Russia Integrates Verba MANPAD into Shahed-type Kamikaze Drone

Russia has integrated a Verba man-portable air defense missile into a Shahed-type kamikaze drone, marking the first confirmed detection of this configuration by the Ukrainian military.

Ukrainian military radio technology expert Serhii Beskrestnov reported that Russian forces have fitted the 9K333 Verba MANPADS onto a Shahed-type fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly identified as the Shahed-136. The Verba system, normally shoulder-launched against aircraft, is being repurposed as an air-to-air missile carried by the drone.

Beskrestnov said the modified UAV is equipped with a camera and a radio modem, enabling an operator to remotely launch the missile. According to him, control of the drone and missile firing is conducted from within the Russian Federation.

“The Shahid is equipped with a camera and a radio modem. The missile launch is carried out by the Shahid operator, who controls it from the territory of the Russian Federation. I request that military aviation pilots take into account the emergence of a new threat. It is necessary to avoid approaching the Shahed head-on and to be more cautious towards those waiting in the circle,” Beskrestnov was quoted as saying by reports.

The finding points to a change in how Russia may employ long-range attack drones. The Iranian-designed, Russian-manufactured Shahed platform has been widely used as a one-way system to strike Ukrainian infrastructure and military targets, rather than as a carrier of air defense weapons.

Integrating a portable surface-to-air missile creates a new operational risk for low-flying aircraft and helicopters, particularly during interception or tracking missions. Ukrainian forces rely on a combination of ground-based air defense systems, electronic warfare tools, and manned aircraft to counter Shahed attacks, especially during night operations.

Ukrainian experts have previously documented gradual adaptations to Shahed drones, including changes to guidance, communications, and countermeasures, as part of ongoing efforts to update air defense tactics and flight safety procedures.