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Kh-101 / Kh-102
The Kh-101 / Kh-102 is a line of conventional and nuclear capable air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) developed and deployed by Russia. A stealthy missile, the Kh-101/-102 is designed to defeat air defense systems by flying at low, terrain-hugging altitudes to avoid radar systems. The Kh-101 carries a conventional warhead, while the Kh-102 is believed to carry a 250 kt nuclear payload.
Kh-101 / Kh-102 at a Glance
Kh-101 / Kh-102 Development
Kh-101 / kh-102 specifications, service history.
Since entering service in 2012, the Russian air force has employed the Kh-101 several times in combat operations.
- Andrei Akulov, “Russian Kh-101 Air to Surface Cruise Missile: Unique and Formidable,” Strategic Culture , October 19, 2016, https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/10/19/russian-kh-101-air-to-surface-cruise-missile-unique-and-formidable.html.
- “Kh-101/-102” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, ed. James C O’Halloran (United Kingdom: IHS, 2016), 189.
- Ibid; Russian Ministry of Defense, “Strategic Tu-95MS bombers destroyed the ISIS militants’ command post and storages in Syria with missile attack,” July 5, 2017, http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12132186@egNews.
- Dave Majumdar, “Ready for War: Russia’s Stealthy Kh-101 Cruise Missile Debuts in Syria,” National Interest , November 18, 2015 http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/ready-war-russias-stealthy-kh-101-cruise-missile-debuts-14387; Akulov.
- “Tactical Missile Corporation plans to upgrade Kh-101 Cruise Missile,” Russian Aviation, August 19, 2016 https://www.ruaviation.com/news/2016/8/19/6541/?h.
- O’Halloran, 189.
- Ibid; Akulov.
- “Kh-101/-102” in IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, 189.
- “Kh-65/ Kh-SD/ Kh-101,” Federation of American Scientists, https://fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/bomber/kh-101.htm.
- RC Porter, “Top-Notch Kh-101 Cruise Missiles that Russia Unleashes on Daesh in Raqqa,” Fortuna’s Corner (blog), February 19, 2017, https://fortunascorner.com/2017/02/19/the-cruise-missiles-russia-is-using-in-syria/; Nicholas de Larrinaga “Russia Launches Long Range Air Sorties into Syria,” IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly , November 17, 2015, https://web.archive.org/web/20151118145706/http://www.janes.com/article/56062/russia-launches-long-range-air-sorties-into-syria.
- David Cenciotti, “Russia Tu-95 Bear Bombers Escorted by Su-30SM Jets Carry Out Air Strike in Syria using Kh-101 Strategic Cruise Missiles,” The Aviationist , July 5, 2017, https://theaviationist.com/2017/07/05/russian-tu-95-bear-bombers-escorted-by-su-30sm-jets-carry-out-air-strike-in-syria-using-kh-101-strategic-cruise-missile/.
- “Russia hits Islamic State in Syria with advanced cruise missiles,” Reuters , July 5, 2017 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-idUSKBN19Q1QP.
- Russian Ministry of Defense, “Tu-95MS bombers fired cruise missiles at terrorist objects’ in Syria,” September 26, 2017, http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12143592@egNews.
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Russia’s KH-101/102 cruise missiles are descendants of the Soviet era KH-55 missile. The KH-101 is the NATO designation for the missile carrying conventional warheads. It was first tested in 1995. When the cruise missile is affixed with a nuclear warhead, it is given the designation KH-102 . The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF) prompted Russia to focus on tactical short-range missiles outfitted with conventional warheads. The KH-101 is a stealthy long-range cruise missile, with advanced guidance systems capable of hitting targets with incredible accuracy. It is an air-to-surface missile primarily launched from a strategic bomber, but can also be affixed to the Su-34 fighter jet. The missile’s GLONASS navigation system works in tandem with a TV terminal guidance system, which records visual data of the ground mid-flight. This allows operators to change targets post-launch. The computer matches geographical data with pre-loaded images of the target to confirm its impact point. Russia first used the KH-101 in combat on November 17 th , 2015 against Syrian rebel groups outside of Damascus.
Strategic Implications
The KH-101/102 cruise missile utilizes radar absorbing materials and a low flight path to avoid radar and infrared sensors. It’s multi-faceted guidance system allows for it to weave between obstacles and air defenses on the path to its target, traveling at tree top levels until impact. This makes the missile very hard to detect, as it can evade defense systems in real time. Russia has found great success in using this weapon since 2015, and continues to employ it in combat operations.
