Russia has equipped the Shahed drone with an air-to-air missile: a new threat to Ukrainian aviation.

According to ТСН: The attacker modified the air-to-air drone R-60 into a jet version of the 'Shahed', known as 'Geran-4'.

The Ukrainian defense forces successfully shot down this upgraded UAV. Photos of the wreckage clearly show the air intake of the jet engine, confirming the use of the high-speed model rather than the classic propeller version.

The armament mounting remains unchanged compared to previous enemy attempts: the missile is mounted on a standard aircraft pylon secured in the center of the fuselage.

The drone's operating principle is standard: the operator controls the UAV via video link, detects the target, locks it with the infrared homing head of the missile, and launches it.

What is the main threat

Experts believe that the use of the R-60 missile on the 'Geran-4' significantly increases risks for Ukrainian pilots compared to previous experiments with propeller drones.

The main danger lies in the speed: the ordinary propeller 'Shahed' reaches about 180 km/h, while the jet 'Geran-4' is capable of accelerating to 350-500 km/h.

This speed allows the jet drone to approach Ukrainian helicopters faster and maneuver, taking an advantageous position for an attack.

The range of the R-60 missile launch is 7-8 km, although it will be difficult for the operator due to the narrow field of view of the homing head (24-34 degrees).

Analysts warn that the enemy will not stop at what has been achieved: an attempt to equip jet drones with portable surface-to-air missile systems (MANPADS) is expected, as was done with 'Geran-2' earlier in January.

Moreover, the next step could be the emergence of the so-called 'Geran-5' — an analogue of the Iranian jet drone Karrar, which already uses 'air-to-air' missiles in Iran.

Experts emphasize that a key factor in successful Russian attacks is the use of mesh modems to build control systems. Therefore, combating these communication systems should be one of the priorities for Ukrainian electronic warfare means.

It should also be noted that Russia continues to expand its lineup of strike drones used for attacks on Ukraine. According to military analysts, a new drone Shahed-107 has appeared in Russia — a simplified and more economical version of Shahed-136, which has a smaller warhead and a budget engine.

Experts believe that the focus is not on firepower, but on the mass use of UAVs to reduce costs and avoid shortages of strike drones.

This news highlights how important it is to stay at the forefront of technological advancements in unmanned aviation, as the adversary is actively modernizing its means of attack. Vigilance and readiness for new challenges in this area remain critically important for Ukrainian defense forces.