Ukraine's intel reveals new Russian drone with missile: How it works

Russia has adapted the R-60 air-to-air missile for installation on drones to target Ukrainian helicopters and aircraft hunting Russian drones.

New drone design

The missile with the APU-60-1MD aviation launcher is mounted on a special bracket located in the upper front part of the drone's fuselage.

The drone is equipped with two network cameras – in the nose and behind the missile launcher. Video and control commands are transmitted via a Chinese Xingkay Tech XK-F358 mesh modem.

The electronic filling also includes a single-board microcomputer, Raspberry Pi 4, a tracker, and two GSM modems for telemetry transmission. The countries of origin of the electronic component base remain standard for Russian UAVs of this type: the US, China, Switzerland, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, and the UK.

How new drone works

The likely principle of missile application is to transmit images from cameras installed on the drone via a mesh modem to the operator, who, in the event of a Ukrainian aircraft or helicopter appearing in the strike zone, sends a command to the missile's automation unit to launch it.

After launch, the R-60's heat-seeking head independently locks onto the target. Another possible scenario is for the homing head to lock onto the target in advance and transmit the relevant information to the operator, who then gives the command to launch.

The main purpose of the new development is to create a threat to Ukrainian military and tactical aviation and reduce its effectiveness in intercepting Russian drones.

Earlier, HUR reported on 68 new components found in Russian missiles and drones that Russia uses to attack Ukraine's energy facilities.

The Russian turbojet Shahed contains components from the US, China, Switzerland, and other countries.