In May 2025, Ukraine successfully tested its domestically developed Sapsan ballistic missile in combat conditions. According to Valentyn Badrak, director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies, in an article for LIGA.net, the missile struck russian military target at a distance of nearly 300 kilometers, confirming its operational readiness.
The program's progress was facilitated by administrative changes within the Ministry of Defense. In July 2024, Anatolii Klochko was appointed Deputy Minister of Defense and assigned to coordinate missile development. Responsibility for the program was shifted from the Ministry of Strategic Industries to the Ministry of Defense, aligning it more closely with military procurement and operational needs.
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As part of this restructuring, the Ministry of Defense created a dedicated office for missile program oversight and established a specialized department responsible for policy and development of tactical and strategic missile systems. This organizational change helped to separate the missile initiative from other military R&D projects and allowed for more focused management.
Following the successful test, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Sapsan missile has entered serial production. Officials stated that there are currently no technical or bureaucratic obstacles to full-scale manufacturing, and cooperation has improved.
The Sapsan missile is notable for its large warhead, weighing approximately 480 kg. For comparison, the U.S. Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), intended for launch from the HIMARS, carries a warhead of about 91 kg. This indicates a different design philosophy, with Sapsan missile focused on delivering heavier payloads over similar distances.
This development marks a significant milestone in Ukraine's domestic missile production efforts. Unlike earlier experimental stages, the transition to serial production suggests that the system is ready for broader deployment and integration into Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities.
While details such as total planned production numbers, cost, and future variants remain undisclosed, the program's progress demonstrates Ukraine's ability to independently develop and field long-range precision weapons, despite wartime conditions and resource constraints.
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