Ukraine Unveils 'Bars' – A New 800 km-Range Cruise Missile for Deep Strikes

Ukraine has officially revealed a powerful new addition to its growing missile arsenal — a cruise missile named Bars, capable of hitting targets up to 800 kilometres away. The announcement was made during the Ukrainian Weapons 2024 briefing by Herman Smetanin, Ukraine’s Minister for Strategic Industries.

Bars joins a new family of advanced missiles developed domestically in Ukraine, including Palyanytsia, Peklo, and Ruta. While specific technical data about Bars remains classified, officials confirmed that it is a medium-range cruise missile, developed by Ukraine’s private sector, and is believed to share many specifications with the Peklo missile system.

Key Features and Capabilities of Bars Cruise Missile:

• Type: Medium-Range Cruise Missile

• Estimated Range: 700 to 800 km

• Purpose: Precision strikes deep into enemy territory

• Origin: Developed by Ukraine’s private defence sector

• Deployment: Expected to be inducted into Ukrainian Defence Forces soon

• Production: Designed for mass production within Ukraine

Bars is specifically designed to strike military infrastructure and high-value targets deep inside Russian territory, giving Ukraine a strategic advantage without relying on foreign-supplied long-range systems. The missile's capability allows it to disrupt logistics hubs, command centres, and airbases far from the frontlines.

Ukraine's Expanding Missile Arsenal

The unveiling of Bars highlights Ukraine’s broader effort to boost domestic missile production. By the end of 2024, the country had increased its missile output eightfold, a significant achievement amid ongoing conflict.

• In November 2024 alone, Ukraine reportedly produced over 100 missile systems.

• President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans to manufacture 3,000 cruise and drone missiles in 2025.

• The upgraded R-360 Neptune cruise missile — Ukraine's indigenous system — has already seen its range extended to 1,000 kilometres.

• In August 2024, a new Ukrainian ballistic missile system was successfully tested, marking another major advancement in local defence technology.

Strategic Significance

The Bars missile demonstrates how Ukraine is rapidly evolving its technological base to meet modern warfare demands. Its development reflects a broader shift towards self-reliance, rapid innovation, and long-range precision capabilities. The ability to mass-produce such weapons locally means Ukraine can maintain and expand its missile forces without external delays or restrictions.

In the face of an ongoing war, Bars is not just a missile — it symbolizes Ukraine's determination to push back, innovate, and strike where it matters most.