Soldiers from the Darknode battalion, part of the SBS 412th Nemesis Brigade, shot down a Russian Shahed attack drone that was equipped with a man-portable air-defense missile system (MANPADS).
The information was released by the Command of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through its official social media channels.
According to the statement, the drone was fitted with a radio modem and a camera that allowed it to be remotely controlled directly from the territory of the Russian Federation. In addition, the UAV had the capability to employ weapons — in this case, a man-portable air-defense missile installed on the platform.
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This is the second known variation involving armed Shahed drones attempting to engage Ukrainian aircraft. The first case involved a Shahed adapted to carry an R-60 air-to-air missile. In both scenarios, the use of the weapon requires the aircraft — airplane or helicopter — to be positioned ahead of the drone, allowing the Russian operator to detect the target and launch the missile.
Control of these drones is carried out remotely via a mesh-type communications network, initially tested on Gerber decoy drones and later integrated into operational Shaheds. Specialists assess that, against Ukrainian Air Force fighter jets, the effectiveness of this type of solution is limited. However, against helicopters and light aircraft, the system may pose a potential risk, although there are no confirmed records of successful engagements to date.
Evolution of Shahed drones
Since their introduction into the conflict in 2022, Shahed attack drones have undergone significant evolution. In Russia, their production has been localized at facilities in the cities of Yelabuga and Izhevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, where they are manufactured under the designations “Geran” and “Harpia.”
Compared to the original Iranian Shahed-136 model, the drones currently in use feature notable improvements, including new, more lethal warheads, enhanced navigation systems, and greater resistance to Ukrainian electronic warfare measures. Among the solutions adopted are the use of CRPA antennas with greater channelization and, more recently, antennas capable of navigating via VOR/DME radio beacons.
There have also been attempts to neutralize air-defense systems through unconventional means, such as installing infrared spotlights on Shaheds, designed to hinder pilots’ night vision during interception attempts.
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The 9K333 Verba MANPADS
The man-portable air-defense missile system installed on the downed drone was identified as the Russian 9K333 Verba. The identification was made possible through markings on the transport-launch container (9P333), as well as specific visual characteristics. The marking also indicates the system’s year of manufacture: 2025.
Officially adopted by the Russian Army in 2015, the Verba is a relatively recent system, developed by the Mashinostroeniya Design Bureau in the city of Kolomna. It represents an evolution of the Igla-S complexderived from the 9K38 Igla.
Compared to the Igla, the Verba offers greater range and engagement envelope, being capable of striking targets at distances of up to 6,000–6,400 meters and altitudes between 3,500 and 4,500 meters, depending on the source.
Despite being a Russian development, previous analyses have pointed to the use of foreign-origin electronic components in the system. In particular, a power converter from the Swiss company Traco Power was identified in the three-band optical seeker of the 9M336 missile. In 2021, Russian authorities announced a possible future replacement, designated “Metka,” but no further information on the project has emerged since then.
In addition to its man-portable use, Verba missiles can also be integrated into the Gibka-S air-defense system, developed on the Tiger-M armored vehicle, enabling remote launch of missiles from different Russian MANPADS types, such as Igla and Strela.
Source and images: Telegram @usf_army | @army_tv | Militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
