EU accelerates development of new Ruta missile with range of 2,000 km to be tested in Ukraine – photos
European company Destinus has announced the acceleration of the Ruta Block 3 programme to create a long-range precision strike system in the 2,000-km class.
Source: a press release by Destinus
Details: Flight tests of the new product are planned to begin in 2027.
The company said Ruta Block 3 will be a further development of the Ruta family, which has already moved "from battlefield validation into serial industrial production".
Ruta Block 1 is already in serial production in the Netherlands, while Ruta Block 2, developed with the support of Ukraine's Brave1 defence tech cluster, is currently undergoing flight tests in Ukraine and is expected to move to production scaling in 2026.
Ruta Block 3 is expected to receive Destinus's next-generation T220 turbojet engine and a 250-kg-class warhead.
The system is designed for long-range strikes in heavily contested environments. It will have autonomous navigation for use in conditions where GNSS, meaning satellite navigation including GPS, is degraded, as well as a terminal guidance system, which guides the weapon to its target in the final phase of flight and is currently under development.
A standard ISO containerised launch architecture has also been announced, with the system planned for launch from standard containers for land-based, maritime and fixed-site deployment.
The company also said the system is being developed based on combat experience gained in Ukraine.
The programme will be implemented in three countries. In the Netherlands, Destinus will be responsible for the development and main production of Ruta. In Ukraine, the company will handle the development, testing and production of key components. In Germany, the Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems joint venture is expected to provide large-scale production and final integration of systems for the Bundeswehr (the unified armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany) and other European customers.
Quote from Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Destinus: "Europe is entering a new defence era where the decisive factor is no longer the existence of precision weapons, but the ability to produce, replenish and evolve them at an industrial scale during prolonged high-intensity operations."
More details: He said the goal was "not to manufacture symbolic quantities of exquisite missiles, but to help establish a credible European long-range strike capability with real industrial depth".
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said deep precision strike capabilities are of great importance from a security policy perspective.
He also said Rheinmetall plans to establish theRheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems joint venture by the end of this year and "produce and deliver the first missiles from our Unterlüß site before the end of 2026".
Background: It was reported earlier that Destinus had completed flight tests of the Ruta Block 2 long-range strike system, confirming a new launch configuration and foldable wings. The company said the system is being prepared for production scaling and more flexible deployment on land-based, maritime and fixed platforms.
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