Russia unveils S8000 missile with Western electronics mix
Russia has introduced the new S8000 Banderol cruise missile into use. Similar to the analysis of the wreckage of other Russian weapons, it contains Western components. Here’s what it is and what it conceals.
According to the Militarnyj portal, Russia has started using the new S8000 Banderol missile, which contains many foreign components. As reported by the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR), the missile includes parts from China, Japan, the USA, and South Korea.
Commercial electronics in Russian weaponry
The "Banderol" missile uses Japanese Murata batteries and an Australian RF Design telemetry module. The propulsion system's core is a South Korean Dynamixel servomechanism, alongside a microcontroller from the Swiss company STMicroelectronics.
Interestingly, the share of Chinese components is increasing; for instance, the DC/DC converters are sourced from China, whereas in the past they were from Western companies. Nevertheless, Western components still appear, like the NE555 timing modules from Texas Instruments.
The most intriguing discovery is that the Russians use the Chinese SW800Pro-A95 turbojet engine in the "Banderol" missile, which is available for open sale to interested hobbyists.
The Russian defense industry employs intermediaries to circumvent sanctions. Companies from Hungary, Cyprus, Turkey, China, and Kazakhstan, among others, supply the necessary components, enabling the continuation of advanced military equipment production based on commercial electronics found in everyday products like household appliances.
The Russian industry has adapted to operating under a sanction environment, similar to Iran. Ultimately, the cruise missile’s software could even function on a system crafted from parts recovered from a washing machine controller if they meet the minimal requirements. Of course, such a missile would be much less reliable than those using dedicated solutions, but some might still complete their mission.
S8000 Banderol — a cruise missile for drones and helicopters
The cruise missile developed by JSC Kronstadt is designed to be launched from "Orion" drones and, eventually, from Mi-28N helicopters. As demonstrated by the war in Ukraine, attack helicopters are exposed targets for man-portable air defense systems, and the key to their survival is long-range weaponry.
Moreover, the Russian aircraft fleet capable of carrying glide bombs and cruise missiles is dwindling, so the development of unmanned platforms carrying cruise missiles is a logical step forward.
The response to these needs is the S8000 Banderol missile, which will weigh around 440 pounds. Its warhead weighs 252 pounds, with 109 pounds being explosive material, while the fuel reserve is between 110 and 143 pounds. The missile is reported to be 16 feet long with a wingspan of 7 feet.
Ukrainian sources indicate that its cruising speed is a relatively low 320 mph, but they have not disclosed the guidance method. It is most likely based on a combination of INS and GPS navigation, perhaps augmented by some form of precision guidance in the final phase of flight. It is possible that a television head was borrowed from the Kh-59, or something more advanced based on thermal imaging.
