Dutch defense company Destinus announced successful completion of flight testing for new Ruta Block 2 cruise missile modification, during which, as emphasized in press release, two technologies important for this weapons sample were confirmed — linear booster configuration and folding wings and control surfaces.
Footage below from Destinus Ruta Block 2 cruise missile testing demonstrates launch from ground launcher as well as wing deployment in flight.
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Company emphasizes new missile modification directly relies on operational reliability embedded in first variant, Ruta Block 1 (this cruise missile, recall, is combat-proven and in service with Ukraine's Defense Forces). At the same time, Block 2 modification provides broader launcher compatibility and even greater deployment scalability, as it can be transported and launched from sealed container modules.
Company Technical Director Tim Moser also emphasizes Ruta Block 2 compact architecture, noting it improves transportation, storage, packaging density and integration flexibility on mobile ground, stationary and maritime platforms.
Moser also reports Ruta cruise missile key subsystems were developed and manufactured in-house, enabling them to scale production according to growing demand. Destinus press release notes Ruta Block 1 has already reached serial-scale production stage, although specific current production rates are not disclosed.
Worth noting news about completing next flight testing stage appeared less than three months after Ruta Block 2 new version was first demonstrated in mid-January. One can cautiously say company is advancing quite quickly with Block 2 modification creation, which in turn brings it closer to Ukraine delivery, although this has not been officially reported yet.
Recall that besides folding wings and control surfaces, Ruta Block 2 received actually a heap of genuinely important updates essentially making it not even a new version but generally a new cruise missile.
Primarily this is significant warhead growth to over 250 kg, whereas Ruta Block 1 overall takeoff mass was only 300 kg. Also for Block 2, multi-mode guidance with AI integration, new low-observability technology body and so on are declared. Ruta Block 2 range confirmed by company presentation materials is as much as 700 km, although significantly smaller 450 km figure was previously stated.
Previously, Defense Express reported that Ruta missile manufacturer will develop HIMARS analog and cruise missiles together with Rheinmetall.
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