The Ruta missile is being reborn for the third time, with Dutch firm Destinus moving ahead with plans for a long-range variant capable of reaching targets up to 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) away.
Designated Block 3, the missile will be powered by Destinus’ in-development T220 turbojet engine, a next-generation propulsion system designed to support extended-range missions.
It is also expected to carry a 250-kilogram (551-pound) warhead, potentially enabling heavy strikes against targets deep behind enemy lines.
To improve survivability in contested environments, Block 3 is being developed with autonomous navigation capabilities for operations in signal-denied conditions, alongside terminal sensing and guidance systems intended to enhance endgame accuracy.
The missile is also being positioned for flexible deployment. According to Destinus, it can be launched from fixed installations, land-based launchers, or maritime platforms using a standard shipping container.
“Europe is entering a new defense era where the decisive factor is no longer the existence of precision weapons, but the ability to produce, replenish, and evolve them at an industrial scale during prolonged high-intensity operations,” said Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Destinus.
“RUTA Block 3 is designed around that reality: sovereign European architecture, distributed industrial production, and the ability to scale rapidly across allied nations.”
Development of the Block 3 missile will be distributed across three industrial hubs, beginning with a primary engineering and design site in the Netherlands.
Ukraine will serve as the center for refinement, flight testing, and production of key components, leveraging the country’s growing role as a proving ground for emerging defense technologies.
For large-scale manufacturing and final integration, Destinus has partnered with German defense giant Rheinmetall, which will support deliveries to the Bundeswehr and other European allies.
Rheinmetall is already scheduled to begin work on the existing Ruta Block 1 and Block 2 systems between 2026 and 2027, with Block 3 expected to follow after completing flight tests and qualification activities.
“Deep precision strike capabilities, meaning the ability to strike strategically important targets with pinpoint accuracy, even deep within the enemy’s territory, contribute to a credible deterrent and are therefore of great importance in terms of security policy,” Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said.
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