Russian Shahed drones get air defence with strapped on MANPADS
January 7, 2026
Russia has begun fitting shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles to its Shahed-style one-way attack drones, marking a new escalation in the rapidly evolving drone war over Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces confirmed in early January that they had shot down a Russian Geran drone carrying a MANPADS launcher, an apparent attempt to give the slow, expendable aircraft a defensive punch against Ukrainian fighters and interceptor drones.
The move highlights how both sides are racing to adapt as Ukraine becomes increasingly effective at hunting down mass-produced Shaheds, forcing Russia to experiment with ever more unconventional countermeasures.
Ukraine shoots down Russian Shahed drone armed with MANPADS
Russia is continuing to experiment with ways to arm its Shahed attack drones. Known locally as the Geran, it seems it now arrives armed with a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS).
This came to light when Ukraine shot down a drone in early January that had been modified to carry a shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile. Images of the aircraft lying in the snow show the MANPADS equipment crudely rail-mounted to the surface of the drone.
Respected OSINT account, Special Kherson Cat posted, “For the first time, Shahed equipped with a MANPADS has been detected. This Shahed was equipped with a camera, radio modem, and is remotely controlled from Russia.”
Detailed look on a Russian Shahed with an installed 9K333 Verba MANPADS. https://t.co/v4NWR6JEC8 pic.twitter.com/aS4R5KPO0N
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) January 4, 2026
Shahed-style drones were first developed by West Germany in the 1980s. In Ukraine, they provide a cheap, mass-produced, deep strike system for Russia. They are often used to saturate air defences to allow cruise missiles to reach their targets.
Earlier attempts to arm Shahed drones have already been observed, including examples fitted with air-to-air missiles. Attaching the MANPADs to the kamikaze drone is likely lighter and more straightforward than the R-60 missile.
The MANPADS suck on the Shahed
According to The War Zone, the missile itself is widely reported as the Igla-S, which is an improvement over earlier Igla missiles (NATO reporting name SA-24 Grinch) with a more sensitive infrared seeker, an improved fuze, and a heavier warhead. The system has a maximum range of around 3.7 miles.
However, The War Zone points out that the inscription visible on the MANPAD in footage reads 9P333 (9П333). This would suggest it is a more modern Verba (NATO reporting name SA-29 Gizmo) built to replace the older Igla family.
The launcher appears to have been crudely attached to the Shahed, including with what appears to be duct tape.
MANPADS or Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems are shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile systems designed to counter low-flying aircraft, cruise missiles, and helicopters.
In theory, the MANPADS could allow the drone to threaten Ukrainian aircraft during an interception, but it is unclear whether the system is operationally effective.
For the first time in warfare history, a fighter jet was shot down by a naval kamikaze drone equipped with missiles
— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) May 3, 2025
Yesterday, a Ukrainian 🇺🇦 USV shot down a $50 million Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea, +500km from Odesa, using a reconfigured R-73 air-to-air missile pic.twitter.com/OtHYsQdt1e
It’s worth noting that Ukraine managed to shoot down Russian Su-30 fast jets using R-73 air-to-air missiles attached to a naval kamikaze sea-going drone.
Get the latest aerospace defence news here on AGN.
STING continues to prove significant Shahed-hunter
While Ukraine has had significant success countering Russian drones and other aerial threats with retrofitted helicopters and its Western-supplied F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets, the small STING interceptor has emerged as one of the country’s top counter-Shahed systems.
Russian jet-powered Shahed chased by STING interceptor drone. pic.twitter.com/aFC6nW9IN4
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) January 5, 2026
Ukraine’s Wild Hornets posted yesterday, “STING ranks first among Shahed interceptors, according to official data. For the third month in a row, our drone has been synonymous with effectiveness.” It added that the interceptors are continuously improved thanks to regular feedback from the military.
As the war in Ukraine drags towards its four-year mark, the race to adapt and counter-adapt continues.
Featured Image: X/Ukraine media
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