Overview
- Photos of a crashed Shahed posted on the Reibert auction site show a passive radar seeker with four directional antennas, and the specialist outlet Militarnyi linked its parts to Russia’s Lyra‑VM system and ES GRLO radar ID markings.
- Defense Express reported a downed Gerbera‑2 variant carrying a very realistic R‑60 replica that lacked a proper pylon and had cut lower fins, which fits a decoy meant to look dangerous without actually working as a missile.
- Serhii “Flash” Bezkrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense ministry, said Russia is using the fake R‑60s to scare pilots and lure multiple interceptor units to engage a single drone.
- Ukraine has formally approved the lightweight ‘Shvidun’ interceptor drone for operational use, saying it can reach over 250 km/h, fly more than two hours with a range beyond 70 km, and has already helped down nearly 100 enemy drones.
- These finds add to a pattern of Russian tweaks to Shahed‑family drones, including new payloads and guidance ideas, which push Ukraine to refine how it identifies targets and how it spends scarce air defense shots.