Ukraine develops technology to shoot down Russian Banderol missile drones

Ukraine has developed a cheaper way to counter Russia's S8000 Banderol missile drones, and the system is already being used against them, according to the Brave1 defence-tech cluster.

Brave1 said one of its participating defence companies developed the technology. The cluster has not revealed how the system works or provided its technical specifications. It did say the cost of intercepting the drones is significantly lower than the cost of the missiles themselves.

A video supplied by Brave1 to Ukrainska Pravda shows the destruction of at least four Banderol missile drones. The cluster also said several products are now capable of countering Russia's low-cost missiles. In a post accompanying the video, Brave1 described the systems as a new technological response to the use of Banderol drones against Ukrainian cities.

The S8000 Banderol is developed and manufactured by Russia's Kronstadt JSC, which also produces the more expensive Orion reconnaissance and attack drones. The Banderol can reach a maximum speed of 620 to 650 km/h and has a cruising speed of 520 to 560 km/h. It carries a 114.3-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation warhead, including 49.5 kilograms of explosive material.

Ukraine's Defence Intelligence Directorate has reported that Russia can produce up to 80 S8000 Banderol missiles per month. It has also published technical details of the missile on the War&Sanctions portal.

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Meanwhile, the cost of shooting them down is significantly lower than the cost of the missiles themselves.