The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has published technical details of a new modification of the Russian Geran-2 strike drone, which has been adapted to use the R-60 air-to-air missile.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has published technical details of a new modification of the Russian Geran-2 strike drone, which has been adapted to use the R-60 air-to-air missile.
According to «Military» with reference to the GUR of the Ministry of Defense, this is a version of the «E» series drone, the design of which allows not only to carry out strike missions against ground targets, but also to pose a threat to Ukrainian aviation involved in intercepting UAVs.
Intelligence indicates that the Geran-2 is equipped with a Soviet R-60 guided missile along with an APU-60-1MD launcher. The pylon is mounted in the upper front part of the fuselage, which allows the missile to be launched while the drone is in flight. The main purpose of this configuration is to destroy helicopters and aircraft engaged in combat with drones.
The drone is equipped with two cameras: one located in the nose, the other behind the launch unit. Video and command transmission is carried out via a Chinese Xingkay Tech XK-F358 mesh modem, which allows the operator to receive images in real time and make decisions about the use of the missile.
Navigation is provided by a 12-channel anti-jamming satellite module «Comet», which is also used in other modifications of the «Shahed». The electronics also included a Raspberry Pi 4 single-board computer, a tracker, and two GSM modems for transmitting telemetry.
According to the GUR, the probable scheme of application involves transmitting the image to the operator: in case of detection of an air target, he gives the command to launch, after which the R-60 thermal homing head captures the object. Such a modification is considered an attempt by the Russian Federation to complicate the work of Ukrainian army and tactical aviation.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense published the detailed structure of the Russian Iskander-M operational-tactical missile complex, a description of its key components, and a list of enterprises involved in the production of 9M723 missiles.
