Russia adds IR spotlights to Shaheds but Ukraine already has the counter

Recent developments over Ukraine highlight another failed Russian attempt to regain the initiative in the air. In an effort to counter Ukraine’s growing success against Shahed and Geran-2 drones at night, Russia added powerful infrared spotlights that were meant to blind Ukrainian sensors but instead made the drones easier to detect and defeat. This rushed modification reflects pressure rather than innovation, exposing how badly Russian drone tactics are lagging behind Ukraine’s adaptive air defense. Ukrainian forces quickly responded by expanding the use of mid- and long-wave thermal imagers that track engine heat, rendering the infrared dazzlers largely useless. Crucially, these countermeasures rely on technology Ukraine already fields and can scale rapidly through domestic production, without redesigning entire systems. The result is another clear example of Ukraine out-adapting Russia, turning a supposed Russian upgrade into a tactical liability and reinforcing Ukraine’s advantage in the drone war.

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