A remarkable video has surfaced online showing the destruction of a Russian Shahed drone from the cockpit of an AN-28 aircraft — a plane built at the PZL Mielec factory in Poland. According to reports, the aircraft has already taken down more than 150 drones.
The Hunt Caught on Camera
The footage shows the moment a short burst of fire from an M134 Minigun — mounted on board the AN-28 — turns a Russian Shahed drone into an exploding wreck. The crew operating this particular aircraft is made up of a special group of civilian volunteers who conduct night-time drone hunts over Ukrainian skies. Their reported tally so far stands at over 150 kills.
The aircraft first gained wider attention in early February, when French broadcaster TF1 ran a feature on the crew. The report allowed aviation observers to identify the plane as a PZL AN-28, an early version of the M28 aircraft produced at the WSK PZL Mielec plant in southern Poland.
A Polish Aviation Success Story
The first AN-28 rolled off the Mielec production line on July 22, 1984. That early production experience gave Polish engineers the foundation to develop the more advanced M28, designed in the 1990s under chief engineer Adam Warzocha. The M28 incorporated significant upgrades over its Soviet predecessor, including new turboprop engines and modern avionics.
Two main variants of the M28 were developed. The Bryza was tailored for domestic use by the Polish Armed Forces and Border Guard, powered by PZL-10S engines. The Skytruck was designed for export markets, fitted with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65B engines, and has been sold to countries including Venezuela, the United States, Estonia, and Jordan — and continues to find buyers to this day.
Perfectly Suited for the Job
How this particular AN-28 from Mielec ended up in Ukraine remains unknown. What is clear is that it is remarkably well suited to the role of drone hunter. The aircraft can take off and land on short, unpaved strips, and its maximum speed of 280 km/h allows it to intercept and pace Russian drones with ease — making it an unlikely but highly effective weapon in Ukraine’s defense against the nightly Shahed swarms.
