Russia Geran-2 Drone: Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence says Russia has upgraded old Soviet-era R-60 air-to-air missiles and put them on Geran-2 drones of the “Э” series. This change turns the drone into something new. It no longer acts only as a one-way attack drone. Russia now uses it to hunt Ukrainian helicopters and aircraft that try to shoot down drones.
The R-60 missile sits on a special metal bracket on the upper front part of the Geran-2 body. Engineers added an aviation launch device so the missile can fire while the drone flies. One important point is that the missile does not need help after launch. After it leaves the drone, the uncooled seeker head locks on its own to the heat of an aircraft or helicopter.
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Chinese modem guide the attack
The modified Geran-2 carries two network cameras. One camera sits in the nose of the drone. The second camera sits behind the missile launch device. These cameras send live video to the operator on the ground. A Chinese mesh modem handles the video signal and control commands.
Experts believe the operator watches the camera feed and looks for Ukrainian aircraft or helicopters. When a target appears in the strike zone, the operator sends a launch command to the missile’s automatic control unit, reported Nextgen defense. After that moment, the R-60 missile guides itself to the target.
Another important point is that most of the flight control and navigation parts stay the same as on normal Geran-2 drones. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate also found the navigation system still inside the drone. To fight electronic warfare, the drone uses a 12-channel Kometa module. This module helps the drone resist jamming.
Inside the drone, investigators found a Raspberry Pi microcomputer. They also found a tracking unit and two GSM modems. These parts send telemetry data during flight. Russian drones also carry many foreign-made electronics. The parts come from the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, China, the United States, Switzerland, and other countries.
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New role for an old kamikaze drone
A Russian Geran-2 unmanned aerial vehicle with this unusual payload appeared in Ukraine and pushed Kyiv’s intelligence service to share details. Instead of flying into a target and exploding, the drone now works as a flying threat to the air. This setup suggests Russia tests a reusable Geran-2 version. The goal seems to move away from a single-use role and toward air denial.
According to HUR assessments, operators rely on the forward cameras to spot targets in the sky. They then use the infrared homing missile to attack. Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence explained the goal clearly. “The main purpose of the new development is to create a threat to the Ukrainian army and tactical aviation, reduce the effectiveness of its work with intercepting enemies [using drones,]”.
