MSPO 2025: Ukraine unveils updated Palyanitsya drone missile

A model of Ukraine's so-called ‘new' Palyanitsya drone missile, unveiled by Ukroboronprom at MSPO 2025. (Janes/Andrew White)

Ukrainian defence industry body Ukroboronprom unveiled a scale model of what it called its ‘new' Palyanitsya drone missile at the MSPO 2025 defence exhibition in Kielce, Poland, held from 2 to 5 September.

According to official literature shared at MSPO, the drone missile is designed to “hit land and sea stationary targets at tactical depths up to 650 km” in range.

Powered by a booster and solid propellant turbojet engine, the drone missile has a cruising speed of 900 km/h. It has been designed to operate from 15 m to 500 m above ground level, navigating using GPS and inertial navigation system (INS).

The drone missile measures 3.5 m in length with a wingspan of 1.7 m. With a total weight of 320 kg the weapon system retains capacity to carry a warhead up to 100 kg.

In August 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed Palyanitsya had been used in anger during the ongoing war with Russia.

“Just today, the first and successful combat use of our new weapon took place. It's an absolutely new class of weapon. This is our new method of retaliating against the aggressor. The enemy was hit. I thank everyone who provided it: all developers, manufacturers, and our warriors. I'm proud of you,” Zelensky announced at the time, according to local media reports.

Other Ukrainian officials confirmed the new weapon system had yet to be used to attack targets over the border in Russia.

For more information, please see Ukraine conflict: Kyiv claims to have tested long-range strike weapons .