Russia Continues to Develop Cheap Cruise Missile Substitutes

An Oct. 5 report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says Russia is increasingly turning to cheaper, maneuverable “quasi-cruise” missiles to supplement its conventional strike capabilities, a tactic that is pressuring Ukraine’s already overstretched air defenses. Building on the relative success of the jet-powered variants of the Iranian-designed Shahed/Geran kamikaze drones, Russia has been introducing the so-called Banderol and Dan-T weapons and is believed to be developing other variants, increasing production and testing new launch platforms.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Mass attacks combining these new weapons with ballistic and conventional cruise missiles and jet-powered drones are exacerbating Ukrainian interceptor missile shortages. While Ukraine is developing countermeasures including faster interceptors, electronic warfare and artificial intelligence-enhanced automatic gun towers, these will, as President Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted, take time to develop and bring into service. Meanwhile, Kyiv will struggle to protect itself from the onslaught these weapons will unleash. The Banderol Russia’s S8000 “Banderol” (meaning a small parcel in Russian) is a jet-powered medium-size cruise missile analog manufactured by the Kronshtadt Group. It uses the Chinese Swiwin SW800Pro-A95 turbojet engine, giving it a range of up to 500 kilometers (312 miles) at speeds up to 650 kph (400 mph) and a 150-kilogram (330-pound) warhead. Other Topics of Interest Ship Sunk Off Bulgaria’s Economic Zone in Latest Black Sea Drone Attack The attacks came on the heels of another attack against a Turkish-flagged vessel, with the origins of the drones remaining unclear. The Ukrainian Air Force describes it as a “hybrid of a drone, an aerial bomb, and a missile.” It first appeared during a strike on the Odesa region in early 2025 before taking part in 40 separate strikes between May and September this year, while Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported in July that Russia had completed testing and the weapon had entered mass production. They have been used in attacks targeting ports, logistics hubs, terminals, food warehouses and infrastructure in Kharkiv, Odesa, Zhytomyr and Kyiv. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Kyiv’s presidential commissioner for sanctions policy, said in July that Banderols had been used in 80% of Russian strikes on the Odesa City port. The Dan-T Russia unveiled its Dan-T at the El-Alamein airshow in Egypt in September. It is based on the 1990s Dan-M target aircraft, which was designed to simulate US Tomahawk cruise missiles for air-defense training. According to the ISW report, Russia’s state-owned arms conglomerate Rostec, which makes the missiles, converted Dan-M stockpiles into air-launched loitering munitions by adding 135-kilogram (300-pound) warheads. It has an all-up weight of 270 kilograms (600 pounds) and a 500-kilometer (312-mile) range. ISW assesses that construction of Dan-Ts has not yet reached scale but is another indication of Moscow’s efforts to repurpose existing technology into strike weapons. As an example, Soviet-era RM-48U missiles – originally designed for S-400 air defense training – have been converted into ballistic missiles for ground attacks on Ukraine. The extent of Dan-T use is unclear. While Rostec and some Russian milbloggers claim hundreds have been successfully used in strikes on Ukraine, it was not until Sept. 13 that Ukraine began to differentiate between Banderols and Dan-Ts. Launch platforms Banderols and Dan-T were initially designed to be air-launched from Orion drones, helicopters and tactical aircraft – which some estimates say would potentially double their range. HUR has reported ground launches from occupied Crimea, with Ukrainian analysts suggesting Dan-T could eventually launch from ground and naval systems. Cost versus performance These “quasi-cruise” missiles have inferior performance to conventional missiles, but their cost allows more to be manufactured and used, while their capabilities are more than sufficient for Russia’s purposes. Compared to the Kh-101 cruise missile’s 2,500-kilometer (1,560-mile) range, 1,000 kph (625 mph) speed, and 480-kilogram (1,050-pound) warhead, the Banderol has a 500-kilometer (312-mile) range, speed of up to 650 kph (400 mph), and a 150-kilogram (330-pound) warhead. Banderols present especially difficult targets when used in attacks that combine them with Geran/Shahed drones and conventional missiles. They are maneuverable and have a smaller turning radius, which complicates tracking and interception. Russian mass production The report claims that Russia has prioritized production of jet-powered drones and quasi-cruise missiles in order to increase its strike capability at an affordable cost. In September, Zelensky claimed that Russia would spend $12 billion on the weapons, with Ukrainian defense analyst Serhiy “Flash” Beskrestnov saying that Russia not only aims to increase the numbers of Banderol, Dan-T, Dan-M and jet-powered drones, but also aims to boost speeds to 750 kph (470 mph) while improving low-altitude flight and maneuverability. HUR estimated in August that Russia was producing about 80 Banderols a month, with Beskrestnov setting the target at 120 and Ukrainian sources estimating Dan-T production at 14,000 in 2027. Ukrainian countermeasures Ukrainian developers recently unveiled upgraded interceptors, such as the LITAVR+ and Sting 2.0, capable of taking on jet-powered Geran/Shaheds flying at speeds over 400 kph (250 mph). Beskrestnov said up to five such interceptors are in development and still require testing. Ukrainian developers have also reportedly deployed unspecified Banderol countermeasures and are scaling production. Electronic warfare could reportedly play a role, as both Banderol and Dan-T reportedly rely on satellite and inertial navigation for guidance. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.