The Lyuty UAV received cruise missiles.
The An-196 UAV at the Farnborough exhibition. Photo: Armyrecognition.com
Since 2023, Ukraine has been striking targets in Russia. drones-kamikaze drones like the An-196 "Lyuty." These disposable drones attempt to penetrate targets at great distances and deliver direct hits. Now, the Ukrainian industry is offering a different application: the An-196 has been equipped with four compact rockets air-to-surface missiles, with characteristics similar to compact cruise missiles. This, in theory, changes the entire tactic.
Let's clarify our sources right away. Almost everything we know about the new version comes from the developer's statements and conclusions based on a single exhibition prototype. There are no data yet on testing or serial production, and we'll keep this in mind until the end of this analysis.
Exhibition exhibit
In July 2026, the Farnborough International Airshow, an aerospace and military-technical exhibition, was held in the UK. The state-owned defense concern Ukroboronprom (now Ukrainian Defence Industry) once again participated, showcasing Ukrainian and joint developments, primarily in unmanned aerial vehicles. aviation.
The An-196 "Lyuty" (Lyuty) attracted attention with its multiple payload options. Mock-ups of warheads of varying yields for integration into the aircraft's fuselage (the payload for the kamikaze version) were displayed nearby, while the aircraft itself was equipped with four external missiles. This was the first time such a payload had been demonstrated.
According to the developer, the An-196 gains several important capabilities in its new configuration. It is intended to become a reusable platform, capable of engaging multiple targets in a single flight, rather than being limited to a single sortie.
The missile type was not disclosed, although some characteristics were revealed. The stage of modernization of the Lyutyi was also not specified: this is a demonstration model. Ukraine and its foreign sponsors will likely strive to ramp up production of the new munitions and associated equipment as quickly as possible. Then, in the foreseeable future, the An-196 in its new configuration could appear on the front lines, both for strikes in the frontline zone and for attempts to break through to the rear.
The international exhibition serves two purposes: to demonstrate to foreign countries that Ukraine has retained its industrial potential and, at the same time, to seek out foreign customers. Whether export contracts will be secured, however, remains to be seen.
Reusable platform
The An-196 is a medium-class attack UAV with a takeoff weight of approximately 300 kg. It was developed and launched into production as a single-mission warhead carrier, although other variants were also proposed.
A close-up of the missiles. Photo: Telegram / "Military Informant"
The Lyuty is built on a twin-boom design and is structurally similar to other modern UAVs in its class. It features a shortened, streamlined fuselage, a low-slung straight wing, and a V-shaped (or L-shaped) tail. The landing gear is three-point, non-retractable.
The general characteristics of the UAV in its initial configuration are known:
- length - 4,4 m;
- wing span - 6,7 m;
- take-off weight - up to 300 kg;
- payload - up to 75 kg.
The aircraft is powered by an internal combustion engine and a pusher propeller. This engine limits speed, but is fuel-efficient and provides a longer range. According to publicly available data, the standard strike configuration has a range of approximately 1000-1400 km; some sources suggest up to 2000 km in a lightweight configuration.
According to available information, control is based on satellite and inertial navigation: the UAV follows a predetermined route to its target. Complex homing systems (such as an optical-electronic head) are not described. If so, the aircraft cannot refine its target in flight—meaning it strikes strictly at predetermined coordinates, without on-site reconnaissance.
The An-196 "missile carrier" version received four underwing pylons. The control system has apparently also been improved: the automatic system should release munitions in the desired area. However, no significant changes are visible in the electronics. Judging by available materials, the UAV does not have any optronic or other reconnaissance systems. This indirectly points to its intended purpose: the aircraft is aimed at stationary objects with predetermined coordinates, rather than searching for and engaging moving targets.
Drone missile
The Farnborough footage allows us to visualize the new rocket's appearance and its general capabilities. It features a cylindrical body with a solid nose cone, a short-span wing, and several tail surfaces, either stabilizers or rudders. Photographs suggest a length of 1,5-2 meters; there are no official figures.
