Ukrainian MiG-29 intercepts Russian Banderol missile

A modernized Ukrainian MiG-29MU1 fighter jet successfully intercepted a Russian Banderol cruise missile at an extremely low altitude. The interception was carried out using an R-60 air-to-air missile, an older Soviet-era weapon equipped with infrared guidance.

Due to the depletion of more advanced R-73 missile stocks caused by frequent engagements with Russian cruise missiles and Shahed kamikaze drones, the Ukrainian Air Force has had to rely on these older short-range missiles. The Banderol is described as a small jet-powered cruise missile that combines characteristics of a missile with a low-altitude flight path and a long-range attack drone, making it difficult to detect via radar.

Efforts to maintain the utility of older hardware include modernization programs, such as the R-60MK, which replace analog components with digital ones to significantly increase the sensitivity of infrared seekers.