Russia turns Cessna light aircraft into drone hunters amid refinery attacks
October 16, 2025
Faced with a burgeoning threat from Ukrainian drones that are threatening to cripple its oil refining industry, Russia is resorting to an ever-increasing range of aircraft to serve as drone hunters. Light Cessna aircraft are now taking their place defending Russian skies.
Russia is modifying Cessna sports aircraft for anti-drone roles
While Russia likes to parade its blingy new gear every year in Red Square, this is not necessarily what its military personnel see in the real world.
Over 3.5 years into Russia’s “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine, Russia’s vaunted Su-57s are timidly operating on the sidelines, some frontline troops are relying on horses for supplies, T-14 Armata tanks are nowhere to be seen, and units are now using civilian Cessnas.
Russia is now modifying light Cessna aircraft to serve in a combat role to counter Ukrainian drones. This comes as the country has finally produced a combat variant of its Yak-130 advanced trainer as a drone hunter. It has also been seen operating Yak-52 turboprop trainers in an anti-drone role, copying Ukraine’s moves in 2024.
From footage seen on Russian state TV, the Cessnas have been modified with targeting and aiming systems and have two machine guns mounted under the fuselage. The challenge both sides face is neutralising drones operating at altitudes of 80-150 meters.
The modified aircraft is a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Another Cessna, a 182 Skylane, is visible in the background, although it is unclear if that aircraft is modified for drone hunting.
The emerging ragtag menagerie of airborne drone hunters
The Ukrainian news outlet, Militaryni, wrote that Russia’s Bars-Saramat unit is even using the Soviet Yak-18Ts to intercept Ukrainian drones. The first variant of the Yak-18 first entered service in 1946, meaning Russia is on the verge of using aircraft that flew during WWII to defend its airspace.
Moravan Z-137 Agro Turbo turboprop aircraft, modified for R-73 air to air missile launches, was spotted in Ukraine. Most likely used to intercept Shahed kamikaze drones or reconnaissance drones. pic.twitter.com/mLjhkiZvIw
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 8, 2025
The list of aircraft being utilised by both sides as drone hunters is impressive and growing quickly. While both sides use fast jets (like Ukraine’s F-16s), they are not ideal for various reasons, including the limited number of jets available.
Ukraine has been seeing particular success using modified helicopters working in tandem as drone hunters.
An FPV drone downed a Russian Mil Mi-8 chopper. The crew has been destroyed along its vehicle. pic.twitter.com/CfyhLuEuiJ
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) September 29, 2025
Another airborne manned drone hunter includes the Moravan Z-137 Agro Turbo cropduster repurposed by Ukraine. Yet another example is the SHARK light aircraft built by the Czech-Slovak company, Shark.Aero. These are used in an EW anti-drone role rather than a kinetic role.
The fast-paced drone war in Ukraine and Russia
One of the main ways of countering certain types of drones is with interceptor drones. Ukraine is known to have developed various interceptor drones of varying levels of capability.
Among these interceptor drones are the mysterious, advanced AI-powered drones made by Swift Beat, a startup founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Interceptor drones are getting so capable that they have now destroyed Russian helicopters mid-flight.
Ukraine previously stated it is aiming to produce 4.5 million drones in 2025, mostly small FPV drones. It is aiming to produce around 30,000 long-range strike drones. The drone currently leading the campaign against Russian refineries is the FP-1 drone.
As Russia’s air force has failed to secure air superiority, Russia is also forced to rely on stand-off measures like drones, missiles, and glide bombs.
A Ukrainian one-way drone casually cruises thousands of kilometers from the border, over a Russian refinery in Orenburg Oblast, projecting full confidence and dominance. Terrified guards fire a few weak shots, all misses, proving utterly useless. pic.twitter.com/N3BuX89OVX
— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) October 3, 2025
Russia has also failed to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum, which is described as the next ‘high ground’ in war. Any combatant able to command the electromagnetic spectrum will have a huge advantage, although it remains contested in Ukraine.
Featured Image: Telegram/Russian State TV
