Ukraine Confirms Luch Design Bureau as Developer of Palianytsia Missile Drone

Kyiv : Ukrainian officials have formally disclosed the developer and manufacturer behind the country’s newly revealed Palianytsia missile drone, confirming that the system was designed by the Luch Design Bureau, one of Ukraine’s most prominent state-run defense enterprises. The announcement provides the clearest picture yet of the origins and technical characteristics of a weapon seen as part of Ukraine’s expanding long-range strike capability.

Official Confirmation by Foreign Minister

The disclosure was made public by Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who posted photographs of the Palianytsia on his official social media account. Sybiha stated that the images were taken during a meeting with Oleh Korosteliov, director of the Luch Design Bureau, who presented him with a scale model of the missile drone.

According to the minister, the meeting highlighted the growing role of Ukraine’s domestic defense industry in developing advanced weapons systems under wartime conditions. The model shown to Sybiha is visually consistent with the Palianytsia mock-up previously unveiled to the public in Poland.

Appearance at MSPO 2025 Exhibition

The Palianytsia missile drone first drew international attention when it was displayed at the MSPO 2025 international defense exhibition in Poland. At the time, Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi reported key technical parameters of the system, offering insight into its intended operational role.

The missile drone measures approximately 3.5 meters in length, with a wingspan of about 1.7 meters. Its total launch weight is reported to be around 320 kilograms, of which roughly 100 kilograms are allocated to the warhead, indicating a significant payload for a drone-based strike platform.

Performance and Flight Characteristics

Palianytsia is designed for long-range missions, with an estimated operational range of up to 650 kilometers. It is capable of flying at transonic speeds of around 900 kilometers per hour, allowing it to reach targets quickly while reducing interception opportunities.

Its flight altitude can vary widely, from extremely low levels of about 15 meters to higher profiles reaching up to 500 meters. This flexibility allows the missile drone to adapt its flight path to terrain and threat environments, potentially complicating detection by enemy air defense systems.

Propulsion, Launch, and Guidance Systems

The missile drone is powered by a single-circuit turbojet engine, providing sustained thrust during cruise flight. Launch is conducted with the assistance of a solid-fuel rocket booster, which accelerates the system to the required speed before separating once the turbojet takes over.

Navigation and terminal guidance rely on a combined system. An autonomous inertial navigation unit, designed to be resistant to electronic warfare, forms the backbone of guidance, while satellite navigation is used to correct deviations and improve overall accuracy during flight.

Role of Luch Design Bureau

Founded in 1965, the Luch State Kyiv Design Bureau is one of Ukraine’s leading defense industry enterprises. The company is internationally known as the manufacturer of the R-360 Neptune, as well as the widely deployed Stuhna-P system.

Over the decades, Luch has developed and fielded more than 40 types of complex military and industrial products. Its portfolio includes missile systems, control and diagnostic equipment for aviation weapons, electric steering drives, high-precision weapon assemblies, and industrial process control technologies.

Strategic Significance

Defense analysts view the Palianytsia missile drone as another step in Ukraine’s effort to build indigenous long-range precision strike capabilities. By combining features of cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems, the weapon reflects a broader trend toward flexible, cost-effective platforms designed to penetrate modern air defenses.

The official confirmation of its developer underscores Kyiv’s intention to publicly demonstrate the maturity and resilience of its domestic arms industry. As the conflict continues, systems such as Palianytsia highlight Ukraine’s increasing ability to design, manufacture, and deploy sophisticated weapons using national resources.