Russians equipping Shahed drones with R-60 missile decoys to distract air defences – photos
Russian forces have begun attaching R-60 missile decoys to Shahed strike UAVs in order to distract Ukrainian air defence systems and interceptors.
Source: Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's defence minister
Quote: "The enemy has begun attaching R-60 missile decoys to Shahed drones. The aim is to scare off our aviation and draw the attention of interceptors."
Details: Flash says military aviation already knows how to respond to such targets, but the situation is different for interception units.
"Military aviation knows how to respond to such things. But we have many interception units across various branches of the armed forces and agencies, and of course all of them will try to destroy such an 'important' target," he explained.
He added that it is now important to develop approaches to identifying such objects.
"We need to think about what distinguishing features allow us to identify a Shahed that's carrying fake missiles," Beskrestnov concluded.
The R-60 is a short-range air-to-air guided missile developed in the Soviet Union for engaging aerial targets at close range. It is equipped with an infrared guidance system and a solid-fuel engine.
Background:
- It was previously reported that Ukraine's air defence had shot down a new type of Russian jet-powered drone, probably the new Geran-4, which was equipped with a launcher and an R-60 missile.
- Serhii Beskrestnov also noted in January that Shaheds fitted with R-60 missiles had been shot down on several consecutive days.
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