Russian S8000 missile incorporates global components amidst sanctions
Russia has introduced the new S8000 Banderol cruise missile into service. It contains Western components similar to the analysis of other Russian weapon wreckage. Here's what it is and what it conceals.
According to the portal Militarnyj, Russia has begun using the new S8000 Banderol missile, which includes many foreign components. The Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) has reported that the missile contains parts from China, Japan, the USA, and South Korea.
Commercial electronics in Russian weaponry
The "Banderol" missile employs Japanese Murata batteries and an Australian RF Design telemetry module. The core of its propulsion system is a South Korean Dynamixel servomechanism, and the microcontroller is from the Swiss company STMicroelectronics.
However, it is worth noting that the proportion of Chinese components is rising because, for example, the DC/DC converters are from China, whereas previously they were sourced from Western companies. Unfortunately, Western components are still present, as seen with the NE555 timer modules from Texas Instruments.
The most intriguing discovery is that the Russians, in the "Banderol" missile, use a Chinese SW800Pro-A95 turbojet engine available for purchase by hobbyists.
The Russian defence industry uses intermediaries to bypass sanctions. Companies from Hungary, Cyprus, Turkey, China, and Kazakhstan, among others, supply necessary components, allowing the continued production of advanced military equipment based on commercial electronics found in household appliances.
The Russian industry has adapted to functioning under sanctions, similar to Iran. The cruise missile's software can ultimately operate even on a setup based on components recovered from a washing machine controller if it meets minimum requirements. Although such missiles will be far less reliable than those built with dedicated solutions, some will complete their missions.
S8000 Banderol — a cruise missile for drones and helicopters
This cruise missile, developed by the company JSC Kronstadt, is designed for launching from "Orion" drones and, in the longer term, from Mi-28N helicopters. As the war in Ukraine has shown, attack helicopters are vulnerable targets for handheld anti-aircraft systems, and the key to overcoming this is long-range weaponry.
Additionally, the Russian aircraft fleet capable of carrying guided bombs and cruise missiles is wearing out, making the development of unmanned platforms carrying cruise missiles a logical step.
The answer to such needs is the S8000 Banderol missile, which weighs approximately 440 pounds. Its warhead weighs 252 pounds, of which 109 pounds is explosive material, and the fuel reserve is 110-143 pounds. The missile is known to be 16 feet in length, and the wingspan of its foldable wings is 7 feet.
The Ukrainians note that its cruising speed is a relatively low 320 mph, but, unfortunately, have not disclosed the guidance method. This is most likely based on a tandem of INS and GPS navigation, probably supported by some form of precision guidance in the final phase of flight. It is possible that a television head from the Kh-59 has been used, or something more advanced based on thermovision.
