Ukraine gets upgraded weapon: Ruta Block 2 missile boasts stealth capabilities, extended range

Defense Express reported the information.

The new Ruta Block 2 represents such a dramatic leap from its predecessor that it essentially constitutes an entirely new weapon system, according to specifications released by Destinus, a company founded by Mikhail Kokorich after he fled Putin's Russia and now headquartered in the Netherlands. The upgraded missile boasts a range of over 450 kilometers (approximately 280 miles), carries a warhead exceeding 250 kilograms (550 pounds), and incorporates "multi-mode guidance using artificial intelligence," marking a substantial improvement over the original Ruta drone-missile hybrid.

The evolution from the first-generation Ruta—which had a total takeoff weight of just 300 kg with a 2.25-meter wingspan and 3.93-meter length as displayed at the FEINDEF 2025 exhibition in Madrid—is striking. The Block 2 version features a redesigned fuselage incorporating stealth geometry to reduce radar detectability, along with folding wings that enable launch from transport containers or from aircraft wing mounts. The missile's nose section appears designed to house an infrared seeking head for terminal guidance precision, a solution employed in modern cruise missiles including the Storm Shadow and SCALP systems.

Destinus claims the Ruta Block 2 can penetrate layered air defense systems while operating in heavily jammed environments, with scalable production capabilities. The weapon's development has benefited from partnerships with several European defense companies. In May 2025, Spanish firm UAV Navigation, part of Grupo Oesía, announced integration of a GPS-independent navigation system resistant to electronic warfare jamming. Later in November, Shield AI revealed its Hivemind combat artificial intelligence would be incorporated into the missile's guidance systems.

While Ukraine's Defense Forces announced deployment of the original Ruta in December 2024, details about operational use remain scarce—a pattern consistent with other Ukrainian long-range strike systems. The appearance of Ukraine's domestically-produced Bars cruise missile only became public knowledge in late 2025, and the developer of the Palianytsia missile-drone was disclosed by the government only recently.

Destinus has not announced when the Ruta Block 2 will be ready for operational deployment. The retention of the Ruta designation despite the extensive redesign may reflect the original version's combat experience against Russian forces, lending brand recognition to the upgraded system.