---
title: "«Bars» as a modular platform: developer of jet-powered drones reveals the evolution of its characteristics and the role of AI in guidance"
description: "The developer of the «Bars» jet-powered drone told RBC-Ukraine about the evolution of the platform: a range of up to 1,000 km, a warhead of up to 60 kg, and localization of over 74%. Media report the system's use in a strike on Moscow."
date: 2026-09-07T08:02:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-bars-jet-drone-platform-ai-guidance
tags: [ukraine, bars-drone, reactive-drone, drones, defense-tech, ai-guidance]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# «Bars» as a modular platform: developer of jet-powered drones reveals the evolution of its characteristics and the role of AI in guidance

![Bars jet-powered drone as a modular platform: collage of a production line and construction details including a tail-mounted jet engine and AI-assisted guidance system](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/07/ukraine-bars-reactive-drones/ukraine-bars-reactive-drones-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Development of «Bars» began in 2023 with a team of enthusiasts acting as volunteers and oriented toward the military's requests.
- The system was conceived as a modular platform with three application profiles (DeepStrike, mid-strike, front-strike) and more than 40 iterations.
- Current stated characteristics: range up to 1,000 km, warhead up to 60 kg, speed over 700 km/h; localization over 74%.
- The team uses AI for machine vision and terminal guidance, and also ensures online control on enemy territory.
- Media report the use of «Bars» in a strike on Moscow in May 2026; the developer does not confirm these episodes in the interview.

Ukraine is steadily intensifying strikes on military targets deep in the enemy's rear, and one of the tools in this direction is becoming its own jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicles. At the center of this logic is the «Bars» system — a jet-powered UAV that its developer describes not as a single missile, but as a modular platform capable of carrying a warhead and operating at extreme ranges. In an interview with RBC-Ukraine (the source's name is not disclosed for security reasons), the engineering team explained how the project grew from a volunteer initiative into a series with dozens of iterations, and what the fundamental difference is between a jet-powered drone and a conventional missile.

### From a volunteer initiative to a serial platform

According to the developer, work on «Bars» began in 2023. A team of enthusiasts, including specialists in aviation and model aircraft, initially acted as volunteers and aimed for maximum coordination with the military. It was precisely through extensive contact with the military that the team received a recurring request: to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a means to "respond in kind" and destroy targets not only on its own territory but also on enemy territory. The appearance of the device, which the developer acknowledges resembles a "little airplane," is a direct consequence of the model-aircraft background of part of the team.

### Modular architecture and three application profiles

The key idea behind «Bars» is modularity. The developer emphasizes that more than 40 "official engineering" iterations have passed since the first basic prototype, which, however, should not be reduced to a single type: the system was conceived as a platform balancing fuel volume against warhead mass. This made it possible to distinguish three main categories of application — DeepStrike, "mid-strike," and "front-strike." Over time, the characteristics grew: if the early stage featured a warhead of about 22.5 kg and a range of up to 700 km, the developer now cites a range of up to 1,000 km, a warhead of up to 60 kg, and a speed of over 700 km/h. At the same time, the foundation laid in the initial engineering calculations has been preserved, and changes to the form factor have remained minor.

### Jet engine, communications, and artificial intelligence

In the team's assessment, the most difficult stage was the stability of communications — a factor that determines the effectiveness of the UAV. The developer states that, to date, online control on enemy territory has been ensured. At every level — from engineering tasks to machine vision in guidance systems — AI tools are actively used: on the "final mile," the pilot is offered a choice between handing control over to the optical terminal-guidance system and manual control. In terms of localization, «Bars» reaches over 74 percent; the only significant purchased component is named as the turbojet engine, although, according to the developer, an in-house engine has already passed final tests.

### Combat use and interest from international partners

A number of Ukrainian and Russian media outlets link «Bars» to strikes on Moscow: in particular, it was reported that the system was used in an attack on the Russian capital in May 2026. The developer himself does not elaborate on these specific episodes in the interview, limiting himself to describing technical capabilities. Separately, he notes "very active" interest from international partners and the existence of negotiation tracks, without disclosing their details.

### Contradictory data

When comparing versions, discrepancies emerge that are important to record. First, the published technical figures are not uniform: the range is given in the range of 700 to 1,000 km, and the warhead mass from 22.5 to 60 kg; the developer explains this as the evolution of modular modifications, not an error. Second, claims of combat use over Moscow rely on secondary media reports, whereas in the interview itself the developer neither confirms nor denies these episodes. Third, the source is anonymous for security reasons, and some characteristics (74% localization, the status of the in-house engine) are self-declarations by the team and have not been confirmed by independent audit. Finally, certain Russian reports about drones shot down on other directions are not tied to «Bars» and cannot serve as confirmation of its characteristics.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [In-house engines and manual control over Russia: interview with the developer of the «Bars» jet-powered drones](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vlasni-dviguni-ta-ruchne-keruvannya-rf-interv-1788509488.html) - Первичный источник: анонимное интервью разработчика. Подтверждает старт в 2023, модульность, 40+ итераций, характеристики (до 1000 км, до 60 кг, 700+ км/ч), локализацию 74%, ИИ-наведение и онлайн-управление.
- [First characteristics of the new Ukrainian missile «Bars» revealed, which has already flown to Moscow](https://www.unian.net/weapons/raketa-dron-bars-rs-stali-izvestny-harakteristiki-novogo-ukrainskogo-oruzhiya-13418763.html) - Вторичный источник: характеризует «Барс» и указывает на его применение в направлении Москвы; согласуется с описанием платформы.
- [The «Bars» missile-drone was used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the first time in the attack on Moscow](https://www.mk.ru/politics/2026/05/17/raketadron-bars-vpervye-ispolzovalas-vsu-v-atake-na-moskvu.html) - Указывает на первое применение в атаке на Москву (май 2026). Используется как контекст боевого применения; в интервью разработчика эти эпизоды не подтверждаются.
- [Russian forces shot down an AFU drone delivering "zhduons" toward the Bryansk direction](https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/27390485) - Российское сообщение о сбитом дроне на брянском направлении; не привязано к «Барсу» и не подтверждает его характеристики. Не использовано как основание для технических фактов.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: When did development of the «Bars» drone begin?
**A:** According to the developer, development began in 2023 with a team of enthusiasts that initially acted as volunteers and was oriented toward the military's requests.

### Q: What are the stated characteristics of «Bars»?
**A:** At the current stage, the developer cites a range of up to 1,000 km, a warhead of up to 60 kg, and a speed of over 700 km/h; at the early stage, a warhead of about 22.5 kg and a range of up to 700 km were mentioned.

### Q: How does «Bars» differ from an ordinary missile?
**A:** The developer describes it as a modular jet-powered platform with three application profiles (DeepStrike, mid-strike, front-strike), online control on enemy territory, and the use of AI for terminal guidance, which distinguishes it from a single-use ballistic/cruise missile.

### Q: How localized is «Bars»?
**A:** The developer claims localization of over 74 percent; the only significant purchased component is named as the turbojet engine, while, according to him, an in-house engine has passed final tests.

### Q: Has the use of «Bars» in the strike on Moscow been confirmed?
**A:** Ukrainian and Russian media reported its use in the attack on Moscow (May 2026), however in the interview itself the developer neither confirms nor denies these specific episodes.