Dart, the Ukrainian missile launched from a balloon almost undetectable by Russian radars

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is becoming the stage for the use of weapons that are drastically changing the way war is waged.

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The most well-known example is that of drones, used extensively by both sides, but other highly innovative weapons systems are also emerging. One of them is the Dart, a missile developed by the Center for Innovative Technologies (CIT) Program of Ukraine, a company dedicated to exploring new weapons systems.

CIT Program defines the Dart as follows: "This device is designed for release from a high-altitude balloon at an altitude of 12,000–18,000 meters. Its control is carried out using servo actuators, which ensure accuracy and reliability during the release and subsequent activation. If required, the device can be equipped with a solid-fuel motor, expanding its functional capabilities."

This weapon system was presented at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris on June 16. The Dart missile is 184 cm long and 10 cm in diameter. Its net weight, without payload, is 13 kg. The missile includes a warhead ranging from 3.5 to 10 kg. The system includes electronic components and wiring that allow the integration of additional control systems, such as autopilot control and target guidance via Chymera NAS.

In June, the Ukrainian website Militarnyi.com noted that "upon reaching an altitude of approximately 6 kilometers, the navigation system is completely shut down, the solid-fuel engine is activated, and the rocket continues toward the target without changing course. Disabling the navigation system during the terminal phase prevents enemy electronic warfare systems from affecting the rocket’s flight path." Militarnyi.com added: "According to the developers, DART will undergo codification by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in the near future. There are also plans to develop a ballistic missile and a surface-to-air missile based on the DART platform."

The fact that this platform is balloon-based makes it almost undetectable to Russian radar, which is designed to locate metallic objects that emit heat and/or radio signals. Latex balloons filled with helium are nearly invisible to radar, and the metallic components of the Dart platform—the guidance system and the missile—have a very low radar signature. Furthermore, using these balloons in swarms can overwhelm Russian radar. Shooting down the balloons, which are very inexpensive, forces Russia to waste expensive surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).

Furthermore, these balloons can carry retroreflective decoys to deceive enemy air defenses, simulating larger targets. On May 15, the Ukrainian media outlet Euromaidan Press reported: "Ukrainian forces have launched in excess of 1,000 balloons into Russia and more are on the way. Untethered aerostats have participated in strikes on the deep rear of Russia since 2024, but have become ever more active in 2025-2026, targeting refineries, railways, and other infrastructure."

Regarding this weapons platform, yesterday AiTelly published an interesting and comprehensive video explaining its operation, advantages, and also its disadvantages:

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Images: CIT Program / Militarnyi.com