European defense company Destinus, in partnership with the German concern Rheinmetall, has accelerated the development of the new RUTA Block 3 cruise missile. The company announced on May 18, 2026, that the new system will have a range of 2000 kilometers, with flight tests scheduled for 2027.

The missile will be equipped with a next-generation Destinus T220 turbojet engine, currently in the design phase, and a 250-kg warhead. The system will feature autonomous navigation for operation in satellite signal jamming (GNSS/GPS), as well as terminal target guidance during the final phase of flight. Launched from standard ISO containers, the missile will be deployable on land, at sea, and at fixed sites.

RUTA Block 3 will be the next step in the RUTA family, which has already progressed from combat use to serial production. RUTA Block 1 is already in serial production in the Netherlands. RUTA Block 2, developed with the support of the Ukrainian defense cluster Brave1, is currently undergoing flight tests in Ukraine, and its production is planned to be scaled up in 2026.

The production program is divided between three countries. In the Netherlands, Destinus is responsible for engineering and primary production of the RUTA family. In Ukraine, the company will develop, conduct operational testing of Block 3, and manufacture key components. In Germany, the Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems joint venture will handle large-scale production, certification, and final integration for the Bundeswehr and other European customers.

Destinus CEO Mikhail Kokorich stated that Europe is entering a new era of defense, where the ability to produce and replenish stocks of precision weapons on an industrial scale during protracted conflicts is becoming a key factor.