On November 17 th , 2015, Russian Tu-95MS “Bear” strategic bombers departed from Engels airbase (in Russian territory) to strike ISIS command posts, weapons depots, and ammunition dumps located outside the Syrian cities of Homs, Raqqa and Aleppo. The bombers launched the KH-101 missiles from over the Mediterranean Sea, and the Russians used UAVs to monitor the effects on the targets. The bombers took a very indirect route, flying over 11,000km in total, and refueling in mid-air twice. Russian officials reported that the Khmemim airbase located in Syria was not used because its runway was too short to accommodate strategic bombers. The range and accuracy of the KH-101 was crucial to success in this mission, allowing Russia to initiate strikes from the homeland, without ever entering enemy territory. This is advantageous for them as the Tu-95MS is an outdated turboprop design with limited maneuverability. The KH-101 allows the Tu-95MS to remain useful to the Russians because it does not need to penetrate enemy airspace. This is important because the Russians reportedly maintain a force of around 60 of this model aircraft, but only 11 of the newer and faster Tu-160 supersonic bomber.
The closest U.S. equivalent to the KH-101 is the AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missile, which boasted a similar stealth profile and long-range capability, but has been retired. The U.S. is currently developing a Long-Range Stand Off missile (LRSO) intended to match Russian cruise missile capability. LRSO missiles are less of a threat to global stability because they cannot execute short-notice, disarming attacks like ground-based ballistic missiles. Bombers are slow aircraft that take hours to reach their release points and can be recalled at any time before launch. By banning ground-based intermediate-range cruise and ballistic missiles, the INF treaty has fostered competition between the U.S. and Russia in developing these air-launched LRSO missiles. The U.S. developing an effective LRSO counterpart to the KH-101 will determine how effective it can remain in A2AD environment and its ability to project force globally.
http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/10/19/russian-kh-101-air-to-surface-cruise-missile-unique-and-formidable.html
http://www.nti.org/analysis/tools/table/107/
https://sputniknews.com/military/201702191050836873-kh-101-cruise-missile/
http://intersectionproject.eu/article/security/future-russian-strategic-bombers
http://www.arms-expo.ru/armament/samples/1357/72318
https://www.rbth.com/defence/2016/11/21/russian-tu-95ms-bombers-launch-kh-101-cruise-missiles-at-syrian-targets_649649
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/why-america-should-fear-russias-bombers-their-cruise-19627
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Russia Escalates Use of AS-23A KODIAK Kh-101 Cruise Missiles for Strikes on Kyiv in Ukraine
News russia ukraine war conflict 2022.
On December 10, 2023, British Defence Intelligence reported a significant Russian airstrike conducted on the night of December 7, targeting Kyiv and central Ukraine. This operation marked the first use of heavy bombers, specifically the Tu-95 BEAR H, in such attacks since September 21, 2023. These bombers were deployed to launch a series of cruise missiles, notably the Kh-101 , also known by its NATO code designation AS-23A KODIAK. The strike involved at least 16 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCMs) fired from the Caspian Sea region, a known operational area for these aircraft. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The missiles used in the strike were highly likely the AS-23a KODIAK (Kh-101), Russia's premier ALCM, indicating a strategic move by Russia to utilize its stockpiled missiles for the winter campaign. This attack appears to be the beginning of a more intensive Russian campaign aimed at debilitating Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Despite the severity of the assault, Ukrainian air defense systems successfully intercepted most of the missiles. Although there was at least one civilian casualty, the overall damage inflicted was minimal, showcasing the effectiveness of Ukraine's defensive measures.
The Tupolev Tu-95, known by its NATO reporting name BEAR H, is a long-range, large, propeller-driven bomber and missile platform used by the Russian Air Force. Developed during the Cold War, the Tu-95 has been a mainstay of the Soviet and Russian strategic bomber fleet since the 1950s. Its most distinctive feature is its four turboprop engines, each driving contra-rotating propellers, which give it a unique appearance and sound. This design allows the Tu-95 to achieve high subsonic speeds, making it one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft in operation.
