regular Drones?

The main difference between an FPV (First-Person View) drone and a regular drone is the way they are controlled and the experience they provide. FPV drones use a live video feed from the drone's camera to goggles or a screen, allowing the pilot to see the world from the drone's perspective, while regular drones are controlled using a traditional remote and are usually viewed from a third-person perspective.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

FPV Drones:

First-Person View: The pilot sees the world through the drone's camera, providing an immersive and dynamic flying experience.

Manual Control: FPV drones often require more manual control, as they may lack features like auto-stabilization and obstacle avoidance.

Dynamic Flight: FPV drones are popular for racing, acrobatics, and capturing dynamic footage due to their agility and manual control.

Lack of Gimbal: FPV drones often don't have a gimbal, which can lead to more dynamic and unpredictable video footage.

Regular Drones:

Third-Person View: The pilot controls the drone using a remote and views the flight from a third-person perspective.

Features and Assistances: Regular drones often have features like auto-stabilization, GPS, and obstacle avoidance, making them easier to fly for beginners.

Calm and Cinematic Footage: Regular drones can produce more stable and cinematic footage, especially with a gimbal.

Myanmar Rebels Down Russian Helicopter with a FPV Drone

Despite the fact that the Defense Forces of Ukraine have repeatedly damaged Russian helicopters, the first confirmed FPV drone shootdown of a helicopter appears to have happened in Myanmar

The Ukrainian military has been a pioneer in the use of drones on the battlefield, but this time, the Defense Forces of Ukraine were outpaced, as Myanmar's Kachin Independence Army has successfully scored a historically first kill on a helicopter with a drone strike.

The video shows an FPV drone attack on a Myanmar junta Mi-17 helicopter near the town of Bhamo in Kachin State, northern Myanmar, on May 20. It shows that the drone attack occurred during the helicopter's landing, while it was still in the air. An FPV drone operated by the partisans hit the Mi-17’s rotor, resulting in a loss of stable control. The pilots stopped the landing and tried to escape the area despite the damage.

Although the video does not show the helicopter crashing, the junta has confirmed the crash, and footage from the site is available. It is also stated that the helicopter crashed near the town of Shwegu. According to unofficial sources, all seven members of the crew and landing team died.

It should be noted that the Kachin Independence Army made a statement about two helicopters, but the evidence and use of the FPV drone relates to only one. Thus, it can be said that Myanmar partisans were the first to successfully destroy a helicopter in flight using a drone.

At the same time, Ukraine has been close to destroying an enemy helicopter several times using an FPV drone. The first attempts have been recorded since September 2023. Moreover, the attacks caused some damage. The first such incident happened in August 2024, when a Ukrainian FPV drone hit the tail of a Russian Mi-28. A few days later, a similar episode happened with a Mi-8.

However, despite several similar hits, no reliable record exists of a helicopter being downed or destroyed by this weapon so far. This also applies to the recent case of a Russian Ka-52 being hit but not shot down.

At the same time, the situation in Myanmar was much easier because of the Mi-17's hovering during the troop drop-off. The crash and loss resulted from the crew’s decision to return to base instead of landing the helicopter immediately.