- Ukraine has unveiled the launcher for its domestically developed Koral surface-to-air missile for the first time, revealing a significantly evolved weapon designed to engage both conventional aerial threats and ballistic targets.
- A millennial woman leading Ukraine's ballistic missile design, Terekh, stated that the country is now just months away from deploying its first domestically designed and manufactured ballistic missile, which will soon put Moscow in reach.
- The Koral missile now weighs approximately 450 kilograms, including a 36-kilogram warhead, and has undergone significant redesigns since its initial development.
- Development work on Koral began in 2016 as part of a prospective ship-based surface-to-air missile system.
- In 2021, Luch Design Bureau displayed a full-size Koral mockup at the Arms and Security exhibition, with the chief designer estimating the project was 70% complete.
- The Koral missile was originally envisioned as a highly modular weapon adaptable for land-based and naval air defense systems.
Ukraine's defense industry is making significant strides with the imminent deployment of its first domestically designed ballistic missile and the unveiling of the Koral air defense missile.
The Koral missile, which weighs approximately 450 kilograms and measures 4.8 meters in length, is designed to engage both conventional aerial threats and ballistic targets.36
An image released by Ukraine’s state defense industry shows the Koral missile launching from a self-propelled system mounted on a Czech-made Tatra truck chassis.
The missile's guidance architecture combines an inertial navigation system, radio-command correction, and an active radar seeker, allowing it to receive course updates before independently homing in on a target during the final phase of an engagement.
Development of the Koral began in 2016, with significant visibility gained in 2021 when a full-size mockup was displayed. The missile has evolved considerably since its initial specifications, which envisioned a lighter version with a smaller warhead.5
The current Koral missile is now longer and roughly 50% heavier, with its warhead increasing from 25 to 36 kilograms.
Terekh, a key figure in Ukraine's missile development, stated, “We need to ensure that Ukraine will stop just being a breadbasket for the world,” emphasizing the importance of the defense industry in Ukraine's future.
As Ukraine continues to innovate in its military capabilities, the Koral missile represents a crucial advancement in its air defense strategy against ongoing threats from Russia.
“The designer's Fire Point company produces 300-400 long-range attack drones daily and claims Ukraine has launched twice as many strikes as Russia in 2026, with 60% using Fire Point weapons. Koral, weighing 450 kg with a 36-kg warhead, evolved from a 2016 ship-based project and now features an active radar seeker.”
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