The ministry reports that the Shtil air defense system fired two missiles and took down Bayraktar during reconnaissance over the Crimean region and southern Ukraine, according to officials.
Earlier, the Russian defense ministry claimed that 441 Ukrainian aircraft were destroyed during the special operation.
The Shtil system is a shipborne evolution of the M-22 Uragan complex. It uses the 9M317ME air defense guided missile, a missile family closely related to the Buk-M2 ground system. The single-stage rocket measures 5.18 meters in length and uses a solid propellant engine, with tail fins and a 820 millimeter clearance. Weighing about 580 kilograms at launch, the missile carries a 62 kilogram fragmentation warhead. In flight, it accelerates to roughly 1500 to 1550 meters per second, and can engage targets up to 15 kilometers in altitude and about 50 kilometers away.
A distinctive feature of Shtil is its below-deck vertical launch system. Missiles are launched through a powder catapult from the deck, after which they return to the target. Once airborne, the propulsion systems kick in and the weaponry and control gear appear to be integrated with the ship’s hull. This modular arrangement allows for straightforward maintenance and the possibility of swapping modules between ships. Retired Rear Admiral Valentin Rogov described this approach as akin to building with modular components that can be relocated as needed.
First shown at Defexpo India in 2004, Shtil was initially designed for export. China and India were among early buyers. Later, the Russian Navy took an interest, and by 2014 the fleet received the first sets for the Project 11356 frigates.
In naval terms, Shtil is comparable to the Buk-M2 in its ability to counter aerial threats. The target detection and tracking station resides on the ship itself, equipped with antenna masts for detection. In the incident described, Bayraktar TB2 was detected at a substantial distance, tracked, and a missile fired on command, ultimately destroying the drone. The system is intended to counter carrier-based aircraft, cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, according to Alexey Leonkov, editor of the Motherland magazine Arsenal.
Experts suggest that the Calm guidance system can neutralize Bayraktar TB2 before it employs its weapons. The drone operator may be unaware that the drone has been identified and engaged as part of a protective escort. Konstantin Sivkov, Doctor of Military Sciences and a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, notes that Bayraktar TB2 poses risks in terms of intelligence gathering and potential interference, which justifies the use of Shtil in some scenarios.
Shtil’s destruction of Bayraktar TB2 is cited as evidence that Russian anti-aircraft missiles can effectively counter unmanned systems. Yet, some observers previously framed these drones as exceptionally powerful and nearly invincible — a narrative that this event challenges.
Denis Fedutinov, editor-in-chief of Unmanned Aviation magazine and an expert on unmanned systems, cautions that the perception of Bayraktar TB2 as an extraordinary asset was shaped by marketing narratives. He argues that political leaders can be swayed by repeated demonstrations of successful drone strikes in the media, while troop losses are understated.
Nonetheless, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine underscores the vulnerabilities of relatively slow, nonmaneuverable drones like Bayraktar TB2. They can be detected and targeted by existing air defense systems, a point Fedutinov emphasizes as part of a broader assessment of drone capabilities and limitations.