The Russian Tu-95 has a range of about 15,000 kilometers without refueling, enabling it to conduct long-range strategic missions, including carrying nuclear weapons. Over the years, it has undergone various upgrades to enhance its electronic warfare capabilities, avionics, and armaments. The Tu-95 is capable of carrying a variety of weapons, including free-fall bombs and cruise missiles, which makes it a versatile platform in strategic military operations. The first version of the Tu-95 can carry a total of 4 Kh-101 cruise missiles while the Tu-95MS can carry two additional Kh-101 missiles under each of its wings with a total of eight missiles.
The Kh-101 , known in NATO as the AS-23a KODIAK, is an advanced Russian air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) designed primarily for the Russian Air Force's strategic bomber fleet, including the Tu-95 BEAR H. This missile is renowned for its long-range, estimated to be up to 2,500 to 3,000 kilometers, and its ability to carry a conventional or nuclear warhead. One of the key features of the Kh-101 is its stealth capabilities; it is designed with a low radar cross-section to evade enemy radar detection and air defenses. The missile is also equipped with advanced guidance and navigation systems, including satellite guidance, inertial navigation, and terrain contour matching, which allow it to maintain high accuracy over long distances. This precision, combined with its stealth characteristics, makes the Kh-101 a formidable tool for strategic, precision strikes against high-value and well-defended targets.
The operational use of the Kh-101 marks a significant advancement in the Russian strategic strike capability. The missile's incorporation into the Russian arsenal represents a shift towards more modern, precision-guided munitions in Russian military doctrine. Its use alongside platforms like the Tu-95 BEAR H highlights Russia's focus on enhancing the reach and effectiveness of its long-range strike capabilities. The Kh-101's ability to carry a variety of warhead types, including nuclear, further underscores its role as a strategic asset within Russia's military framework. The deployment of such advanced weaponry in conflict scenarios, as seen in recent events, demonstrates Russia's willingness to utilize its sophisticated military technology in contemporary warfare settings.
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Russian Cruise Missiles Were Made Just Months Ago Despite Sanctions
Weapons investigators in Kyiv found that at least one Russian Kh-101 cruise missile used in widespread attacks there on Nov. 23 had been made no earlier than October.
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By John Ismay
Some of the cruise missiles that Russia launched at Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure in late November were manufactured months after the West imposed sanctions intended to deprive Moscow of the components needed to make those munitions, according to a weapons research group.
Experts examined remnants of Kh-101 cruise missiles found in Kyiv, the capital, after an attack on Nov. 23 that knocked out electricity and shut down water systems in large areas of the country. One of the missiles was made this summer, and another was completed after September, markings on the weapons show, according to a report released by the investigators on Monday .
That Russia has continued to make advanced guided missiles like the Kh-101 suggests that it has found ways to acquire semiconductors and other matériel despite the sanctions or that it had significant stockpiles of the components before the war began, one of the researchers said.
The findings are among the most recent by Conflict Armament Research , an independent group based in Britain that identifies and tracks weapons and ammunition used in wars. A small team of its researchers arrived in Kyiv just before the attack at the invitation of the Ukrainian security service.
In four previous research trips to Kyiv since the invasion, the investigators found that almost all of the advanced Russian military gear they examined — like encrypted radios and laser range finders — was built with Western semiconductors.
The investigators were unable to determine whether the Kh-101 remnants they studied were from missiles that reached their targets and exploded or were intercepted in flight and shot down.
The Kh-101 missiles were marked with a 13-digit numerical sequence. The investigators said they believe that the first three digits represent the factory where the missile was made, followed by another three-digit code indicating which of two known versions of the Kh-101 it is and two digits indicating when it was manufactured. A final string of five numbers is believed to denote the missile’s production batch and serial number.
Piotr Butowski, a Polish journalist who has written extensively about Russia’s warplanes and military munitions, said the group’s numerical analysis matched up with his research.
“The first three digits are always ‘315’ — this is the production facility code,” Mr. Butowski said in an email. “Kh-101 missiles are developed and manufactured by the Raduga company in Dubna near Moscow.”
In an interview before the report was released, a U.S. defense intelligence analyst said that Mr. Butowski’s analysis was consistent with the government’s understanding of how Russian missile producers — including those that make the Kh-101 — mark their weapons. The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said Russia was generally believed to be experiencing ammunition stockpile problems and may be using newer munitions alongside those that are much older.
The analyst said that reports from Russia indicate that the government has ordered employees at munition plants to work additional hours in an effort to produce more ordnance, and that it is clear that Russia is now firing fewer long-range weapons like cruise missiles at a smaller number of targets in Ukraine.
