In Kyiv, the Ukrainian cruise missile "Trembita" was unveiled, priced at just $4,000.

During the Defense Tech Innovations Forum 2025 in Kyiv, the "Trembita" cruise missile was presented for the first time since 2023, when Western media showcased its production.

The "Trembita" cruise missile was developed by the volunteer design bureau PARS with the participation of volunteers from the NGO "Vidsich". It is designed to exhaust Russian air defense systems. The missile comes in two variants: a strike version with a thermobaric or fragmentation-fugase warhead, and a decoy missile.

The main feature is its cost. The "Trembita" is significantly cheaper than any surface-to-air missile.

The decoy variant costs around $4,000, while the strike version is approximately $14,000, owing to the installation of a warhead and the use of more expensive electronics to enhance accuracy.

The "Trembita" weighs about 100 kilograms and carries a thermobaric or fragmentation-fugase warhead weighing between 20 to 30 kg, depending on the flight range. Its speed exceeds 400 km/h.

An interesting choice is the use of a pulsed air-jet engine, as it significantly reduces the production cost of the "Trembita". Additionally, the engine lacks complex components, which greatly accelerates production.

Pulsed air-jet engines are rarely used due to the technical characteristics of such designs. This type of engine heats up considerably, making the missile an easy target for infrared-guided surface-to-air missiles. Furthermore, missiles with this engine create a lot of noise, making them easier to detect.

Typically, the factors mentioned above are disadvantages for cruise missiles; however, this is not the case with the "Trembita", as it was specifically designed to draw surface-to-air missiles, and its sound instills fear in people as it flies by.

The "Trembita" is launched from a catapult, which can be set up on the ground or on a trailer. The launch is initiated by a solid-fuel booster. The main jet engine starts operating while still on the ground, prior to launch.

This pricing and manufacturing simplicity allows for the production of the "Trembita" in significant quantities, enabling saturation of the Russian air defense systems.