The new "Dan-T" loitering munition could fill a niche between long-range strike UAVs and cruise missiles, and its declared characteristics are already being compared to the "Banderol". This opinion was expressed by the authors of the analytical Telegram channel "Voennaya Khronika".
"Dan-T" became known in 2026. The missile, along with "Banderol", was classified as a new Russian loitering munition. It is assumed that the device is capable of covering up to 500 km and carrying a warhead weighing about 135 kg, but these parameters have not yet been confirmed by the developer.
Early versions of the "Dan" family used a small-sized turbojet engine MD-120 with a thrust of about 120 kgf. The engine was specifically designed for tactical drones and aerial targets of this family and has been mass-produced since the 1990s.
It is the jet propulsion system that distinguishes "Dan-T" from slower strike drones. If the 500 km range estimate is correct, the device will be noticeably closer to the class of small cruise missiles than conventional loitering munitions. At the same time, the declared warhead mass of 135 kg makes it heavier than most long-range UAVs of this class.
Therefore, "Dan-T" is already being compared to "Banderol", which also belongs to the new Russian jet-powered strike weapons.