Destinus Accelerates RUTA Block 3 Development Program with Rheinmetall to Scale European Long-Range Strike Production

Destinus, a European defence manufacturer with a particular focus on scalable strike and air-defence systems for European and allied armed forces, led by Mikhail Kokorich, has announced the accelerated start of the RUTA Block 3 program, developed for a 2,000 km-class long-range precision strike capability and extending the operationally validated RUTA family. The flight-test campaign is planned to begin in 2027.

RUTA Block 3 builds on the existing RUTA architecture, which has moved from battlefield validation to serial production. Block 1 is in production in the Netherlands, while Block 2, developed with Ukraine’s Brave1, is in flight testing and expected to ramp up in 2026.

Block 3 extends the system into a longer-range category while maintaining European design control, scalable production, and containerized deployment.

The program aims to shift European long-range strike capability from limited inventories to sustained industrial production across three hubs.

In the Netherlands, Destinus leads engineering and design and already produces the RUTA family at scale. In Ukraine, it supports development, operational testing of Block 3, and component manufacturing. In Germany, the planned Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems joint venture is expected to add high-rate production, qualification, and final integration capacity for European institutional customers, with manufacturing at Rheinmetall’s Unterlüß site planned for 2026–2027.

“Europe is entering a new defence era where the key challenge is not precision weapons, but the ability to produce and replenish them at an industrial scale during prolonged operations,” said Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Destinus. “RUTA Block 3 is designed for this reality, with sovereign European architecture, distributed production, and rapid scalability to build credible long-range strike capability.”

“Deep precision strike capabilities, striking strategically important targets with pinpoint accuracy deep within enemy territory, are a key element of credible deterrence and therefore highly important for security policy,” said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG. “We are ready to establish the Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems joint venture with Destinus before the end of this year and to deliver these capabilities as soon as possible, with first production from our Unterlüß site expected before the end of 2026.”

Block 3 is designed for long-range operations in contested environments, powered by the next-generation Destinus T220 turbojet engine and a 250 kg-class warhead. It will feature autonomous navigation for GNSS-denied conditions, terminal sensing and guidance under development, and a containerized ISO launch system for land, maritime, and fixed-site deployment.

Built on operational lessons from Ukraine, the system is being developed under Destinus’ European design and production framework. All development, production, and export activities will comply with applicable national and European laws, export-control regulations, and required governmental approvals.

Key Planned Characteristics of RUTA Block 3

Range: Targeting 2,000 km-class

Warhead: 250 kg-class

Propulsion: Destinus T220 turbojet

Guidance: Advanced autonomous navigation for GNSS-degraded environments; terminal sensing and guidance architecture under development

Launch: Standard ISO containerized launcher architecture