ST-100: New Surface-to-Air Missile for Ukraine’s DRAGON Air Defense System

A new compact surface-to-air missile, designated ST-100 and equipped with an infrared homing seeker, is being developed for Ukraine’s DRAGON air defense system.

The CEO of the Center of Innovative Technologies Program shared this information in an interview with Militarnyi at the Eurosatory exhibition.

According to the CEO, the ST-100 is being developed in cooperation with a partner company. The partner is designing the missile itself, while the Center of Innovative Technologies Program is providing the launcher from which the missile will be fired.

Preliminary specifications indicate that the new surface-to-air missile will have an engagement range of up to 10 km. Like the other missiles used by the DRAGON air defense system, it will be guided by the target’s infrared (heat) signature.

The company’s air defense systems are already in operational service with Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Notably, the Dragon H73 mobile short-range air defense system, based on the HMMWV military vehicle, was delivered to the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade in 2025.

The vehicle is fitted with a rotating launcher carrying two launch rails for R-73 air-to-air missiles, which have been adapted for use in the surface-to-air role. This configuration enables the system to engage aerial targets using missiles originally designed for fighter aircraft.

Depending on the version, the R-73 missile can acquire and track targets in the forward hemisphere at ranges of up to 20 km for the RMD-1 and up to 40 km for the RMD-2.