US Tests Powerful New Rusty Dagger Missile For Ukraine

• 4.02.2026, 11:54

Hits at 400 kilometers.

The U.S. has combat-tested the Rusty Dagger cruise missile for Ukraine, created under the ERAM program.

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine.

The missile is created by the U.S. company Zone 5 Technologies under the ERAM (Extended Range Attack Munition) program. During the next stage of testing, the munition hit the target with high accuracy, which confirmed its effectiveness.

The tests were held at the Eglin Air Base range in the south of the United States. The base's press office said the testing provided critical data for further development of a cost-effective and long-range strike system that is being developed under an accelerated program.

The test also released photos of the moment the missile hit and the detonation of the warhead. The photos show high accuracy and a powerful explosion, given that the munition weighs about 500 pounds (227 kg).

At the same time, the Eglin Air Force Base report probably has a mistake in the dates. It indicates that the tests took place on January 22, 2025 - that is, more than a year ago. However, the ERAM program for Ukraine did not actually start until late January 2024, and the first flight tests of the missile took place about nine months ago.

The permission to sell missiles to Ukraine was granted on August 28, 2025. In total, Ukraine was authorized to purchase up to 3,350 missiles under the $825 million ERAM program, to be financed by European partners. The approximate cost of one missile is about $246,000, which makes the Rusty Dagger significantly cheaper than most analogs. The timing of the missile transfer to Ukraine has not yet been announced.

In addition to the Rusty Dagger, CoAspire has also developed a conceptually similar cruise missile, the RAACM, as part of the ERAM program.