Russia plans to produce up to 14,000 Dan-T missiles in 2027
Dan-T missile (photo: Russian media)
Moscow plans to increase production of the Dan-T missile to 14,000 units as early as next year, which, together with Shahed drones and cruise missiles, could place additional strain on Ukraine's air defense system, according to RBC-Ukraine sources.
What is known about the Dan-T
According to the Russian manufacturer, the Dan-T missile is launched from aircraft or helicopters, is equipped with a jet engine, and can travel hundreds of kilometers at high speed. After launch, it autonomously travels toward its target. Rostec also claims that it has a special flight mode designed to make the missile more difficult for air defense systems to detect and intercept.
Why mass production is the main risk
RBC-Ukraine sources see the greatest risk in the potential scale of the weapon's deployment: its high speed, long range, and the ability to launch thousands of such missiles could place an additional burden on Ukraine's air defenses, alongside Shahed drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.
Russian plans call for the production of up to 2,000 Dan-T missiles by the end of this year and up to 14,000 next year.
What other threats are being considered alongside the Dan-T
RBC-Ukraine sources say the Dan-T is not the only new weapon causing concern among the military, with the S8000 Banderol also mentioned as a potential threat.
At the same time, Ukraine is entering the fall and winter period with a shortage of interceptor missiles, including Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors needed to counter ballistic missiles, while Russia has simultaneously increased the share of turbojet-powered drones used in its attacks. Since late August, they have accounted for around 50–60% of the drones used in an attack, while Russia plans to increase that figure to 80% by November.
According to aviation expert and defense company development director Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, the Dan-T is a modified version of the Dan-M training target missile: its parachute and Luneburg lens were removed, effectively turning it into a cruise missile with a range of up to 500 kilometers when launched from aircraft such as the Su-35, or around 250 kilometers when launched from ground-based systems.
