Ukraine completes development of Trembita missile capable of reaching Moscow – The Economist
24 December 2024 08:49
Ukraine is finalizing the development of a new Trembita cruise missile that can hit targets up to 200 kilometers away, and an advanced version of which can reach Moscow. The missile, created by a team of volunteer engineers, costs several times less than its Western counterparts and could become an important element in a strategy to deplete Russia’s air defense, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing The Economist.
According to project manager Serhiy Biryukov, Trembita is equipped with a modernized version of the pulsating engine, which was first used on German V-1 bombs during World War II. The basic version of the missile can reach speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour. The development team is currently working on a more powerful modification that will be able to reach more distant targets.
The development of Trembita is part of a large-scale program to revive missile production in Ukraine. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it is planned to produce at least 3,000 missiles of various types by the end of 2025. This should help solve the problem of the long-range weapons shortage, as Ukraine currently relies mainly on limited supplies of American ATACMS and British-French Storm Shadow/Scalp.
The Trembita’s special feature is its affordability: the decoy version costs only $3,000, while a full-fledged missile with a 20-30 kilogram warhead costs $15,000.
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“We are creating a low-cost missile, but this can be our advantage. A large number of inexpensive missiles can significantly deplete enemy air defense,”
– biriukov explains.
Missile production in wartime is accompanied by significant challenges. Russia is constantly hunting for production facilities, and hundreds of defense workers have been killed and injured as a result. As a result, much of the production had to be moved underground, and the manufacturing of components distributed among hundreds of camouflaged locations.
Senior security officials estimate that it will take at least a year for Ukraine to produce enough missiles to pose a serious threat to Russian forces. However, the developers of the Trembita are determined.
“Even if a ceasefire is declared between the governments, we, as guerrillas, will continue our work. Our missiles will continue to fly,”
– emphasizes the project manager.
During the Soviet era, Ukraine was among the world leaders in the space and rocket industries. In particular, the Pivdenmash plant in Dnipro produced four generations of strategic missiles. However, after the signing of the Budapest Memorandum in 1994, when Ukraine renounced nuclear weapons, the industry declined due to corruption, lack of funding, and Russian infiltration.
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