The Russian military continues its attempts to install air-to-air weapons on its "Shahed" drones so that these strike drones can evade Ukrainian air defenses and undermine Ukraine's air defense system.
This is stated in a new report by the Institute for the Study of War. ISW analysts draw attention to reports from Russian and Ukrainian sources (in particular, the portal "Military") that border guards from the 105th detachment shot down a Russian Shahed with an interceptor drone carrying an "air-to-air" R-60 missile, Focus writes.
In addition, the missile, which the Russians had previously installed on the UAV's course, this time was turned backwards. This was detected by the interceptor drone flying behind the "Shaheed".
ISW recalls that earlier Russian troops equipped Shahed with R-60 missiles aimed forward to destroy Ukrainian helicopters and tactical aircraft that "hunt" Shahed. The fact that the Russians are now trying to mount R-60 missiles aimed backwards on the drones indicates a possible change in the purpose of such "modified" Shaheds, analysts suggest.
If earlier drones with an "air-to-air" missile were probably intended specifically for the search and subsequent destruction of Ukrainian aircraft, now the backward-facing missiles are apparently intended to protect the drone if it collides with a Ukrainian aircraft.
At the same time, the missile mounted on the drone allows the drone to threaten Ukrainian aircraft included in Ukraine's air defense system and continue its movement towards its original target.
The military, in turn, suggests that in this way the Russians are trying to counteract Ukrainian helicopters and light aircraft that intercept the attack drones.