Shaheds Get Air-to-Air Kill Power! R-60 Missiles Aim At Ukraine Choppers & Patrol Aircraft | VERTEX

Russia has begun arming Shahed/Geran-2 attack drones with R‑60 short‑range infrared air‑to‑air missiles, turning them from simple kamikaze UAVs into aerial ambushers capable of targeting Ukrainian helicopters and light aircraft hunting drones. A downed drone on 1 December 2025 revealed the R‑60 mounted under its wing, with Ukrainian analysts noting this adaptation is meant to destroy helicopters and tactical aviation that intercept long‑range drones. The R‑60, a Soviet‑era heat‑seeker with a range of up to 7–8 km, requires the operator to point the drone at the target and maintain lock before launch, likely using a stable data link. This new “escort fighter” role for Shaheds forces Ukraine to rethink its counter‑drone aviation tactics, as even drone‑hunting aircraft now face a credible air‑to‑air threat.​

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