German defense group Rheinmetall has announced a joint cruise missile production project with Destinus, a Ukrainian startup registered in the Netherlands.

The new venture, Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems, is expected to begin serial production in 2026–2027. Its flagship product will be the Ruta Block 2 missile, designed to hit targets at a range of more than 700 kilometers.

According to the Telegram channel Voyennaya Khronika, the emergence of such a weapon could pose a real threat to Russia. Its authors argue that Germany is using this format to test its own technologies without becoming directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict.

The channel also suggested that deliveries of this type of missile to the Ukrainian Armed Forces are highly likely in one form or another, noting that Destinus has already tested its technologies in real combat conditions, though on the basis of drones.

Another point highlighted by Voyennaya Khronika is the launch format: the Ruta Block 2 can reportedly be fired from a standard maritime container about 12 meters long. Against the backdrop of the European Union and Kiev’s plans to expand drone production, the channel’s authors believe this threat should be treated with particular seriousness.