Russia arms Shahed drones with missiles: Footage of intercepted drone emerged
Illustrative photo: The Unmanned Systems Forces intercepted a drone equipped with a MANPADS, posing a threat to Ukrainian aviation (Getty Images)
A Shahed Russian kamikaze drone equipped with a man-portable air-defense system has been intercepted. This indicates an attempt by Russia to create a new threat to Ukrainian aviation and alter the tactics of UAV deployment, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) reported this on Telegram.
"Fighters of the Darknode battalion of the 412th Nemesis Brigade intercepted a Russian Shahed equipped with a man-portable air-defense system. The drone also carried a radio modem and a camera, which allowed it to be controlled from Russian territory and to launch a missile while airborne," the Unmanned Systems Forces said.
Thanks to the coordinated actions of the crew, the enemy UAV was destroyed, eliminating a potential threat to Ukrainian aviation.
The SBS added that they are currently studying the enemy’s tactics involving this new weapons configuration in order to develop effective countermeasures.
Russia regularly upgrades Shahed-136 strike drones, experimenting with navigation, communications systems, and payloads. Previously, attempts were recorded to install additional antennas, cameras, and artificial intelligence elements to increase UAV autonomy.
On the night of January 3, Russia carried out a massive attack on Ukraine using 95 strike drones from various directions. Thanks to coordinated actions by air defense and aviation, Ukrainian defenders managed to destroy 80 enemy UAVs.
The repulsion of the air attack was ensured by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces Robert "Madyar" Brovdi regularly reports on effective strikes by Ukrainian drones against enemy equipment and facilities.
In particular, on New Year’s night, the Unmanned Systems Forces destroyed 10 military and infrastructure targets both on Russian territory and in temporarily occupied areas. On the night of December 30, "Madyar’s Birds" eliminated a Shahed launch hub at Donetsk Airport.
According to "Madyar", over the past few months, Unmanned Systems Forces units have hit and destroyed tens of thousands of enemy targets, including manpower, significantly reducing the combat capabilities of the occupiers.
