Russia's state defence corporation Rostec has announced that its Dan-T air-launched loitering munition features a specialized flight mode to bypass enemy air defence systems.
The state company disclosed the features of the weapon in a statement on its official Telegram channel, noting that the munition is also categorized as a cruise missile.
Rostec said the Dan-T operates on a fire-and-forget principle, meaning it navigates autonomously toward its target once launched. The missile is powered by a small-sized jet engine.
Fire-and-forget guidance technology allows military aircraft crews to launch a missile and immediately leave the area without remaining exposed to enemy counter-strikes. Anti-aircraft defence networks rely on ground-based radar arrays and surface-to-air missiles to detect and intercept incoming aerial threats. Weapons designed with evasive flight modes aim to fly below radar coverage or execute sharp tactical maneuvers to prevent interception.
Technical specifications and launch platforms
The Dan-T weighs 270 kilograms and has an effective operational range of up to 450 kilometers. Rostec stated that both fighter jets and military helicopters can act as launch platforms for the missile.
Earlier in September, a photograph published online showed the Dan-T mounted on a wing pylon of a Russian Mi-28NM attack helicopter. The Mi-28NM is an upgraded twin-seat combat helicopter manufactured for anti-armor missions and close air support.
Modern military helicopters and jet fighters rely on external wing pylons equipped with hardpoints to transport guided missiles, bomb loads, and target pods. Mounting heavy munitions on helicopter pylons allows rotary-wing aircraft to engage armored targets and enemy installations from standoff distances outside the range of short-range point defences.
Unveiling at Egyptian airshow
The public debut of the Dan-T took place earlier in September when the weapon was presented at the El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt.
The defense trade exhibition was held in El Alamein, a coastal city in northern Egypt along the Mediterranean Sea. The event serves as a major regional venue for international defense contractors to demonstrate aerospace technology to defense officials and foreign military buyers.
Rostec is Russia's primary state-owned defense conglomerate, controlling hundreds of research institutes, aviation plants, and defense manufacturing facilities across the nation. The organization frequently publishes technical updates and operational capability reports regarding Russian military hardware through its digital media channels.