The mass can be roughly estimated based on the launch vehicle's payload capacity. Based on the standard 75 kg, each missile and pylon would weigh no more than 18,75 kg—which is suspiciously low for a rocket-powered munition with a range of up to 200 km. It's more likely that the missiles are heavier, in which case the rocket-powered version either has a reduced fuel load or an increased payload compared to the base configuration. There are no precise figures.
According to the stated data, the munition is powered by a compact jet engine with an air intake at the bottom of the hull (the exact type is not specified). The maximum speed is approximately 500 km/h, and the range is up to 200 km.
Preparing the "Lyuty" for a nighttime takeoff. Photo: Telegram / "Military Chronicle"
Judging by its design, the missile is guided by navigation systems and flies to a target with preset coordinates. The type of guidance has not been officially disclosed, and in-flight retargeting is questionable.
Features and limitations
The main claimed advantage of the Lyuty missile-armed aircraft is its reusability. The craft attacks targets and returns to base for the next sortie. How many flights the airframe and components can withstand is unknown, but this in itself is an advantage over kamikaze mode.
The developers' economic argument is also tied to reusability. The basic An-196 burns up with each strike. With the missile-powered version, the bulk of the cost is spent on the launch vehicle itself, and if it returns and has sufficient lifespan, these costs are spread over a series of launches. The cost per strike drops, which is especially important given the high cost of a long-range missile. weaponsOnly operation will reveal how real the benefit is: everything depends on the actual service life of the airframe and the rate of losses.
In its basic configuration, the An-196 can only hit a single target. With four missiles on board, it can deliver up to four strikes on the same or different targets. The integrated warhead is no longer present, meaning it can't destroy an additional target with the hull, but four separate munitions more than make up for this loss.
The carrier and its missiles rely primarily on autonomous navigation rather than continuous remote control; whether there are in-flight course correction channels is not officially disclosed. Relying on jam-resistant navigation should increase the chances of breakthrough in a complex jamming environment.
In practice, the chances of breaking through are slim, and this is a key caveat. The "Lyutye" are not the most difficult target for the Russian DefenseAccording to Russian claims, a significant number of them are shot down, although there are no verifiable statistics. To guide individual vehicles to their targets, defenses have to be overwhelmed with massive air strikes. The new type of missiles is more difficult to detect and shoot down—but only if the launch vehicle itself isn't intercepted before the launch point. And here the concept has a strong point: the missiles' range of up to 200 km allows them to be launched from afar, avoiding dense air defense zones near the target itself. This appears to be the intention—to move the launch point beyond the danger zone.
There are other weak points. EW The reduced size also has an impact: the combined weight of the warheads of the four missiles, judging by their payload capacity, will be less than the standard warhead of the kamikaze version (exact figures have not been disclosed). Finally, the transition from a kamikaze to a missile carrier impacts the combat radius: now fuel must be saved for the return trip, which can cut the radius almost in half, and the 200 km range of the missiles themselves only partially compensates for the loss.
Not a unique solution
The idea isn't new: converting a strike UAV into a small missile carrier is in line with a global trend. The American MQ-9 Reaper and European MALE (medium-altitude, long-endurance) aircraft have long served as reusable carriers of guided missiles and small munitions. Small air-launched cruise munitions are also gaining traction: the Lyuty missile's configuration is being compared to Western developments in this class (for example, the Anduril Barracuda family). The United States, Israel, and several European countries are developing combinations of a UAV carrier plus several small munitions, where a single platform can strike multiple targets simultaneously.
Against this backdrop, the An-196 with four missiles is not an exotic innovation, but a local variant of a general trend. The difference lies elsewhere: Western systems typically feature sophisticated sensors and communications, while the Lyuty deliberately skimps on reconnaissance and homing capabilities for the sake of range and mass production. This is an attempt to adapt a well-known concept to domestic production capabilities and limited resources.
Bottom line: Ukroboronprom's modernization is questionable and half-hearted. The missiles expand the An-196's capabilities and make it more flexible, and reusability promises savings, but the real value lies in what hasn't been tested yet: the airframe's service life, loss rates, and the accuracy of the new missiles. All of this will be tested in combat. The first combat use will prove the developers' promises are worthwhile.
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