Russia Hints at Mobile Catapult Launchers for S8000 'AliExpress' Cruise Missiles

Russia has reportedly developed a mobile, ground-based launcher for its S8000 Banderol drone-cruise missile. Photos of the launcher on display, with what appears to be the Banderol missile on its rail, have been circulating on various Russian military channels this week, some of which bear the watermarks from Russian state media RIA Novosti.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi speculated that the launcher could theoretically be installed on “pickup-type [vehicles]” due to its small size, while also casting doubt on its range since launching via catapults would inevitably reduce it compared with gliding from mid-air when launched by an aerial platform. At present, the Banderol is known to be launched by Russia’s Orion drone or the Mi-28 attack helicopter. The Ukrainian Air Force reported in mid-July that Russia began using more Banderols – alongside jet-powered drones – during air raids against Ukraine after the missile was initially publicized in 2025. Banderol – AliExpress jet engine, Japanese battery The S8000 Banderol missile was previously reported for its reliance on foreign parts. The War & Sanctions database maintained by Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) shows that it uses the Swiwin SW800Pro jet engine from China – a jet engine available for purchase online, including on Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress, for approximately $16,000. It also uses a battery pack made by Japanese firm Murata, while the only Russian component identified was the Kometa-M8 controlled reception pattern (CRP) antenna made by a Russian firm called VNIIR-Progress. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Targets E-Commerce Giant Wildberries Again, Strikes Ryazan Oil Refinery in Latest Drone Wave Often called “Russia’s Amazon,” Wildberries is the country’s largest online retailer, handling around 20 million orders every day. HUR, in its 2025 update, said the Banderol can carry a warhead weighing up to 500 kg (1,102 lbs) while flying at a speed of 500 kmph (311 mph) with a range of 500 km (311 miles). It also noted that the missile has a smaller turn radius than other Russian cruise missiles such as the 9M727 Iskander-K and 3M-14 Kalibr, meaning it’s slightly more maneuverable and thus more difficult to intercept. 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.