On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Dutch company Destinus presented the improved, autonomous medium-range cruise missile Ruta Block 2, based on the Block 1 model that has been used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2024.
Photos: Destinus
The Ruta Block 2 is designed to engage high-value stationary targets. Launch is assisted by a rocket booster, after which a T150 sustainer engine with 1,500 N of thrust is activated, enabling low-altitude flight with multimode guidance using artificial intelligence in the Vector Vista Block 2 navigation system, supported by an electronic countermeasures suite. This ensures high accuracy even when operating against layered enemy air defense systems.
The missile was designed with scalable production in mind and compatibility with allied launchers and AI-based command-and-control (C2) systems, including swarm operations (AI-swarm).
Compared to Block 1, the new Block 2 version has increased its range from approximately 450 km to 500 km, while the warhead mass—high-explosive, penetrator, or hybrid high-explosive/penetrator—has grown from 150 kg to 250 kg. The first version relied on satellite navigation (GPS/GNSS) and inertial navigation (INS), which did not guarantee successful target engagement during Russian electronic warfare operations.
It is worth noting that the missile’s full designation according to the manufacturer is Destinus Strike Ruta Block 2 CM F/P/H, where CM denotes a cruise missile, and F/P/H indicates the type of warhead listed above.
The missile is intended to strike concentrations of troops, armored vehicles, concrete structures, and personnel that are not on the move. It can be launched from containerized launchers mounted on self-propelled or mobile rocket launch systems of allied forces, although it has not been specified which systems it has been integrated with.
In general, details of the combat use of the Ruta Block 1 by the Armed Forces of Ukraine have not been disclosed, but it is certain that Block 2 was developed on the basis of those real-world combat experiences against Russia.
According to media reports, the Destinus start-up has production facilities in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Spain, where it manufactures the Ruta Block 1 missile and its components. The company’s offices are located in Switzerland, Germany, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, France, and Spain. Destinus has also developed another unmanned system – the Hornet interceptor drone in Block 1 and Block 2 versions. Previously, it also offered a propeller-driven unmanned aircraft called Lord.
On November 19, 2025, the company entered into cooperation with the U.S. firm Shield AI to integrate the autonomous, AI-based Hivemind software, designed to control platforms (such as the latest X-Bat) in environments without communications and satellite navigation, and under conditions of electromagnetic jamming and electronic warfare. Earlier, in August, Destinus acquired the Swiss AI company Daedalean, with the acquisition completed on January 5 of this year.