Russia disclosed technical specifications for two jet-propelled munitions, the S-71K "Kovyor" and the S-71M "Monokhrom", at a defence exhibition in El Alamein, Egypt, in September 2026, according to the Ukrainian outlet Defense Express. Both weapons are carried by Su-57 tactical fighter jets and have already been used in strikes on Ukraine, the outlet reported.
Defense Express said Russia also disclosed characteristics of its Dan-T cruise missile at the same event. It said the figures came from European Defense Review, which cited statements from representatives of Rosoboronexport, the Russian state arms export agency. Defense Express said both the individual figures and the overall picture presented for the S-71K and S-71M were surprising.
S-71K 'Kovyor' details
Rosoboronexport representatives said the S-71K "Kovyor" uses a small R500 jet engine made by the Russian company Reynolds. They said the munition is designed for repeated use and is fitted with a landing parachute for that purpose. Its warhead is a 250-kilogram aviation bomb.
Defense Express said analysts were struck by two things. The first was how "reusability" could actually work for the S-71K. The second was that Russia itself acknowledged the munition can only be carried on the Su-57's external hardpoints, which strips the jet of its stealth characteristics, raising questions about the point of using a low-observable aircraft to carry what amounts to a "flying bomb".
S-71M 'Monokhrom' two versions
Rosoboronexport also described two versions of the S-71M "Monokhrom". Version 1 has a stated range of 500 kilometres, a fragmentation warhead of 70 kilograms, and guidance using machine-vision elements. Version 2 was described only as smaller than Version 1, with a warhead of just 5 kilograms. Defense Express said Version 2 raised the most questions about its purpose, given how light its warhead is.
Russia's low-cost 'Ersatz missiles'
Ukrainian news outlet UNIAN reported earlier that aviation expert Valeriy Romanenko said Russia is actively developing a range of strike weapons he grouped under the term "Ersatz missiles". Romanenko said these weapons cost less than standard cruise missiles such as the Kh-101 or Kalibr, but have a range of only around 500 kilometres, compared with the Kh-101's 5,500 kilometres. He said their warheads weigh roughly 100 to 150 kilograms, and that around half their components, including the engine, are Chinese-made. Romanenko said the "Banderol" and the Dan-T both fit this category.
Nvidia chip found in wreckage
Analysts have also said Russian forces began using the new low-observable S-71M "Monokhrom" cruise missile in strikes on Ukraine, describing it as Russia's first fully autonomous long-range weapon capable of hitting moving as well as stationary targets. Its declared capabilities include flying independently to a designated area, searching for a prioritised target and attacking without human involvement. Ukraine's Defence Intelligence directorate, known as the GUR, has reported finding an Nvidia Jetson Orin computing module among the wreckage of the S-71M.
