Russia's latest Kh‑101 missile variant proves a new threat
The Ukrainian Air Force recently reported the destruction of 12 missiles and 13 kamikaze drones used by Russia in night attacks on energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure. They examined the Russian rocket and have reached troubling conclusions.
Russia struck targets in Ukraine with air- and sea-launched missiles as well as Iranian-made Shahed drones, according to a statement on social media.
"The enemy used 16 missiles of various types and 13 strike drones," the army said.
Russian strategic air force Tu-95MS aircraft, operating over Russia's Saratov Oblast, launched ten Kh-101 and Kh-555 cruise missiles, while two Iskander missiles flew in from occupied Crimea. Four Kalibr missiles were launched from the Black Sea, and 13 drones took off from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia and Balaklava in Crimea.
Kh-101 missile
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have again decided to use the Kh-101 missile in its latest version. This specific weapon variant is characterized by two warheads - a standard one and a cluster one. The latest findings from the Ukrainian armed forces prove that the Russian side regularly uses this type of ammunition during the conflict.
According to the information provided, at least one is new among all the recovered missiles. It was manufactured in the second quarter of 2024 and is equipped with a cluster warhead.
The missile found after Saturday's shelling confirms that the defence industry of the Russian Federation continuously supplies the army with upgraded versions of rockets that are more advanced than their predecessors. The Russian military has at its disposal the latest model of the popular ammunition used in the conflict with Ukraine – the Kh-101 with two warheads, including a cluster one. The first use of this missile was recorded at the beginning of June, and in the following weeks, at least one documented launch of a Kh-101 with a cluster warhead was observed.
A cluster warhead is a specific type of ammunition that increases the destructive power of the Kh-101 missile. Its operation involves scattering many smaller submunitions over a large area housed within a larger body. The casing opens when the rocket reaches a certain altitude, and the cluster munitions spread over a large area. In the case of the modernized Kh-101 missile, we are talking about at least 60 "balls," or smaller projectiles, hidden within the warhead.
