A 700-Kilometer Missile: Rheinmetall Teams Up with Destinus and Danilyuk

Europe’s Defense Industry Ramps Up Missile Development

According to Главком: Amid shifting U.S. policies on NATO and EU security, Europe’s defense sector is accelerating its push to develop long-range missiles. German defense giant Rheinmetall has announced a joint venture with Destinus-a company co-led by former Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danilyuk. The new initiative is called Rheinmetall Destinus Strike Systems.

Missile Production and Europe’s Military Landscape

Serial production of the missiles is slated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. The two companies will collaborate on building cruise missiles and ballistic artillery, with the flagship product being the Ruta Block 2 missile, capable of striking targets over 700 kilometers away. According to European military data, Russia produces roughly 1,100 cruise missiles annually, while EU countries currently manufacture only about 300.

For Rheinmetall, this marks its first major foray into the cruise missile segment, previously dominated by the MBDA group. Destinus, a startup founded in 2021, is led by physicist Mykhailo Kokorych. In 2023, Oleksandr Danilyuk joined the company’s leadership as Senior Vice President for Defense. Destinus also supplies cruise missiles and drones to Ukraine’s Armed Forces, with drone components manufactured outside Switzerland and final assembly taking place within Ukraine.

The sharp escalation in Europe’s military-industrial activity comes amid debates over the U.S. role following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, as well as the ongoing war in the Middle East. Russia’s Ministry of Defense has already added Destinus to its list of potential targets, highlighting the growing regional tensions.

The launch of the joint Rheinmetall-Destinus project underscores a broader trend among European nations to develop their own military technologies in response to a shifting global security landscape.

As regional tensions rise-particularly in the context of Russian aggression-such initiatives could significantly impact the defense capabilities of EU and NATO countries, as well as strategic stability across Europe. With missile production set to begin in a few years, this could prove to be a critical step in strengthening Europe’s military capacity over the long term.

The recent collaboration between Rheinmetall and Destinus highlights a significant shift in Europe’s defense strategy, particularly in light of the call for enhanced missile cooperation with Ukraine. As European nations respond to evolving security threats, the urgency for joint missile development has become increasingly apparent, reflecting a broader trend in military preparedness across the continent.