THE HAGUE, Netherlands — June 25, 2026 : The Netherlands has finalized a €250 million agreement to procure 700 Ruta Block 2 cruise missiles for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to Dutch newspaper NRC. The missiles, manufactured by European aerospace and defense company Destinus, are intended to strengthen Ukraine's long-range precision strike capability against military infrastructure behind Russian lines.
The procurement is part of a broader €500 million military assistance package announced by the Dutch government in mid-June 2026. Half of the package has been allocated to drones and missile systems produced by Dutch defense manufacturers, while the remaining funding will support other Ukrainian defense priorities.
The agreement was confirmed after Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov visited the Destinus production facility in Hengelo during mid-June to inspect manufacturing operations.
Ruta Block 2 Capabilities
The Ruta Block 2 is an upgraded version of the earlier Ruta missile, redesigned as a stealth cruise missile for precision strikes against hardened and high-value stationary targets.
The missile has a range of more than 700 kilometers and carries a 250-kilogram warhead. It is equipped with an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) seeker with AI-assisted target recognition, allowing it to maintain accuracy even in GNSS-denied and electronic warfare environments.
The missile follows a low-altitude terrain-following flight profile to reduce radar detection and features a low-observability airframe. Foldable wings enable launches from standard 40-foot shipping containers using a solid-fuel booster or from aircraft.
Production and Development
The Ruta missile family is powered by Destinus' T150 turbojet engine. Earlier this month, the company announced production of its 1,000th engine, supporting expanded manufacturing capacity.
The Block 2 missile was developed in cooperation with Ukraine's Brave1 defense technology cluster and successfully completed flight testing in Ukraine in April 2026.
Destinus has also partnered with Germany's Rheinmetall through the Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems joint venture to increase production, with manufacturing shared across the Netherlands, Germany, and Ukraine.
Strategic Role
Ukrainian officials say the 700-missile order will strengthen the country's medium-range strike capability by enabling precision attacks on military infrastructure, logistics routes, supply lines, and operational hubs behind Russian lines.
The Netherlands said the agreement also supports the expansion of Europe's defense industrial base through domestic production. Deliveries of the Ruta Block 2 missiles are expected to increase throughout the remainder of 2026.
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