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Spain to Produce Ukraine-Tested Ruta Missiles in NATO-Aligned Defense Deal
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
At the FEINDEF 2025 defense exhibition in Madrid, European aerospace innovator Destinus and Spanish technology giant Grupo Oesía formalized a strategic partnership aimed at the joint development, production, and global commercialization of the Ruta missile—a jet-powered surface-to-surface missile already fielded in combat in Ukraine and touted for its modular design and battlefield adaptability, defense outlet Army Recognition reported on May 15.
The Ruta missile, developed by Destinus, is the first system covered under the new agreement. It incorporates a guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system fully developed in Spain by UAV Navigation, a Grupo Oesía subsidiary.
Designed for deterrence and deployment in multi-domain operations, the missile is already operational and has seen use in Ukraine.
The partnership seeks to further tailor the Ruta to meet the operational requirements of the Spanish Armed Forces while supporting its adoption by international allies. Backed by Spain’s Ministry of Defense and aligned with NATO cooperation frameworks, the collaboration also aims to increase Spanish industrial participation in the production of critical subsystems.
The Ruta platform has drawn comparisons to a loitering munition or multi-role UAV, featuring a cylindrical fuselage, rocket-assisted launch, turbojet propulsion, and detachable wings.
With a cruise speed of Mach 0.8 and a range of up to 500 kilometers, it’s engineered to operate in GNSS-denied and contested environments. Key features include modular payload bays, internal fuel tanks, avionics, EW subsystems, and optical terminal guidance with 15 m² circular error probable accuracy.
Grupo Oesía’s GNC system allows the Ruta to fly autonomously, resist jamming or spoofing, and execute terminal strikes with precision.
The technology has been tested in real-world combat scenarios. The agreement with Destinus is seen as part of a broader push to strengthen Spain’s presence in the European defense industrial base.
“This agreement strengthens our role as a core partner in the development of missile systems in collaboration with Destinus,” said Luis Furnells, President and CEO of Grupo Oesía.
Mikhail Kokorich, founder of Destinus, noted that the partnership will enable faster development of defense systems adapted to lessons learned from recent conflicts.
Plácido Márquez, CEO of Destinus Spain, emphasized the flexibility of the company’s vertically integrated model, combining national development with cross-border applicability.
The Ruta missile was previously displayed at Eurosatory 2024, marked with Ukrainian Air Force insignia, and has been combat-tested in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly acknowledged the system during a December 2024 speech highlighting the country’s domestic strike capabilities.
Destinus has confirmed that it supplies Ukraine with multiple UAV platforms—including the Ruta, “Lord”, and “Hornet”—producing over 100 drones per month since mid-2023.
The systems are manufactured across facilities in Germany and the Netherlands, with plans underway for local production inside Ukraine. The reconnaissance variant of Ruta is reusable via parachute-assisted recovery, and a vertical-landing model is under development.
The platform’s dimensions—3.93 meters long with a 2.25-meter wingspan—and its max takeoff weight of under 300 kg allow for efficient storage and deployment.
Destinus, founded in 2021 and now headquartered in France, has facilities in Madrid, Munich, and Hengelo, and has also worked on hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft.
The company’s sales of UAV and missile systems to Ukraine have contributed to its revenue growth, with 2023 earnings under €20 million and a significantly higher turnover projected for 2024.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Ministry for Strategic Industries held talks with Spanish defense manufacturer Escribano Mechanical and Engineering (EM&E) on localizing the production and servicing of remote weapon stations in Ukraine.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
