Ukraine has developed a new rocket called DART, designed to be launched from stratospheric balloons and capable of withstanding electronic warfare interference.
The system was created by the country’s Center of Innovative Technologies, and its details were released by the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi.
According to the developers, the DART is launched from altitudes between 12 and 18 kilometers using aerostats. The rocket measures 1.84 meters in length, weighs about 13 kg, and can carry warheads ranging from 3.5 kg to 10 kg, depending on the configuration. The weapon uses graphite-based impact elements.
One of the system’s main distinguishing features is its resistance to electronic warfare. During the initial phase of flight, the DART uses a conventional navigation system. However, upon reaching approximately 6 kilometers in altitude, navigation is turned off and a solid-fuel motor is activated, allowing the rocket to continue toward the target along a pre-defined trajectory.
According to the developers, this approach drastically reduces vulnerability to interference and signal jamming. To ensure stability during release from the balloons, the system uses special servomechanisms that control the trajectory immediately after launch.
The balloons used in the project are supplied by external partners and are not part of the program’s main development. “The aerostats are no longer just our own development, but a joint project,” the company told Militarnyi.
The DART is undergoing certification with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. In addition, the team responsible said it intends to use the technology as a basis for future ballistic missiles and anti-aircraft systems, expanding the family of weapons derived from the project.
Photos: Center of Innovative Technologies Program. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
