Watch: Meant for a helicopter, fired from the ground. Russian gun goes rogue
A viral video shows a Russian soldier struggling to control a high-powered YakB-12.7 helicopter machine gun that was improperly mounted for ground use. The incident highlights the dangers of repurposing aviation weaponry for infantry anti-drone roles.
Why it matters
The footage illustrates the risks associated with improvised military equipment and the desperate measures taken by forces to counter modern drone threats.
A dramatic video doing the rounds on social media appears to show a Russian soldier losing control of a high-powered rotary machine gun designed to be fired from a helicopter but adapted for ground use.India Today, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.The viral footage shows the Russian soldier preparing to fire the four-barrel YakB-12.7, which had been bolted onto a ground mount instead of its intended platform, the nose turret of a Soviet-era Mi-24 attack helicopter.Seconds after the trigger is pulled, the weapon appears to wrench itself loose, swinging violently as soldiers scatter for safety.
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