According to reports, Russia has once again upgraded its KH101 air-launched cruise missile, doubling its warhead capacity from 400 kgs to 800 kgs.
This revelation follows reports of Ukraine’s successful interception of a KH101 missile on March 29, as on social media.
Studies on debris from the downed missile revealed an increased warhead capacity from 400 kgs to 800 kgs, escalating tensions regarding its enhanced destructive power.
An Ukrainian news agency, Defence Express, noted that it’s not just about increasing warhead weight, but integrating two separate warheads into the KH101 missile.
It also noted that the second warhead has cubic-shaped elements, which are widely used in anti-aircraft missiles. When used against ground targets, it will cause significant effects on people.
The incorporation of the second warhead was made possible by reducing the missile’s fuel capacity, thereby reducing its strike range while increasing the warhead capacity.
According to reports, the missile’s range might be decreased to 2250 km (or less) from the earlier strike range of 5500 km. However, this decrease couldn’t significantly affect the missile’s performance, as it would still have sufficient range to target areas in western Ukraine, including the city of Lviv. Additionally, substantial range would remain for additional manoeuvres as well.
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The upgrade was first announced by Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu in January 2024, during his visit to the MKB Raduga, Russia’s cruise missile production plant. It was likely announced when production of missiles with the upgrade began. Now, there are reports about the use of these updated missiles.
KH101: A formidable threat to Ukraine
The KH101 is a stealthy subsonic air-launched cruise missile designed for deployment by Russian nuclear bombers such as the Tu-95 and Tu-160.
Capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads, its long range enables Russia to target various European countries.
The KH101 is considered to be Russia’s most widely used missile in Ukraine, targeting both military and civilian infrastructure.
During the winter, KH101 missiles were extensively employed in attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
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According to reports, Russia is currently producing 35 KH101 cruise missiles monthly, in addition to 25 Kalibr and 5 Iskander M missiles per month.
KH101 missile with decoys
Notably, several footage showing the deployment of flares by KH101 missiles emerged on social media in December 2023.
While the KH101 is a stealth cruise missile designed to avoid radar detection using advanced stealth technologies, its large size might allow Ukraine to detect the missiles from a sufficient range for interception, resulting in several missiles being intercepted by Ukrainian air defence units.
To reduce Ukraine’s success rate in intercepting KH101 missiles, Russia integrates flares, just like aircraft, to deceive enemy interceptors. These flares are likely to be deployed at regular intervals through pre-programming.
KH101 with 800 kgs warhead
Following the incorporation of decoys, Russia’s new upgrade with increased warhead capacity is likely to reduce the need for a large number of missiles to target key infrastructure in Ukraine.
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The missile’s heavier warhead enables increased destructive power, allowing for serious damage to key components in targets like power plants with fewer missiles.
Given the depleting stockpile of missiles in the Russian arsenal due to prolonged war, the incorporation of decoys enhances the survivability of KH101 missiles. Meanwhile, the increased warhead capacity decreases the need for a large number of missiles to strike targets in some cases.
Russia’s continuous modernizing effort to enhance the KH101 missile’s performance underscores its commitment to surviving in the prolonged war.
