Russia Makes First Claim of Downing Four U.S.-Made AGM-188A Rusty Dagger Cruise Missiles

Russia’s Defense Ministry said on November 10 that its air defenses had shot down four U.S.-made AGM-188A Rusty Dagger cruise missiles over the previous 24 hours, marking Moscow’s first official claim of intercepting the relatively new American long-range weapon. ⠀ The ministry included the missiles in its daily military report, alongside six guided aerial bombs and 802 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones that it said Russian forces had intercepted. ⠀ However, the announcement was subsequently removed from the ministry’s official channels without explanation, according to Defence Blog. Russian officials provided no details about where the missiles were allegedly intercepted, and Ukraine has not confirmed using the weapon in the reported attacks. ⠀ The AGM-188A Rusty Dagger was developed by U.S. defense contractor Zone 5 Technologies and is associated with the U.S. Air Force’s Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) program, which aims to produce relatively inexpensive, long-range precision weapons that can be manufactured in large quantities. ⠀ The missile was designed primarily for air launches, including from fighter aircraft. Its developer has also introduced a ground-launched variant, known as the Rusty Dagger Block 40. ⠀ In August 2025, Washington approved a potential $825 million sale of up to 3,350 ERAM missiles and related equipment to Ukraine. The approval covered multiple missile designs and did not establish how many Rusty Daggers had actually been delivered. ⠀ Russian military sources had previously suggested that Ukraine was using Rusty Dagger missiles, but those reports remained unconfirmed. Moscow’s latest claim has also not been independently verified.