Recently, a peculiar video has been circulating widely on Russian social media, reportedly showing an experiment in which a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (CUAS) interception drone was integrated onto a MiG-29 “pivot” fighter jet. Upon closer inspection, it appears that the quadcopter interceptor is strapped to the fighter jet with zip ties, raising doubts about the practicality of this solution. The video was produced by a Russian volunteer organization called the “Archangel Project,” which focuses on “creating drones,” mainly of the first-person view (FPV) type.

The video shows a quadcopter interceptor mounted under the outer wing of a Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-29SMT (product number 9.19R). This makeshift installation requires connecting the drone to a sensor equipped with the aircraft’s radar warning receiver and securing it with commercial zip ties. Clearly, this setup cannot allow the aircraft to actually launch the drone, and in any case, authorizing airborne deployment of a drone would require extensive testing.

(The quadcopter interceptor is attached to the MiG-29SMT wing’s radar warning sensor using a pair of zip ties.)

Video:

There is no indication that the drone can withstand the harsh flight conditions of a high-speed jet—especially considering it is equipped with four fragile propellers. In fact, if the drone is mounted in this manner, it is questionable whether the aircraft could safely take off at all. Additionally, it could likely interfere with the self-protection systems of the host aircraft to which it is connected.

(Vogan-9SP anti-drone interceptor.)

Furthermore, the video shows a member of the “Archangel” squad seated inside the cockpit of the “pivot.” Finally, a “Sidewinder” series fighter takes off, but there is no evidence that this aircraft was equipped with an interceptor drone.

(MiG-29SMT cockpit, equipped with two MFI-68 displays.)

The video’s filming date and location are not disclosed, but it is noteworthy that in 2014, the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered only 14 MiG-29SMT (9.19R) fighters, using incomplete fuselages from the MiG Moscow factory. These aircraft were sent to a training base in Privolzhsky near Astrakhan and reportedly were not deployed in any combat operations in Ukraine.