Kremlin's secret missile found near Kyiv: Rare discovery made

In the vicinity of Kyiv, the latest Russian Kh-69 cruise missile has fallen, reports the Military News UA profile on platform X. This weapon, known as the "Kremlin's secret missile," rarely appears in Ukraine, and finding its remains near Kyiv is one of the first such incidents.

Ukrainians frequently encounter the wreckage of Russian missiles in their country, which were shot down by anti-aircraft defense systems. Sometimes, Russian Federation missiles fall on their own due to malfunctions. Recently, defenders found, among others, a Kh-101 missile in one of Kyiv's ponds.

Now, again near Kyiv, another Russian weapon has been found. This time, Ukrainians report identifying a modern Kh-69 missile carried by an equally modern Su-57 fighter jet. This particular missile is rarely seen in Ukraine. This could be because the Kh-69 has been in use only recently, with the Russians starting to bomb the defenders' country using it in April 2024.

The Kh-69 was long kept secret by the Russian Federation. This modern weapon was presented only during last year's Dubai Airshow. Until then, all information related to the development of the new missile was hidden from the public.

This secret Kremlin missile is often compared to the Western AGM-158 JASSM due to its capabilities. The Kh-69 has been significantly improved compared to its predecessor, the Kh-59. The new Kh-69 weighs nearly 1,764 lbs, has a 661-lb warhead, and can travel up to 342 miles after launching. It is also worth mentioning that the missile is complex to detect despite its large dimensions; it measures 13.8 ft in length, 1.3 ft in diameter, and has a wingspan of about 8 ft. NPO Saturn TRDD-50 MT dual-flow engines provide the propulsion of this Russian weapon.

It is also noteworthy that to launch the Kh-69, the Russians used an equally modern Su-57 fighter jet developed in response to the American F-22 Raptor. Development of this equipment began in the Russian Federation at the beginning of the 21st century, with the first flight taking place in 2010. However, large-scale production had not yet commenced as of 2024.

Nevertheless, it is currently one of the best aircraft used by the aggressor's army during the war in Ukraine. It accelerates to Mach 2, which is about 1,491 mph, and has a range exceeding 2,175 miles. It can operate at an altitude of up to 12 miles. Its armament, including the Kh-69 and Kh-59 missiles, is carried on 12 weapon hardpoints (six external and six internal). The Su-57's built-in radar allows it to detect hostile objects within a range of up to 249 miles.