Ukraine unveils Trembita cruise missile for just $4,000

Defense Express reported that the Trembita missile was created by the volunteer design bureau PARS with support from the NGO VidSich. It is designed to exhaust Russian air defenses and comes in two versions: a strike missile with a thermobaric or fragmentation warhead and a decoy missile.

The missile’s standout feature is its cost. Trembita is significantly cheaper than any air defense missile.

The decoy version costs around $4,000, while the strike version is priced at about $14,000 due to the inclusion of a warhead and more advanced electronics for improved accuracy.

Weighing around 100 kilograms, Trembita carries a thermobaric or fragmentation warhead weighing between 20 and 30 kilograms, depending on the flight range. It travels at speeds exceeding 400 km/h.

A notable feature is its pulsejet engine, which significantly reduces production costs. The engine lacks complex components, speeding up the manufacturing process.

Pulsejet engines are rarely used due to technical limitations. They generate intense heat, making the missile an easy target for infrared-guided air defense missiles. Additionally, these engines produce significant noise, making detection easier.

While these factors usually disadvantage cruise missiles, they work in Trembita’s favor. The missile is specifically designed to attract air defense missiles and instill fear with its loud sound as it flies by.

The Trembita is launched from a ground- or trailer-mounted catapult using a solid-fuel booster. The main jet engine activates on the ground before launch.

This affordability and production simplicity enable mass manufacturing, allowing Ukraine to overwhelm Russian air defense systems.

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