The United States has unveiled a budget cruise missile that could deal a deadly blow to Russian forces in Ukraine. Dubbed the « Rusty Dagger » by its manufacturers, the missile has been demonstrated by the US Air Force destroying targets.
It follows US Department of State approval of a foreign military sale request, allowing Ukraine to buy air-delivered munitions and related equipment valued at $825 million. Ukraine requested up to 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles, of which arms firm Zone 5 Technologies’ Rusty Dagger, which they call « our affordable cruise missile », is one of two in contention for the programme. The live-fire test of the Rusty Dagger was carried out at Eglin Test and Training Range in Florida.
An Eglin statement on January 31 said: « The event, which met all primary objectives including a full warhead detonation, gathered critical data to mature a new, cost-effective, long-range strike capability. »
Brigadier General Mark Massaro, 96th Test Wing commander, said: « The future fight demands we create an asymmetric advantage by developing cost-effective, attritable systems like ERAM that give commanders the ability to generate mass. »
Beyond ERAM, a suite of proven systems has already reshaped Ukraine’s battlefield fortunes.
US-supplied HIMARS rocket launchers have been decisive, striking Russian logistics hubs and command posts well behind the front, while precision-guided GMLRS rounds minimise collateral damage.
Air defence has been just as vital: Patriot and NASAMS batteries have blunted Moscow’s missile and drone barrages, protecting cities and critical infrastructure and forcing Russia to waste expensive munitions.
From Europe, the UK-French Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles have delivered long-range punch, hitting hardened targets Crimea once considered safe.
On the ground, Western artillery, counter-battery radars and a flood of small, expendable drones have levelled the odds, giving Ukrainian units eyes everywhere and firepower on demand.
Add resilient communications and electronic warfare tools, and the picture is clear: affordable precision, layered defences and massed attritable systems have proven just as lethal as any single headline weapon.
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