Ukraine Unveiled the New RK-19 Anti-Aircraft Missile for Shooting Down Aircraft
Ukraine’s “UkrOboronProm” unveiled the new RK-19 anti-aircraft missile at the MSPO international exhibition in Poland. It is designed for use as part of the Soviet “Osa-AKM” anti-aircraft missile system and is intended to replace the 9M33 series missiles, whose stockpiles in the Ukrainian Armed Forces are gradually being depleted.
The RK-19 missile was first publicly unveiled in April 2026 in a video message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the occasion of Armorer’s Day.
According to its stated specifications, the RK-19 has a maximum target interception range of up to 10 km and a maximum engagement altitude of up to 5 km.
The missile’s maximum flight speed reaches 600 m/s.
Like the Soviet missiles for the “Osa” system, the RK-19 uses a radio-command guidance system.
The launch container, together with the missile, weighs 163 kg and measures 3,255 × 320 × 303 mm. The missile’s warhead weighs 14.3 kg.
The “Osa-AKM” is an all-weather Soviet anti-aircraft missile system designed to protect troops and critical infrastructure from aircraft, helicopters, and cruise missiles.
It is the “Osa-AKM” variant that forms the backbone of the fleet of systems of this type still in service with the Ukrainian military.
The self-propelled launcher, when fully loaded, is equipped with six 9M33M3 anti-aircraft guided missiles.
The 9M33M3 missile weighs 126.3 kg, of which 15 kg is the warhead. It is 3,158 mm long, with a body diameter of 206 mm and a wingspan of 650 mm.
Guidance is also provided by a radio command system.
The maximum flight speed of the 9M33M3 is 500 m/s, while the new RK-19 is claimed to reach 600 m/s.
The target detection range of the “Osa-AKM” system is up to 45 km. The 9M33M3 missile’s engagement zone ranges from 1,500 to 10,000 meters in range, from 25 to 5,000 meters in altitude, and ±6,000 meters in course deviation.
The 9M33M3 can engage targets moving at speeds of up to 500 m/s and maneuvering with a g-factor of up to 8.
Thus, the RK-19 is set to become a modern replacement for the Soviet 9M33M3, which will allow the “Osa-AKM” systems to remain in service with the Ukrainian air defense forces without having to completely abandon the existing launch platform.
The need for new ammunition for air defense systems is growing amid a general shortage of missiles.
In August, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that missile supplies to the Ukrainian air defense forces had fallen by two-thirds compared to 2025.
According to the president, the problem is systemic in nature and applies not only to the summer but to all previous months as well.
Against this backdrop, the development and production of domestic anti-aircraft missiles, particularly the RK-19, could become a key priority for maintaining the combat readiness of Ukraine’s air defense.
This was reported by “Military.”
The day before, Ukraine publicly demonstrated for the first time the self-propelled launcher of the “Koral” anti-aircraft missile system, designed, in particular, to intercept ballistic targets. The launcher was shown during a missile launch from a system mounted on a Czech Tatra truck chassis.
As a reminder, the Ministry of Defense has approved more than 1,100 new weapons systems in the past six months.
The Ministry of Defense has codified and authorized the use of the new Ukrainian-made B-1 unmanned aerial system by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These ultralight bombers are designed to strike concentrations of personnel, vehicles, and armored equipment.
