A new video has surfaced showcasing the “Solist,” a multi-purpose tactical missile system developed by Russia’s КЭМЗ concern, raising questions about its capabilities and potential role in ongoing conflicts.
The footage, recently released by the developers, highlights design details and demonstrates the system’s use against armored vehicles and fortified positions reportedly belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Described as a portable, short-range missile platform, the Solist is currently undergoing full-scale testing, according to the video’s narration.
With a range of up to 10 kilometers and advanced targeting features, including real-time operator control, the system appears poised to offer Russian forces a versatile tool for both ground and air engagements. The timing of the release aligns with Russia’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine, suggesting an intent to bolster its tactical arsenal amid a protracted war.
The Solist missile system is equipped with a subsonic missile traveling at 0.45 Mach, roughly 550 kilometers per hour at sea level, and features a bispectral optical-electronic homing head that operates in both television and thermal imaging modes.
This dual-mode seeker allows the missile to detect and track targets under varying conditions, such as day or night, or through smoke and dust. A command-telemetry channel further enhances its precision, enabling the operator to receive live video feeds from the missile’s perspective and adjust its flight path mid-course.
The promotional material emphasizes this capability, showing the missile climbing to an apogee of 1,700 to over 2,000 meters before descending toward its target, with the operator able to redirect it to higher-priority objects if needed.
This level of control, combined with a solid propellant rocket motor—possibly featuring a profiling charge for optimized thrust—sets the Solist apart from traditional fire-and-forget systems.
The missile’s design includes folding lattice rudders, allowing it to be stored and launched from a compact tube carrier, drawing comparisons to the American FGM-148E Block I Javelin anti-tank missile.
Unlike the Javelin, however, the Solist offers a longer engagement range and the ability to strike from closed firing positions, meaning the operator does not need a direct line of sight to the target.
The video demonstrates this feature in action, with the missile arcing over obstacles to hit armored vehicles in their upper, less-protected surfaces—a tactic designed to maximize damage against tanks and similar targets.
The system’s warheads are said to include options adapted from existing Russian designs, such as the PG-7VS/VL cumulative warheads for piercing armor, the OG-7V fragmentation warheads for softer targets, and potentially the TBG-7V thermobaric warheads for devastating fortified positions or personnel.
Beyond ground targets, the Solist is presented as a multi-role weapon capable of engaging aerial threats. The promotional footage claims it can intercept kamikaze drones like the Ukrainian Lyuty and A-22 Foxbat, as well as reconnaissance and attack helicopters.
This ground-to-air functionality, if proven effective, could provide Russian troops with a flexible defense against the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the conflict. The missile’s ability to switch targets mid-flight adds another layer of adaptability, allowing operators to respond to dynamic battlefield conditions.
A key selling point highlighted in the video is the system’s remote control feature, which operates via a radio or fiber-optic channel with a range exceeding 2,000 meters. This setup ensures the operator can remain at a safe distance from the launch site, reducing exposure to counterattacks—a significant advantage in modern warfare where precision strikes and retaliation are common.