Ukrainian troops have ingeniously modernized the 1960s Soviet “Kub” surface-to-air missile system, integrating it with modern command technology to successfully shoot down Russian attack drones. Soldiers report the hybrid system, born from missile shortages, has already destroyed five Shahed-type loitering munitions.
Faced with a relentless barrage of enemy drones and dwindling missile stocks, Ukrainian defenders have turned to a classic tool, giving it a deadly new purpose. Ukraine’s Air Force has revealed that its troops have successfully adapted the old Soviet-era Kub (“Cube”) surface-to-air missile system to effectively engage modern threats, specifically Russian Shahed-type attack drones. This battlefield innovation combines vintage hardware with contemporary tactics to plug critical gaps in air defense.
The Kub system was originally designed in the 1960s to protect tank divisions from aircraft flying at medium and low altitudes. Its specifications from that era—targeting speeds of 420-600 metres per second at ranges up to 20 kilometres—seem worlds apart from today’s slow, low-flying drones. Yet, Ukrainian ingenuity has bridged that technological decades-wide gap. As explained by the Air Force, the platform of the self-propelled system has been merged with modern command-and-control solutions.
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The driving force behind this “mishmash” was stark necessity. Oleh, the head of the battalion’s combat command-and-control section, detailed the reason, stating that intensive use in 2022-2023 led to a critical shortage of missiles for newer systems. “The missiles simply ran out. So we made a mishmash of Kub and Buk,” the soldier said. This hybrid approach allows the system to function effectively in the current conflict. Oleksandr, a deputy commander of the battery, described the seamless operation: “Everything is carried out from the self-propelled launcher, all controls, launches.”
The proof of concept is in the results. According to the Air Command Centre, the modernized Kub has already proven its worth by shooting down five Russian Shahed-type attack loitering munitions. This achievement is part of a broader and highly effective air defense effort; Ukrainian forces destroyed more than 27,000 such drones in 2025 alone, utilizing a mix of systems including the latest US Tempest and British Raven platforms.
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This adaptation is more than a technical footnote; it’s a testament to the adaptive, resourceful nature of Ukraine’s defense under pressure. It highlights how legacy systems, once considered obsolete, can be given a new lease on life through software integration and tactical innovation. For Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, it represents a crucial ability to create their own solutions, ensuring that every available tool can be used to defend the skies against Russia’s aerial onslaught.