Pentagon officials say Russia has fired thousands of long-range weapons like cruise missiles as well as short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at targets in Ukraine since the war began.
Whether Russia has depleted its inventory of older cruise missiles is unclear. But militaries often use older munitions first in combat because they typically make up a majority of a nation’s stockpile.
On Nov. 23, the same day as the cruise missile attack on Kyiv, Lloyd J. Austin III, the secretary of defense, told reporters that Russia’s supply of precision-guided weapons had been “significantly reduced” and that it would be more difficult for Russia to rapidly produce them “because of the trade restrictions they have on microchips and other types of things.”
But Damien Spleeters, who led Conflict Armament Research’s investigation, said it would be difficult to say that the Russians are running short on weapons.
“Those claims have been made since April,” he said, “so we’re just pointing to the fact that these cruise missiles being made so recently may be a symptom of that, but it’s not a certainty.”
John Ismay is a Pentagon correspondent in the Washington bureau and a former Navy explosive ordnance disposal officer. More about John Ismay
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Kh-101 cruise missile – Russian weapon used in attacks on Ukraine [BRIEF]
By Defence Industry Europe
The Kh-101 cruise missile is one of the latest Russian strategic weapons systems. Its range of approximately 2500 km makes it one of the few weapons in Russia's arsenal capable of striking the entire territory of Ukraine. This weapon became the primary tool in attacks on Ukraine conducted on December 29 and January 2.
Work on the next generation of air-launched cruise missiles for new bomber carriers began in the USSR as part of the R-2000 program initiated in 1991, meaning rockets for the year 2000. One requirement was to reduce the effective radar cross-section compared to the Soviet-era Kh-55/Kh-555 missile family.
The first to be developed was a long-range missile, successor to the Kh-55, carrying a nuclear warhead. The new rocket, designated Kh-102 (product 504B), also had a nuclear warhead. Its tests were conducted from 2006-2008, followed by limited serial production.
In 2012, a variant of the missile with a conventional warhead, designated Kh-101 (product 504B), was introduced into the arsenal. Official Russian documents indicate that the missiles were officially adopted in 2013.
The Kh-101/Kh-102 missile is designed as a winged rocket with a flattened fuselage cross-section to reduce effective radar cross-section. It consists of three parts: a nose with guidance systems, a central section with fuel and a warhead, and a tail with an engine and control system. Upon launch, wings extend from the body, and a turbojet march engine, product 84, is lowered.
The guidance system includes an inertial navigation system SN-504 with terrain-following using a radio altimeter with a Doppler radar – drift meter, a satellite navigation receiver SN-99, and an optoelectronic correlational terrain-tracking system comparing it with memory-stored data, Otblesk-U. According to official data, the deviation from the target point at maximum range should not exceed 10 meters.
The missile’s launch weight is 2400 kg. In the case of Kh-101, the conventional warhead weighing 400 kg has a penetrating charge. The Kh-102 version carries an adjustable-yield thermonuclear charge. There is also a version designated product 504AP, equipped with the SP-504 electronic jamming station.
During the Russian-Ukrainian war, it was found that some Kh-101 missiles are equipped with flares released during flight, designed to confuse anti-aircraft missiles by misleading heat-seeking heads.
Kh-101 and Kh-102 missiles are carried by Tu-95MS aircraft, which carry eight of them on four under-wing pylons AKU-5M, and Tu-160 bombers, which can carry twelve inside the bomb bay on two drum locks 9A-829K3.
Use of Kh-101 Missiles Against Ukraine
According to Ukrainian intelligence, on the eve of the full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces had 444 Kh-101 missiles, as well as older and no longer produced Kh-555 and Kh-55SM. By the end of 2022, Russian industry was to produce another 290 Kh-101s. Most of the existing stockpile was fired at Ukraine, as at the beginning of 2023, according to publicly available data from Ukrainian intelligence, there were only about 118 Kh-101s left in the Russian arsenal. The Ukrainian side estimates the level of Kh-101 missile production in 2023 at 30-40 units per month.
By the end of December 2023, the Russians, having been sparing with these missiles in the second half of the year, had accumulated just over 300.
According to a summary from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Air Force, since the beginning of the war, Russian Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers have fired 1430 Kh-101 and Kh-555/55 cruise missiles, of which the Armed Force of Ukraine destroyed 1104.
