Ukraine has ramped up the production of locally made rocket-drones called Peklo in a bid to enhance its long-range strike capabilities.
The Peklo missile-drone, named after the Ukrainian word for “hell,” can travel 700 kilometers (435 miles) at speeds of 700 kilometers per hour (435 mph) and is designed for precision strikes on targets deep within Russian territory.
Ukroboronprom, the Joint-Stock Company Ukrainian Defense Industry, has introduced a new domestic drone missile called Peklo (“Hell”).
Source: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine 1/ pic.twitter.com/hFk0vpJPae
— WithUkraine (@With__Ukraine) December 6, 2024
Since production began, 100 Peklo units have been built in the last three months.Developed by Ukrainian manufacturer Ukroboronprom, the Peklo is built with 70% locally made components and is cheaper to produce than earlier kamikaze drones like the $200,000 Liutyi model.
The Peklo uses a jet engine mounted externally, allowing for higher speeds and easier manufacturing. It is guided by a GPS-corrected inertial navigation system.
While its exact warhead weight remains undisclosed, it is reportedly smaller than the 100-kilogram payload of similar Ukrainian drones. The drone is designed to strike critical infrastructure and high-value military targets at long range.
The Peklo is part of a new wave of Ukrainian weapons, including other missile-drones like the Palianytsia and Ruta, which are also jet-powered and capable of high speeds. These advancements aim to fill the gap left by limited access to Western-made long-range weapons.
O Programa de Mísseis na UCR continua a bombar!
No vídeo, o míssil Ruta (Rue).
O Palianytsia, um híbrido leve de mísseis e drones, já entrou em produção em massa, e o híbrido Peklo (Inferno) tem sido usado em combate.Em Agosto, foi testado o primeiro míssil balístico nacional. pic.twitter.com/5d2KbDbhLC
— Paula Branco (@PaulaBranco16) December 10, 2024
Ukraine has deployed these missile-drones in attacks on Russian airfields and infrastructure in areas like Taganrog and Bryansk. While some reports of their use remain unconfirmed, these drones have proven capable of complementing other weapons, such as U.S.-made ATACMS missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly praised the development of these weapons, calling them a necessity in Ukraine’s fight against Russia. According to reports, the production of the weapons is set to increase, with plans to produce 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 missile-drones by 2025.
