Against the backdrop of modern conflicts, where electronic warfare (EW) has become one of the main defensive tools, Ukrainian engineers have found a non-standard solution. The company Center of Innovative Technologies Program has presented the DART missile, which is launched not from ground launchers, but directly from stratospheric aerostats.

This development, reported by RBC-Ukraine citing the "Militarny" portal, changes the paradigm of tactical weapon application. The main feature of DART is its complete invulnerability to attempts by enemy systems to suppress control.

Air Launch Principle

The launch system is designed by engineers to eliminate the influence of ground interference at the initial stage. The missile is lifted into the sky on special balloon-aerostats, which deliver the munition to an altitude of 12 to 18 kilometers. It is at this height that activation and release occur.

Special servos ensure the accuracy of activation. They are responsible for ensuring that the missile receives the correct orientation and begins moving along the specified trajectory. The system demonstrates high reliability under any release conditions.

Compactness and Warhead Elements

Despite high efficiency, DART is distinguished by its compact size. The length of the missile body is only 1.84 meters, and its own mass is 13 kilograms. This allows the system to be transported and launched with high mobility.

The weight of the warhead varies depending on the task: from 3.5 to 10 kilograms. The charge includes special damaging elements made of graphite, which are capable of disabling enemy electronics and equipment over a significant area.

How DART Bypasses Jammers

The most significant advantage of the new development is physical immunity to electronic warfare. The developers applied a unique flight control algorithm:

  • At the initial stage, the missile uses a standard navigation system.
  • However, when DART descends to an altitude of about 6 kilometers, navigation is completely turned off.
  • At this moment, the solid-fuel engine is activated.
  • The missile continues to move towards the target by inertia and a pre-set vector, without using electronic signal reception systems.

Since the electronics are "silent" in the final phase of flight, enemy jammers cannot intercept control or knock the missile off course. It becomes physically unreachable for EW.

The Path to a State Contract

The project is being implemented within a partnership: the aerostats for the launch are produced by colleagues of the developer company. In the near future, DART will undergo the codification procedure in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. This is a key stage that will open the way to an official state contract and mass implementation of the system.

The developers' plans are not limited to this. The company plans to create a full-fledged ballistic missile, as well as developing a "surface-to-air" version for air defense.

Context of Ukrainian Ballistics Development

The development of DART takes place against the backdrop of large-scale statements about the creation of powerful weapons. The Head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine previously confirmed work on ballistic weapons for striking enemy rear areas.

"Ukrainian ballistics will change everything in this war. It will fundamentally change Ukraine's status in the world. We have changed it many times, but this is a completely different league," the minister stated.

Parallel to offensive systems, defensive means are also being developed. The Ukrainian company Fire Point has fully completed work on the anti-ballistic missile FP-7.x, which has already successfully passed tests.