Currently, there are about 150 Kh-101s in the Russian arsenal, which means that this stockpile would enable the execution of one more two-phase attack spread over two days. Another attack involving nearly 100 missiles will only be possible in another two months.
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Interesting Video Shows Russian Cruise Missile Deploying Flares During Flight
The video reportedly shows the Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile that appears to have been equipped earlier this year with countermeasure systems.
A video, allegedly recorded during the latest round of Russian attacks on Ukraine , appears to show a Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile releasing flares to deceive Ukrainian air defenses. The weapon is known to have been equipped with radio frequency countermeasures, commonly known as chaffs, since the beginning of 2023. This upgrade was discovered from the analysis of photos of Kh-101s’ wreckages, which showed the countermeasures dispensers.
This video, if confirmed authentic, could be the first time the Kh-101 was caught on camera while employing the countermeasures. It is not known how the countermeasures are controlled, as it has been assumed they are linked to a radar warning receiver or some similar sensor, but there is no photographic evidence. Another option would be a simple pre-programmed ejection of chaff/flares at timed intervals or waypoints.
Kh-101s began receiving radio frequency countermeasures (RFCMs, “chaff”) dispensers at the beginning of this 2023. It has been implied/assumed that these they are integrated with a radar warning receiver (RWR) suite, but I have not seen images of the RWR suite and sensors itself. pic.twitter.com/jFWrxWsKN8 — John Ridge 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 (@John_A_Ridge) December 29, 2023
The Kh-101 is a fairly recently developed long range cruise missile roughly analogous to the U.S. Tomahawk family of cruise missiles, which was already employed in Syria during Russian Tu-95 and Tu-160 bomber strikes in 2016 and 2017. Eight Kh-101 cruise missiles can be carried by a Tu-95 bomber, while twelve can be carried by a Tu-160.
The Kh-101 cruise missile has an effective combat range of 2,790-3,000 miles (about 4,500+ kilometers) and can carry a variety of different warheads depending on the target to be struck. The missile is reported to have low-observable (“stealth”) characteristics and is capable of adjusting its targeting while in flight to the assigned target. The Kh-101 missile is, in fact, believed to use a combination of inertial guidance and satellite navigation using the Russian GLONASS system, with opto-electronic flight correction system. Its accuracy is reported as “within 10 meters”.
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Some of Russia's 'prestigious' guided missiles may be malfunctioning and falling short of their targets: UK intelligence
- Some Russian missiles may be malfunctioning and missing their targets, per British intelligence.
- The AS23a Kodiak — or Kh-101 — is one of Russia's top precision-guided munitions.
- "Issues in its production" could lead to rushed production jobs, the UK MOD says.
Premium Russian cruise missiles might be malfunctioning and missing their targets, according to new intelligence from the UK Ministry of Defence.
The UK MOD said on Tuesday that it analyzed open-source images taken on March 31, 2024, which showed missile wreckage in a field in Saratov Oblast, southern Russia.
The UK MOD said the debris was initially considered remnants of a "possible Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle." However, their analysis concluded that the pieces were likely "fragments of a Russian AS-23a KODIAK air-launched cruise missile."
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"It is highly likely the debris was the result of a malfunction of a KODIAK missile that was launched towards Ukraine earlier that morning," the UK MOD said.
"The highly likely malfunction of such a prestigious missile indicates issues in its production, likely impacted by sanctions and being rushed to meet the demands of the conflict," the department added.
The AS23a Kodiak is one of Russia's top precision-guided munitions and was designed to attack major military targets like airfields and warships. Also known as the Kh-101, it carries a 992-pound payload that can be equipped with high explosive or fragmentation warheads, per the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Russia has been using these missiles not just to hit military targets but also to take out Ukraine's grain silos and "hurt global food markets," UK intelligence said in October.
Russia's blockade of Black Sea ports has also destabilized Ukraine's food production and sent food prices soaring worldwide, even in places like Kenya and Egypt , which relied heavily on Ukrainian and Russian wheat imports.
While Russia is still losing hundreds of troops a month, Ukraine is struggling to prevent further Russian frontline advances. It has suffered blows from the huge barrage of missiles Russia unleashed on it this winter.
In March, Russia also pounded Ukraine with glide bombs, a tactic that Ukraine can only counter by taking out the planes that drop them. Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said at a March 27 briefing that Russia dropped around 700 glide bombs on Ukraine within six days, bombarding targets consistently from March 18 to 24.
