Internationally, the Peklo serves as a model for other nations seeking affordable, scalable solutions for long-range strike capabilities.
Ukraine has been forced to become increasingly innovative with its weapons and tactics as its war with the Russians has gone on, and as the United States and its NATO partners struggle to keep the Ukrainians supplied. One of Ukraine’s most significant achievements has been the Peklo drone.
Officially dubbed a “rocket-drone,” but widely regarded as a miniature cruise missile, this system—designed by Ukrainian defense contractor Ukroboronprom—was unveiled in December 2024. It has a top speed of around 435 miles per hour and a one-hour flight time, giving it a maximum range of roughly 435 miles.
The ongoing war, which began in February 2022, has exposed Ukraine’s overreliance on Western-supplied missiles such as the ATACMS and Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG. These weapons come with supply limitations, as well as political restrictions for use against targets in Russia out of a desire not to escalate the conflict. To address this gap, Ukraine has accelerated its domestic defense production, focusing on innovative solutions like the Peklo and its predecessor, the Palianytsia missile-drone.
Remarkably, the Peklo was designed and produced in less than a year, with development beginning in August 2023. Ukrainian military operators, seeking a weapon that could strike hundreds of kilometers behind enemy lines, collaborated closely with designers. The decision to equip the Peklo with a jet engine—a feature that distinguishes it from conventional drones—was a bold initiative by the developers, aligning the weapon more closely with cruise missile technology.
On December 6, 2024, the first batch of several dozen units was delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with nearly 100 units produced in the preceding three months. This rapid development cycle underscores Ukraine’s ability to innovate under wartime pressures—even as the war turns against Kyiv on the front line.
The Peklo combines the characteristics of a kamikaze drone and a cruise missile, blurring the line between these categories. The Peklo is powered by a turbojet engine, likely a commercial off-the-shelf model, with thrust levels between 400 and 1,500 N. The engine is mounted on top of the fuselage, a design choice that simplifies manufacturing but increases the missile’s radar cross-section. The Peklo’s fuselage is constructed using aerospace manufacturing techniques, incorporating metal and rivets, and is optimized for industrial-scale production. Notably, the “rocket-drone” features fixed wings, suggesting it is launched from the ground using a rocket booster.
Navigation is a crucial aspect of the Peklo’s design. It is equipped with at least two guidance systems: an inertial navigation system (INS) and GPS, with potential integration of terrain contour matching (TERCOM) or digital scene-matching area correlation (DESMAC) for enhanced accuracy. A pitot tube at the nose measures airspeed, further refining its navigational capabilities. These systems enable the Peklo to strike targets with precision, as demonstrated in its five successful combat deployments prior to its official unveiling.
The Peklo’s success has far-reaching implications for the global defense industry. Domestically, it strengthens Ukraine’s defense-industrial base, which has seen an eightfold increase in cruise missile production in 2024 compared to the previous year. Alongside other systems, like the Palianytsia, Ruta, and Bars, the Peklo demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to develop a diverse arsenal of high-precision weapons. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ambitious goal of producing 30,000 long-range drones and 3,000 missile-drones in 2025 highlights the strategic priority placed on these capabilities.
Internationally, the Peklo serves as a model for other nations seeking affordable, scalable solutions for long-range strike capabilities. Its pragmatic design, which prioritizes simplicity and scalable mass production over design perfection, has drawn comparison to systems like Anduril’s Barracuda.
Even the United States is reportedly developing a low-cost drone missile inspired by Ukraine’s approach, though with a shorter range comparable to ATACMS. The Peklo’s success could inspire other countries to rethink traditional cruise missile development, favoring hybrid systems that combine drone and missile technologies.
Ukraine Can’t Make the Peklo on Its Own
The weapon does have one significant drawback. Despite the fact that it is a domestically produced system, it relies heavily on imported components. There are immense vulnerabilities in the supply chain undergirding this system, particularly under current wartime conditions.
Moreover, Russia’s efforts to counter Ukrainian drones and missiles, including through electronic warfare and air defense systems, will test the Peklo’s resilience. Ongoing improvements in electronic warfare (EW) resistance and accuracy, as well as the development of new warhead types, will be critical to maintaining its effectiveness.
Ultimately, no amount of innovation will stop the realities of the war that Ukraine is facing. They are depleted and far too many of these weapons—even indigenously built ones, like the Peklo—rely upon foreign supply chains that can be disrupted. The Peklo is a great system and Ukraine should be proud of it. But it cannot save Kyiv. Only a negotiated settlement to end the war will do that.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Anelo.
