In 2027, russia plans to manufacture approximately 10,000 new, relatively inexpensive missiles that can be launched from various platforms. Mass production of such weapons could pose a major challenge for Ukraine due to the difficulty of intercepting them.
This opinion was expressed by the Ukrainian veteran and military analyst kriegsforscher on X.
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It is known that the advanced Dan-T cruise missile has a range of about 500 kilometers and carries a 135-kilogram warhead.
According to the OSINT project NOELREPORTS, which has confirmed these plans, such capabilities would allow russia to launch devastating strikes deep behind Ukrainian lines.
Currently, these missiles can be successfully launched from airborne platforms, including the Su-25SM3, Su-30SM, Su-34, and Su-57 aircraft, as well as the Mi-28 attack helicopter. At the same time, russians are actively developing ways to deploy the weapon from ground-based launchers and even military ships, making this long-range system even more versatile and unpredictable.
In addition, russians are working on equipping the missile with a modern Kometa-16 antenna array and an electro-optical terminal guidance system. This clearly demonstrates their intention to transform a relatively simple target into a fully-fledged, high-precision cruise missile.
The russian Aerospace Forces command is seriously considering gradually replacing the much older S8000 Banderol munitions with these new missiles. The main reason behind this strategic decision is cost savings, as mass-producing the Dan-T is approximately 35 percent cheaper.
Ukraine's Defense Intelligence has also documented systematic russian efforts to scale up the project while reducing production costs. Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, previously reported that the occupiers had instructed manufacturers to switch entirely to domestically produced components for the assembly of these missiles.
The danger lies not only in the massive quantities planned, but also in the fact that russia is actively developing jet-powered unmanned target drones into lethal strike weapons. This weapon is a continuation of the Dan-M project—a drone capable of operating at altitudes of up to nine kilometers and reaching a cruising speed of up to 750 kilometers per hour.
The high maneuverability built into the design of these missiles from the outset significantly complicates their interception by modern air defense systems. The emergence of such a large number of targets points to preparations for large-scale combined attacks, while the Defenders of Ukraine will undoubtedly need substantial additional assistance from Western allies to counter the threat.
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