Russia's revived Kh‑55 missile sparks new strategy in Kyiv
Bomb disposal experts in Kyiv discovered a Russian Kh-55 missile, which sheds new light on the attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure on November 28, 2024, reports the Ukrainian portal Defense Express. Their findings suggest that "this means Russians have revived the practice of using Soviet Kh-55s as decoys during massive waves of loitering munitions and missiles equipped with actual warheads."
9:06 AM EST, November 29, 2024
These experts neutralized the crashed Russian Kh-55 missile used during the attack on November 28, 2024. This discovery indicates that Russia has resumed using these missiles to challenge Ukrainian air defense. Defense Express explains that the temporary suspension of Kh-55 missiles was due to the engines being repurposed for the production of other missiles, like the Kh-101, which the Russian Federation frequently deploys.
They used the Kh-55 missile after a hiatus
It remains unclear what type of warhead was mounted on this missile. Typically, Russians have used decoys that mimic large warheads. However, it is known that the aggressor’s military intended to use the Kh-55 as a decoy. The missile was launched alongside a swarm of drones (95 units). This tactic aims to confuse Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses and allow more drones to penetrate the defenses.
The Kh-55 is a Russian air-to-surface cruise missile, designed in the 1970s. It was officially incorporated into the Russian military arsenal in 1984, following a series of tests that lasted six years. Due to its capabilities, these missiles are part of the armament of bombers such as the Tu-95MS and Tu-160. The Tu-95MS model can mount up to six such missiles, while the larger Tu-160 bomber can carry up to twelve Kh-55 units.
The construction of the Kh-55 missile is relatively large, measuring over 20 feet in length with a diameter of about 1.6 feet. The mass of this missile is about 3,700 pounds. It is powered by a turbojet engine and is equipped with advanced navigation systems, including inertial, satellite, and terrain-mapping navigation. This suite of technologies allows it to hit designated targets with precision within a few yards. The missile has a range of about 1,860 miles.
