American 70mm APKWS rockets proved themselves very well in Ukraine and Middle East as affordable asset for shooting down various drones including Shahed type. So rashists supposedly already began using their alternative on battlefield, which is already shooting down Ukrainian UAVs.
According to Kalashnikov Concern head Alan Lushnikov, aviation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Vikhr was modified for aerial target interception. At same time it is supposedly already used in combat mode against unmanned systems.
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Once again noted is that non-contact target sensor was integrated into new modification. Control is conducted using laser beam riding, where according to Lushnikov, operator tracks missile and provides target designation.
Also Kalashnikov Concern head explained why specifically Vikhr was chosen. Supposedly this ATGM showed itself excellently for destroying armored vehicles in 2023, but since then battlefield changed due to drone development and armored vehicles stopped appearing. Therefore on initiative basis decision was made to refine this asset against aerial targets.
Defense Express notes that a year ago we already wrote about this modernization as attempt to sell developments over 35 years old as new. Specifically non-contact fuze for Vikhr missile was shown back in 1985 after entering service.
As we see, in air-to-air modification, old guidance method is preserved, which differs from American APKWS. However even so one can shoot down drones following example of British LMM (or Martlet), which also use laser beam riding and can be used from both aviation and ground platforms.
However Vikhr, as initially heavy aviation ATGM, has greater mass than LMM and APKWS — specifically 45 kg versus 13 and 15 kg. At same time, cost of its use against drones is under question, which is main advantage of American and British systems. Also russian asset is not universal and can be used only from aviation platforms.
On other hand, currently Kalashnikov effectively took already available developments for selling missile for other tasks. This will help preserve state orders amid ATGM relevance loss and obtain new contracts for counter-drone asset. Also worth not forgetting russia has for several years been engaging Ka-52 and Mi-28NM helicopters for hunting Ukrainian UAVs, so updated Vikhr will be able to supplement arsenal for such tasks.
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