Russia is upgrading the Shahed UAV to carry R-60 missiles in order to counter Ukrainian helicopters.
Russia has integrated the R-60 air-to-air missile onto the Shahed UAV with a unique inverted mounting structure, aiming to destroy Ukrainian air force interceptor vehicles.
Ukrainian border guards from the 105th Prince Vladimir unit shot down a Russian Shahed attack drone carrying an R-60 air-to-air missile. Based on data from the P1-SUN interceptor drone, military experts noted a significant difference: the missile was positioned facing backward instead of vertically as in previous versions.
This is seen as an effort by the Russian military to counter Ukrainian helicopters and light aircraft, which are being used effectively to intercept attack UAVs. Equipping suicide drones with defensive weapons makes them a direct threat to enemy air forces.
Engineering structure and control system
According to the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), Russia has modified the Soviet-era R-60 air-to-air missile for installation on the Shahed UAV. The missile and its APU-60-1MD launcher are mounted on a specialized support structure on the upper front of the aircraft's fuselage. To operate this system, the UAV is equipped with two cameras located at the nose and rear of the launcher.
The internal electronics system includes a single-board Raspberry Pi 4 computer manufactured in the UK, combined with a Chinese-made Xingkay Tech XK-F358 network modem for transmitting control commands and video. Additionally, the device utilizes two GSM modems for remote data transmission, ensuring a stable communication channel during operations.
Notably, to maintain its navigational capabilities in a dense electronic warfare environment, the UAV utilizes a 12-channel Komet anti-jamming module. The basic navigation and inertial guidance systems remain unchanged compared to standard Russian unmanned aerial vehicle models.
The combat capabilities of the R-60 missile on UAVs.
The R-60 missile is equipped with an infrared (thermal) seeker, allowing for automatic target tracking after launch. The maximum range of this system when integrated onto a UAV is 7 to 10 km. In addition to traditional propeller-driven UAVs, Russia has also begun testing the installation of this missile on jet-powered UAVs to increase approach speed.
The first official record of using the R-60 on the Shahed UAV was in early December 2025. Since then, fragments of this combined weapon have been continuously found at the sites of downed vehicles, indicating that Russia is actively seeking to utilize its old missile stockpile to upgrade the capabilities of inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles.
Analysis by Militalnyi suggests that this solution not only helps Russia optimize its older weapon systems but also creates new challenges for Ukrainian air defense and air force forces in protecting their skies against low-altitude attacks.
