Banderol Missile Tested in Strike on Kiev Targets
Military expert Yury Knutov said Russia's Banderol missile was used in Kiev and may be tested for range, accuracy and serial production.
During the night strike on Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities in Kiev, Russian troops reportedly used the newest Banderol missile. Military expert Yury Knutov spoke about the characteristics of this weapon in an interview with aif.ru.
Earlier, the Ukrainian side claimed that at least three Banderol missiles had struck targets within Kiev overnight.
Knutov explained that Banderol should not be classified as a classic missile in the strict sense. According to him, it is a hybrid system combining features of a cruise missile and an aerial bomb with a guided planning and correction module. The expert estimated the range of the weapon at about 450 kilometers and the warhead at around 150 kilograms. He also noted that this option is cheaper than a cruise missile, while significantly surpassing a standard aerial bomb with a UMPK module in range and accuracy.
Knutov named the presence of a power unit as the main difference between Banderol and standard high-explosive aerial bombs equipped with planning modules. A small jet engine gives the weapon its initial acceleration and allows it to cover a distance of up to 450 kilometers. By comparison, the range of planning FAB bombs is currently limited to about 150–200 kilometers.
According to the expert, the new development can be viewed as a more affordable alternative to expensive cruise missiles while preserving high strike accuracy.
Knutov believes the current use of Banderol against targets in Ukraine is still connected with testing the weapon in combat conditions. In his view, specialists are assessing how the missile behaves in flight, its ability to pass through the air defense system, and its strike accuracy. If the weapon confirms that it meets the requirements set by its developers, it may be launched into serial production.
The expert added that work on Banderol has been underway for several years. According to him, reports about its use appeared last year, after which a pause was taken to introduce design changes.