Ruta Block 2 cruise missile for Ukraine
The European company Destinus Group continues its efforts to provide military-technical assistance to Ukraine and recently announced the completion of the development of a new cruise missile. The Ruta Block 2 missile is planned to enter serial production in the near future. Then, weapon They will begin shipping them to Ukrainian forces for use against Russian targets. The developer claims the new missile has high potential and should successfully accomplish its intended combat missions.
From drones to rockets
It's worth noting that Destinus was founded in 2021 by former Russian entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich (listed by the Financial Monitoring Service as an individual involved in extremism). Destinus Group BV is officially registered in the Netherlands, but has several locations in other countries, including Switzerland.
Since its founding, the company has repeatedly announced plans to create cutting-edge aviation and space systems, and also demonstrated working materials on such projects. However, the actual results were much more modest. The company was only able to establish production of a few types of light and medium drones, which it began supplying to Ukraine in 2022-23. One of these was a strike UAV called Ruta, resembling a cruise missile.
The company is now attempting to develop a fully-fledged missile system. A few days ago, it first announced the Ruta Block 2 project. The goal of this work is to create a cruise missile of a traditional design, designed for use on land and air platforms. Like previous developments, the new missile from Destinus is primarily intended for deployment to Ukraine.
The developer has revealed the new missile's appearance and its key performance characteristics. Images of the missile in flight, clearly a photomontage, have also been published. The actual missile has not yet been unveiled.
The current status of the Ruta Block 2 project is still unknown. However, Destinus reports that production will begin soon. Furthermore, predictably, the company is focusing more on listing the rocket's advantages than disclosing production plans.
In any case, there is a possibility that the European company will be able to begin production of new missiles and supply them to Ukraine. These weapons will be used in attacks against Russian targets. However, the feasibility of implementing all such plans and achieving significant results remains uncertain.
Technical features
The Ruta Block 2 is being developed as a long-range, precision-guided weapon suitable for use on multiple platforms. Unlike the first version of the Ruta, it is a fully-fledged cruise missile with all the characteristic features of this class of weapon.
The missile is built using a design traditional for such weapons. It features an elongated rectangular fuselage with a tapered fairing. A folding wing is mounted on top of it. The tail contains a vertical stabilizer and a horizontal stabilizer. The internal layout is likely also traditional: the control instruments, warhead, fuel tanks, and engine are housed sequentially within them.
According to published materials, the Ruta Block 2 project utilizes several modern solutions aimed at reducing radar signature. The missile's airframe is likely to be made of plastics. The vehicle's external contours have also been optimized.
The missile's dimensions and weight have not yet been released. However, it has been mentioned that it can be used on ground platforms and tactical aircraft. This allows us to estimate its maximum possible size, limited by the parameters of the launch aircraft. The launch weight is also unknown. However, the payload is claimed to reach or exceed 250 kg.
The rocket will be equipped with a compact turbojet engine of an unspecified model. It will propel the vehicle to a speed of no more than 0,7-0,8 Mach. Its range is stated at 450 km. However, the launch and basing method that will achieve this range is not specified. A ground launch could potentially reduce this range significantly.
The developer reports the development and deployment of an advanced guidance system that will dramatically increase the probability of successfully engaging a target. Satellite navigation is announced to be used in conjunction with optical systems. Data from these instruments will be processed by an onboard computer with artificial intelligence capabilities. This AI is expected to protect the missile from interference and maintain high accuracy.
Ruta Block 1 UAV
The Ruta is planned to be equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation or penetrating high-explosive warhead. It will weigh at least 250 kg. The type of fuse and the modes that will control the warhead's detonation are unknown.
The Ruta Block 2 is being developed as a cross-service missile. It will serve as the basis for a ground-based missile system for ground forces. In this case, the missile will be launched from a container using a solid-fuel booster. It is also reported that the missile could potentially be mounted on aircraft with suitable payload capabilities.
Opportunities and Potential
The developer, unsurprisingly, praises its new missile highly. The Ruta Block 2 is claimed to combine high flight performance, the ability to penetrate air defenses, and hit its targets with precision. However, the actual potential of this munition may be less than its creators expect.
Overall, in terms of appearance or stated parameters, the European Ruta is no different from other modern cruise missiles. Similar or equivalent missiles are produced in various countries. Furthermore, some of them have been used in actual operations, demonstrating their potential beyond the test range.
It is expected that serial Ruta missiles will be delivered to Ukraine and used against Russia. It is not difficult to imagine the results of such deployment, and how the new foreign munition will perform in full-scale combat, not just in tests and exercises.
Practice has shown that modern domestic systems Defense They are quite capable of detecting and engaging small, high-speed, low-observability targets. These air defense systems have successfully destroyed Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missiles and other similar targets. It's unlikely that the Swiss Ruta Block 2 will be able to outperform other European missiles.
The use of a special control system built with cutting-edge technologies is reported. In theory, the combination of satellite navigation and OES improves targeting accuracy and the probability of hitting a target. However, the presence of AI in such control systems is not mandatory. Moreover, mentioning this technology seems like a marketing gimmick—a trendy term meant to entice the customer.
Thus, Destinus has developed a typical modern cruise missile without any significant differences from other modern models of its class. However, it should be noted that the company has no experience in developing and producing such weapons. This circumstance may hinder the further implementation of plans and/or affect the quality and performance of the finished products.
Overall, the Ruta Block 2 project is currently of interest only as an attempt by a company without the necessary experience to enter the rocket industry and immediately demonstrate remarkable results. However, it is expected that the project's results will disappoint its developers.
Information