Russia has introduced a new variant of the Shahed-136 equipped with an R-60 air-to-air missile, raising the risk for Ukrainian aircraft and helicopters involved in interception missions.
The heat-seeking missile, mounted on the drone’s nose, was first seen in images released by Ukrainian organizations, which confirmed its downing by a domestic Sting interceptor.
Experts say the system relies on real-time control (MITL), already used in recent versions of the Shahed, allowing Russian operators to direct the drone directly at enemy aircraft before firing the R-60.
Despite the missile’s limitations and the drone’s low maneuverability, the mere presence of this weapon creates a deterrent effect, complicating the actions of Mi-8, Mi-17, and Mi-24 helicopters, as well as aircraft patrolling against kamikaze attacks.
The adoption of the R-60 follows Russia’s strategy of expanding the capabilities of the Shahed-136, which is now produced in various versions in the country. It remains unclear whether the system will be effective in real combat, but the possibility of kamikaze drones acting as anti-aircraft platforms represents another layer of risk for Ukrainian defense, especially in operations behind the front lines.
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @bayraktar_1love / @sternenko | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Interception of the Russian Shahed kamikaze drone with an installed R-60 air-to-air missile.
It was intercepted by Darknode unit of the @usf_army, using STING anti-Shahed drone developed by the @wilendhornets and funded by @sternenkofund. https://t.co/XHEjuCP31F pic.twitter.com/oje4VOXTbz
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 1, 2025
