Ukrainian defence ministry adviser explains features of Russian Banderol missiles and production numbers

Russia wants to manufacture 120 Banderol missiles a month, but has not yet reached its planned production target. The missile has a declared range of 500 km, although Ukrainian forces have recorded strikes at distances of only around 300 km.

Source: Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's defence minister and a radio technology specialist

Details: Beskrestnov said that if Russia succeeds in increasing missile production to the planned level, it could launch four missiles a day. The Banderol is launched from the Orion UAV, but because of its size and the risk of the drone being shot down over the front line, launches are carried out far from the line of contact.

"They [the Russians] came up with a use for the Orion: launching Banderols from Russian territory. Although Banderol launches from Mi-8 helicopters have also been tested," Flash said.

The Russian weapon is equipped with an OFBCh-150 warhead containing 50 kg of explosives. Beskrestnov compared its destructive power with that of a Shahed-type drone fitted with a double warhead weighing 90 kg.

"The missile usually flies at an altitude of 400-2,000 metres, but before impact it descends to 200 metres. It is capable of manoeuvring quite actively during flight. For example, it needs only 2.5 km to turn back," the adviser explained.

The Banderol is guided by satellite navigation signals and is therefore vulnerable to electronic warfare. However, the missile also has an autonomous navigation system.

"Overall, nothing outstanding. A cheap cruise missile with a small warhead."

Background: Earlier, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine revealed technical details of the new Russian S8000 Banderol cruise missile on the War&Sanctions portal, an OSINT platform tracking people, entities and assets linked to Moscow's war against Ukraine and related sanctions. Ukraine's Defence Intelligence identified the missile as a product of the sanctioned Russian company Kronstadt.

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