Russia launches new Kh‑101 missiles with cluster warheads

Defense Express reports that the Russians launched 10 Kh-101 cruise missiles toward Ukraine in an attack carried out on the night of June 21. According to cited sources, at least one of these new missiles was produced in the second quarter of 2024 and contained a cluster warhead.

The missile found after Saturday's shelling confirms that the defense industry of the Russian Federation continuously supplies the army with upgraded missiles. The military has at its disposal the latest variant of the Kh-101 with two warheads, one of which is a cluster warhead. The first use of this missile was recorded at the beginning of June, and in the following weeks, at least one documented launch of the Kh-101 with a cluster warhead was reported.

It should be noted that the upgrade with the cluster warhead represents essentially the fourth generation of these missiles. The first version had one warhead and an optical system based on a single lens. In the next version, the Russians improved the "vision" by reinforcing it with three lenses and an additional system to defend against jamming.

The third version of the Kh-101 appeared on the front, upgraded in terms of defensive capabilities—the newer ammunition contained two warheads. Now, the Russian Federation is using the fourth generation of this advanced weapon, which also features two warheads, one of them a cluster warhead.

The cluster warhead significantly increases the Kh-101's destructive power. It operates by scattering numerous submunitions over a large area contained within a larger casing. The fuselage opens when the missile reaches a specified height, and the cluster munitions spread over a wide area. In the modernized Kh-101 missile, there are at least 60 "balls," or smaller projectiles, hidden in the warhead.

The Kh-101 missiles are particularly dangerous for the Ukrainians not only because of their warheads but also because they can strike targets with high precision. This is due to the Otblesk-U guidance module, which compares the aerial view during flight with the pre-recorded view before the missile was launched. This allows the Kh-101 to strike with an accuracy estimated at a maximum of a few yards.

Moreover, the missile can reach speeds of about 620 mph. Its range can be up to 3,100 miles, although this may have been reduced during recent modernizations. The Russian Federation might not need such a long range for the missile, so by lowering the fuel tank, they increased the capacity for additional warheads (essentially enabling the placement of two warheads).