Russia may be adapting Kh-101 for ground launches, experts comment
Photo: Russia may be developing a new version of the Kh-101 cruise missile (Russian media)
Russia may be preparing a modification of the Kh-101 cruise missile for ground launch, which may indicate a shortage of Tu-95 and Tu-160 missile-carrying aircraft, according to Ukrainian experts.
Several monitoring platforms reported that Russia is developing a ground-launched version of the Kh-101 cruise missile.
Ivan Kyrychevskyi, an expert at the Defense Express information and consulting agency, told RBC-Ukraine that there is currently no confirmation that such missiles are ready.
“It was allegedly reported about Kh-101P missiles with a ground launch using a solid-fuel booster. In reality, there is no reliable information about the development of such missiles,” Kyrychevskyi said.
According to him, ground-based missiles are indeed much harder to detect than air-launched ones. They are launched much closer to Ukraine’s borders. The Russians already have ground-launched Iskander-K cruise missiles, which the enemy is already actively using.
Aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap added that if the Russian defense industry is indeed working on a ground-based version of the Kh-101 missile, then Operation Spider Web is having consequences, and the enemy is experiencing problems with air-launch.
About the Kh-101 missile
The Kh-101 is a Russian strategic air-to-ground cruise missile. The design of the Kh-101 began in the 1980s based on the Kh-55 strategic missile. It can carry up to 400 kg of explosives.
The first tests of the missile were conducted in 1995, and it was adopted into service in 2012. According to test results, the missile has a circular error probable of 7 meters at a range of 5,500 km. Theoretically, the missile is capable of destroying moving targets with a hit accuracy of up to 10 meters.
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence recently revealed the characteristics and showed images of the newest Izdeliye-30 missile, which Russia may use to strike the entire territory of Ukraine.
The missile has a wingspan of about three meters, a warhead weighing 800 kilograms, and a range of at least 1,500 kilometers. The first cases of the new missile being used against Ukraine were recorded at the end of last year.
