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Russia Deploys New S8000 “Banderol” Missile Built With Western Tech, Intelligence Reveals
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
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Russia has begun using a new cruise missile known as the S8000 “Banderol,” which is launched from Orion UAVs and incorporates components sourced from multiple foreign countries.
According to Defense Express report on May 12, the S8000 missile has a reported range of up to 500 kilometers and a top speed of 650 km/h. Ukrainian officials first identified the system as an unknown drone-based weapon but have now confirmed it as a cruise missile developed by Russia’s Kronstadt Group.
Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) has published technical specifications and a component breakdown of the missile, noting its use primarily in attacks against southern Ukraine.
The missile is powered by a Chinese SW800Pro-A95 turbojet engine produced by the company Swiwin, weighing 8.5 kilograms and delivering a thrust of 81.6 kgf at 65,000 rpm.
The missile’s navigation system relies on the CRP-protected Kometa-M8 antenna, previously observed in other Russian UAVs and munitions, such as the Shahed-type drones and UMPK glide bomb kits.
HUR reports that the S8000 contains components manufactured in Japan, China, South Korea, the United States, Switzerland, and Australia.
Specific parts include Murata batteries (Japan), an RF Design telemetry module (Australia), Dynamixel servos (South Korea), a Maxim Integrated radio-frequency amplifier (USA), Toshiba phototransistors (Japan), and an STMicroelectronics microcontroller (Switzerland).
The missile’s dimensions include a length of approximately 5 meters, a wingspan of 2.2 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 30 centimeters.
The warhead is designated OFBCh-150 and weighs 114.3 kilograms, with 49.5 kilograms of explosive material, a mixture of octogen and aluminum powder with a nitramine-based plasticizer. The onboard fuel tank carries between 50 and 65 kilograms of fuel.
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Russian forces currently deploy the missile from Orion drones, with plans to integrate it into Mi-28N combat helicopters. A render of the S8000 released by HUR shows visual similarities to the US AGM-158C LRASM, though analysts assess the Russian version as a lower-cost alternative aimed at mass production.
Despite existing international sanctions, several components in the S8000 are commercially available, which makes it difficult to fully restrict their access.
HUR notes that one supplier involved in assembling these components is the Russian company “Chip i Dip,” which is under sanctions by the US and Ukraine but not yet restricted in countries like Japan, Australia, or Switzerland.
Earlier, Russia deployed a modernized version of its coastal artillery system—the A-222M “Bereh”—to the Pacific Fleet, reportedly equipped with 152mm guided Krasnopol shells. The upgrade may be linked to ammunition shortages and efforts to improve range, though its actual capabilities and scale of deployment remain unconfirmed.
