Ukraine's An-196 Liutyi Kamikaze Drone Returns with New Role Carrying Four Missiles.

At the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, Ukraine unveiled for the first time at an international exhibition a new configuration of its An-196 Liutyi long-range strike drone. Displayed at the Ukroboronprom stand, the aircraft was equipped with four compact air-to-surface missiles mounted beneath its wings, highlighting a significant expansion of its operational role.

The configuration suggests the An-196 Liutyi is evolving beyond its original mission as a one-way attack drone into a reusable strike aircraft capable of launching stand-off precision-guided munitions. By carrying externally mounted missiles rather than relying solely on a single expendable warhead, the system could engage multiple targets during a mission while remaining outside the reach of some enemy air defenses, representing a notable increase in flexibility and combat effectiveness.

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The An-196 Liutyi long-range Strike drone equipped with four compact air-to-surface missiles at Farnborough 2026 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The drone is exhibited alongside mock-ups of several warhead configurations, including four compact missiles with a claimed range of up to 200 km and a flight speed of approximately 500 km/h. No detailed specifications have been released regarding the missiles, including their guidance method, weight, or warhead. Based on their compact dimensions and underwing integration, the weapons appear to balance range, payload weight, and carriage capacity while allowing the drone to maintain its flight performance.

Developed and manufactured by Ukroboronprom, Ukraine's state-owned defense industry group, the Liutyi has until now primarily been employed as a long-range one-way strike drone. Designed to engage strategic targets deep behind enemy lines, it carries a warhead weighing up to approximately 75 kg and is destroyed upon impact with its target. Available information indicates that the platform has an operational range exceeding 1,000 km, while some public estimates suggest it may approach 2,000 km depending on mission configuration. Its navigation system combines inertial navigation with satellite correction and, according to information released by the Ukrainian defense industry, incorporates artificial intelligence elements intended to enhance navigation and mission execution.

According to BBC News Ukraine, the Liutyi was first used against targets inside Russia in May 2023 before entering serial production later that summer. Sources involved in the program have also stated that the drone is designed to follow terrain contours to reduce detectability and incorporates resistance to electronic warfare countermeasures, characteristics intended to improve survivability during long-range strike missions against defended targets.

The configuration unveiled at Farnborough represents a significant change in the system's operational concept. Rather than using the drone itself as the terminal munition, this version carries four air-to-surface missiles that can be launched before the platform returns. If this capability reflects an operational configuration, the Liutyi could engage multiple targets during a single mission while preserving the airframe, representing a substantial departure from its original employment. For a drone produced in quantity, the ability to reuse the platform after releasing its weapons could significantly improve the cost-effectiveness of each mission compared with a disposable one-way strike system.

The aircraft retains the general architecture of previously known Liutyi variants. It features a low-wing twin-boom configuration with an airframe constructed from reinforced composite materials. The drone is equipped with fixed tricycle landing gear, allowing conventional runway takeoff, and is powered by an internal combustion engine driving a pusher propeller. The platform measures approximately 4.4 m in length and has a wingspan of 6.7 m.

Beyond its operational significance, the presentation also carries an industrial dimension. Farnborough is one of the world's leading aerospace and defense exhibitions, alongside the Paris Air Show. By publicly displaying this armed Liutyi configuration before an international audience, the Ukrainian defense industry highlights a system that has accumulated operational experience in high-intensity conflict. Throughout 2026, Ukrainian manufacturers have increasingly showcased naval, ground, and aerial defense systems at major international exhibitions as part of broader efforts to demonstrate operationally developed capabilities and strengthen their presence in the global defense market.

The Liutyi is developed by Ukroboronprom, which continues to expand its portfolio of unmanned systems as part of Ukraine's ongoing defense industrial development. The configuration presented at Farnborough reflects a broader trend across the military drone sector, where platforms originally designed as one-way attack systems are progressively evolving into reusable aircraft capable of carrying different types of precision-guided weapons depending on mission requirements. This development aligns with the growing demand for greater operational flexibility, improved cost efficiency, and increased long-range precision strike capabilities across modern armed forces.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in Security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.