With US aid still stalled out in Congress, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now begging for more Patriot air-defense systems to defend cities like Kharkiv from Russian missile and bomb attacks. Ukraine is also looking to build drones that could hunt down Russian unmanned aerial vehicles instead of burning through their stockpiles of surface-to-air missiles to prevent aerial harassment.
Representatives for the Russian and Ukrainian defense departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Watch: Russia fires 120 missiles across Ukrainian cities
- Main content
Russia attacked Ukraine with dozens of drones and three missile types: How air defense responded
R ussian forces used over 30 kamikaze drones and six missiles of various types during the attack on Ukraine on April 6. Almost all drones were successfully intercepted by air defense systems, according to the Telegram channel of Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk.
"As a result of air combat by the Ukrainian Defense Forces, two Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, one Kalibr cruise missile, and 28 Shahed-131/136 strike UAVs were shot down," he said.
What did the RF attack with?
On the night of April 6, as the general noted, Russian occupiers launched 32 Shahed-131/136 strike UAVs from the areas of Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kursk (Russia), as well as six missiles of various types: three S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles from the Belgorod region, two Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles from strategic aviation aircraft from the Saratov region, and one Kalibr cruise missile from the Black Sea waters.
Shelling of Ukraine
In the evening of April 5, Russians launched strike drones over the territory of Ukraine. Air raid sirens were sounded in several regions.
After midnight in Kharkiv, explosions were heard. Strikes near residential buildings were recorded. Occupants also targeted a shop in the Dergachiv community of the Kharkiv region. In the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kharkiv, six people were killed, and another 10 were injured.
Around 4:00 on April 6, air raid sirens were sounded across Ukraine due to launches of missiles from Tu-95MS. Explosions were heard in the Khmelnytskyi region and in Zaporizhzhia. Air defense systems were active in the Kyiv region. More details on the consequences of the attack are in the material by RBC-Ukraine.
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COMMENTS
The Kh-101 / Kh-102 is a line of conventional and nuclear capable air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) developed and deployed by Russia. A stealthy missile, the Kh-101/-102 is designed to defeat air defense systems by flying at low, terrain-hugging altitudes to avoid radar systems. The Kh-101 carries a conventional warhead, while the Kh-102 is ...
NV explains what you need to know about the Kh-101 cruise missile. Kh-101 is a strategic air-to-ground cruise missile. This is one of Russia's latest developments. The missile is designed with technology to reduce radar visibility. Kh-101s can carry a thermonuclear warhead, which changes its designation to Kh-102. ...
Overview. Russia's KH-101/102 cruise missiles are descendants of the Soviet era KH-55 missile. The KH-101 is the NATO designation for the missile carrying conventional warheads.It was first tested in 1995. When the cruise missile is affixed with a nuclear warhead, it is given the designation KH-102.The 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF) prompted Russia to focus on tactical ...
The Kh-101 (AS-23A Kodiak) is a stealthy conventional strategic ALCM launched from Tu-160 and Tu-95MS bombers. After entering service in 2012, the missile first saw combat in Syria and has been used extensively in Ukraine. Western officials have publicly boasted that export controls imposed since February 24 have hobbled Russia's defense ...
The Kh-101, known in NATO as the AS-23a KODIAK, is an advanced Russian air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) designed primarily for the Russian Air Force's strategic bomber fleet, including the Tu-95 BEAR H. This missile is renowned for its long-range, estimated to be up to 2,500 to 3,000 kilometers, and its ability to carry a conventional or ...
Experts examined remnants of Kh-101 cruise missiles found in Kyiv, the capital, after an attack on Nov. 23 that knocked out electricity and shut down water systems in large areas of the country.
The Kh-101 cruise missile is one of the latest Russian strategic weapons systems. Its range of approximately 2500 km makes it one of the few weapons in Russia's arsenal capable of striking the entire territory of Ukraine. This weapon became the primary tool in attacks on Ukraine conducted on December 29 and January 2.
The nearest U.S. equivalent of the Kh-101 or Kh-102 is the AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missile, which has been retired from service. But the weapon incorporated a stealthy airframe and a 2000 nautical ...
Russia has upgraded the Kh-101 cruise missile, equipping it with two warheads weighing approximately 800 kg each and striking elements that pose a danger to humans. Source: Defense Express. to the ...
