A $500 FPV drone hit Russia's $25 million Tor-M1 system, which was built to counter the F-15 Eagle, A-10 Thunderbolt II, and AH-64 Apache

The Ukrainian Defence Forces have hit a Russian Tor-M1 surface-to-air missile system. The system was not completely destroyed, but it will not be able to fulfil its tasks in the near future.

Here's What We Know

"Tor-M1" is an all-weather tactical surface-to-air missile system. It is designed to destroy low-flying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, drones and guided bombs.

The system was designed to provide defence against US weapons including AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. The Russians themselves claimed that the system is capable of shooting down a US F-15 Eagle fighter jet with a probability of up to 75 per cent and leaves virtually no chance against AGM-86 ALCM cruise missiles (up to 99 per cent).

The Ukrainian Defence Forces have neither F-15s nor ALCMs in service, but they do have $500 FPV drones. Fighters from the AHILLES strike drone company were able to hit Tor-M1s using a cheap UAV. The surface-to-air missile system was not destroyed, but will not be able to perform service for some time.

As for the price, a report by the Centre for Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine says that the Tor-M1 costs $25 million.

Source: @AFUStratCom