Ukraine’s GUR Secretly Conducted Space-Launch Rocket Tests During Wartime, Including Historic Air Launch
Published on Reflecto News | World News | Defense Technology & Aerospace
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) secretly carried out two rocket launches to near-space altitudes during the full-scale war with Russia, including a flight exceeding 200 kilometers—a flight path that officially crosses the internationally recognized boundary of space. In a separate operation, the GUR also performed what it describes as the first successful air-launch of a rocket carrier in Europe, firing a missile from a transport aircraft flying at approximately 8,000 meters .
These disclosures, made by Fedir Venislavsky, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Security, Defense and Defense Innovation of the Verkhovna Rada, reveal a significant and previously undisclosed advancement in Ukraine’s long-range strike and potential space-launch capabilities .
🚀 Two Rocket Launches Reached Near-Space Altitudes
According to Venislavsky, units of the GUR twice launched a rocket carrier from Ukrainian territory into space during the war. The first launch reached an altitude of over 100 kilometers, and the second reached 204 kilometers—both officially recorded by technical means .
Launch Data Summary
| Launch Event | Altitude Achieved | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| First Launch | Over 100 km | Crossed the internationally recognized Kármán line (boundary of space) |
| Second Launch | 204 km | Deep into near-space/thermosphere |
| Command Structure | Kyrylo Budanov (then GUR Chief) | Combat missions, not experiments |
| Missile Range | Up to 500 km | Hypersonic speeds (Mach 5+) |
Venislavsky emphasized these were not mere experiments. “This was the execution of combat tasks under the leadership of then-Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov and other GUR leadership,” he said .
He also disclosed that Ukraine possesses missiles “that almost no one knows about, but which are capable of striking enemy territory at distances of up to 500 kilometers and flying at hypersonic speeds.” He added that they are already being used successfully in combat operations .
🛩️ Historic European First: Air-Launched Rocket
The most groundbreaking revelation concerns a separate operation where the GUR launched a rocket carrier from a transport aircraft flying at approximately 8,000 meters altitude.
“This was done for the first time on the territory of the European continent and for the second time in world history,” Venislavsky said, noting that the United States first achieved a comparable air-launch in the mid-1970s .
This air-launch method offers significant strategic advantages. Launching a rocket from high altitude bypasses the densest and most energy-consuming portion of the atmosphere, dramatically increasing the missile’s effective range and overall flight efficiency .
🛰️ Future Capabilities: ‘Airborne Spaceport’ and Satellite Deployment
The ultimate goal of these tests is not merely advanced missile technology. Venislavsky described the platform as an emerging “airborne launch system” that could serve as a mobile spaceport—usable for both precision military strikes and the orbital deployment of satellites .
Ukraine already has preliminary agreements with international partners who are ready to provide satellites, and officials assert that the country has the technical potential to place them into orbit .
This technology is particularly relevant for countering threats such as Russia’s “Oreshnik” intermediate-range ballistic missile, as it would allow for interception or response outside the denser layers of the atmosphere.
💰 The Funding Gap
Despite these technical achievements, Venislavsky acknowledged that funding remains a binding constraint. Under wartime conditions, the state budget is directed toward the most urgent security and defense needs, leaving insufficient resources for large-scale space and aerospace programs .
He expressed hope that international partners would engage more actively in cooperation, noting that the technical foundation is already in place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: How high did the Ukrainian rockets go?
The first launch exceeded 100 km, crossing the Kármán line (the recognized boundary of space). The second launch reached an altitude of 204 km .
Q2: What was the point of launching rockets to that altitude?
These were combat missions, not scientific tests. The launches validated the flight performance of a secret 500 km-range ballistic missile, which is already being used against Russian targets .
Q3: Did Ukraine really launch a missile from an airplane?
Yes. The GUR successfully launched a rocket carrier from a transport aircraft at about 8,000 meters. This is reportedly the first successful air-launch of a rocket in European history .
Q4: Does this mean Ukraine can launch its own satellites?
Potentially, yes. The air-launch platform is being developed as a dual-use system. Officials state it could serve as an “airborne spaceport” to deploy small satellites into orbit, and Ukraine already has preliminary international agreements for satellite cooperation .
Q5: What kind of missile did Ukraine use?
The specifics remain secret. However, officials disclosed that Ukraine has a hypersonic-class ballistic missile capable of striking targets up to 500 km away, and that it has been used successfully in combat .
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