January 2, 2024 · 2 min read. 86. On January 2, a Russian X-101 missile was shot down. Russia targeted Kyiv with a Kh-101 cruise missile produced in the last quarter of 2023 (October-December), the Defense Express portal said on Jan. 2, citing sources and accompanying photos. The journalists explained that the potential production time of ...
The Kh-101 is a fairly recently developed long range cruise missile roughly analogous to the U.S. Tomahawk family of cruise missiles, which was already employed in Syria during Russian Tu-95 and ...
Deployed from platforms like the Tu-95 strategic bombers, the Ch-101 features a distinct engine mechanism that extends from the missile body just before launch. Additionally, its fuel tanks remain ...
Entwicklung. Im Jahr 1984 begannen in der Sowjetunion die ersten Studien über Marschflugkörper mit Tarnkappentechnik.Der Ch-101 sollte als Nachfolger des Ch-55 sowie als Gegenstück zur US-amerikanischen AGM-129 ACM konzipiert werden. Der Entwicklungsauftrag des „Isdelije 111" bezeichneten Marschflugkörpers wurde dem Konstruktionsbüro Raduga (jetzt Tactical Missiles Corporation ...
The Russian AS23a Kodiak missile — also known as the Kh-101 — was designed to hit major military targets like airfields and ships. ... Premium Russian cruise missiles might be malfunctioning ...
Previously, Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile troops were forced to launch two obsolete missiles from the Buk or S-300 systems to hit one Kh-101 missile. The latest air defense systems, such as NASAMS and IRIS-T, are better able to down such missiles. The main characteristics of the Kh-101 missiles: • Length — 7.45 m • Diameter — 742 mm
Russia is encountering difficulties in producing their Kh-101 cruise missiles due to Western sanctions and the urgent need for rapid armament, the UK's Defense Ministry reported on April 9.
the kh-101 / kh-102 raduga - The cruise missile is believed to have a range of up to 5,500 kilometers. A stealthy missile, the Kh-101/-102 is designed to def...
The Kh-55 (Russian: Х-55, also known as RKV-500; NATO reporting name: AS-15 "Kent") is a Soviet/Russian subsonic air-launched cruise missile, designed by MKB Raduga in the 1970s. It has a range of up to 2,500 km (1,350 nmi) and can carry nuclear warheads. Kh-55 is launched exclusively from bomber aircraft and has spawned a number of conventionally armed variants mainly for tactical use, such ...
Today, the Russian armed forces struck Kyiv with Kh-101 cruise missile that was manufactured in the fourth quarter of 2023. This was reported by the Defense Express journal after examination of a photo of the missile's remains.. The article noted that prior to January 2023 the ten-digit serial number applied to each missile and its components identified where and when it had been manufactured.
The specific missile in question is the Russian Kh-101 cruise missile in the Izdelie 504AP modification, as previously detailed by Defense Express. Distinguishing itself from the base X-101 missile, the Izdelie 504AP incorporates two significant enhancements. Firstly, it features the SP-504 active jamming station, production of which commenced ...
Pocisk Ch-101 zestrzelony nad Ukrainą (widok od spodu), 2023. Kadłub pocisków Ch-101/102 wykonany jest z zastosowaniem technik obniżenia wykrywalności ( stealth) - ma spłaszczony przekrój poprzeczny i powierzchnie boczne [4]. Skuteczna powierzchnia odbicia określana jest w publikacjach jako 0,01 m² [6]. Skrzydła przed startem są ...
Its emergence does follow a massive missile and drone barrage on cities across Ukraine today, which included the launch of at least 90 Kh-101, Kh-55, and Kh-555 air-launched cruise missiles ...
The Kh-101 missile is Russia's primary high-precision guided munition, with a flight range of approximately 4,000 kilometers. Russia frequently employs it for strikes against Ukraine, particularly ...
The ministry describes the Kh-101 missiles as "Russia's premier precision guided munition." They have a range of around 4,000 kilometers, or nearly 2,500 miles, and are also referred to as AS-23a ...
LONDON — British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has urged Israel "to be smart as well as tough" and avoid striking back at Iran in response to its drone and missile barrage. Cameron told ...
"As a result of air combat by the Ukrainian Defense Forces, two Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, one Kalibr cruise missile, and 28 Shahed-131/136 strike UAVs were shot down," he said.