Russian Geran strike drones fitted with new R-60 air-to-air missiles pose a serious threat to Ukrainian fighter jets. This assessment was made by Joseph Trevithick, a columnist for the U.S. outlet TWZ.

Trevithick noted that online reports indicate the Geran drones are now being equipped with R-60 missiles — weapons originally designed to target aircraft and helicopters. These missiles can home in on aerial targets and destroy them, significantly expanding the drones’ potential.

According to the article, Ukrainian helicopters and aircraft, which play an important role in disrupting drone attacks, cannot know in advance whether incoming targets are carrying air-to-air missiles. This uncertainty, the journalist wrote, creates a new layer of risk for the Ukrainian military.

The possibility that Geran drones armed with R-60s could shoot down helicopters or fighter jets forces Ukraine’s command to account for these threats in operational planning.

Earlier, military analyst Aleksandr Ivanovsky stated that equipping Geran drones with air-to-air missiles effectively pushes aerial engagements into a new phase.