Ukrainian troops train to shoot down drones using Seagull and Flyswatter VR simulators

Ukrainian troops are using virtual reality to learn how to shoot down Russian drones and even cruise missiles, according to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry. The immersive VR-based training, done through electronic simulators, aims to increase accuracy, cut costs, and boost safety on the battlefield.

Troops train to kill drones and missiles without firing a bullet

In a statement published on 27 November, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry reported that electronic air defense simulators are now used to teach soldiers how to counter FPV drones, Lancet loitering munitions, Shahed drones, and even cruise missiles. These simulators — Chaika (Seagull) and Chaika-M, the latter also known as "Flyswatter" — have been codified for use in the Armed Forces, the Ministry said. Recently, the Ministry formally adopted both platforms for military use.

Ukrainian troops practice virtual targeting with Igla and Stinger man-portable air-defense systems, DShK and M2 machine guns, and small arms. The simulations recreate real combat situations, including air attacks from various angles, heights, speeds, and distances.

In a Telegram post, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry emphasized that such simulators improve battlefield safety and allow repeated practice without wasting live ammunition. The training programs replicate combat-like conditions so closely that soldiers gain practical reflexes needed to operate effectively in real-life attacks.

Text in an official video claims there is a “significant skill improvement after just 7–10 sessions.” The video shows a soldier wearing virtual-reality gear, then switches to a video-game-style weapon-selection interface and first-person-shooter-like “gameplay.” One of the selectable items is a searchlight, which mobile fire teams widely use to hunt Russia’s Shahed drones during their daily attacks on Ukrainian cities.