The potential and capabilities of the Kh-101 cruise missile
Rocket Kh-101 during preparation for flight. November 2015. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
In the first half of the tenth years, the armament of the Russian long-range aviation received the latest air-launched cruise missile Kh-101. A couple of years later, products of this type were first used outside the training ground and against real enemy targets. Subsequently, Kh-101 missile launches became regular and each time they performed the assigned combat missions, which showed the high potential of this weapons.
Rocket and its targets
According to known data, a new air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) with the X-101 index has been created at the Raduga State Design Bureau since the mid-nineties. This product was considered as a future replacement for the current X-55 missiles, and should have been significantly different from them. The Kh-101 was a non-nuclear weapon, and at the same time a unified Kh-102 ALCM with special combat equipment was being developed.
Design work on two missiles was completed at the turn of the nineties and two thousandths, after which tests began. Another 10-12 years were spent on comprehensive checks and fine-tuning of the new ALCMs, after which they received a recommendation for adoption. Serial production and delivery of Kh-101 missiles to the Air Force began in 2012-13.
On November 17, 2015, Tu-160 strategic bombers launched Kh-101 missiles at real targets for the first time. 16 products were simultaneously used at the facilities of illegal armed groups in Syria, and the launch was carried out at a great distance from the Syrian borders. In the following days, Tu-160s again used new missiles. About a year later, in November 2016, the first combat launch of new ALCMs from the Tu-95MS aircraft took place - and not the last for them.
Waiting for suspension. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
At the beginning of March 2022, the first reports appeared about the use of the Kh-101 during the Special Operation to Protect Donbass. With the help of a certain number of such products, they successfully hit a military facility in Kyiv. In the future, new messages appeared repeatedly and launches of the Kh-101 on Ukrainian military targets. Several times, bystanders even managed to film a rocket in flight. At the same time, the characteristic features of the flying product made it easy to recognize the X-101.
The latest reports of the use of X-101 came just a few days ago. On June 5, with the help of such weapons, the workshops of one of the Kyiv factories, which were used for the repair and preparation of foreign armored vehicles, were destroyed. The combat vehicles were hit along with the factory facilities.
Technical appearance
The X-101 product is a long-range cruise missile designed for use by strategic missile-carrying bombers. Its carriers are Tu-160 and Tu-95MS aircraft in existing and modernized versions. The Tu-160 carries 12 such ALCMs on two internal drum sets. Tu-95MS has eight external hardpoints.
The X-101 is built according to the normal aerodynamic scheme and resembles the previous X-55 product. The new project uses a high elongation fuselage with a characteristic cross section. In the central part of the fuselage, a swept wing is installed, which is unfolded at launch. The tail unit is also made folding. In the tail is a retractable engine nacelle. The length of the product reaches 7,5 m, the wingspan is approx. 3 m. Starting weight exceeds 2,2-2,3 tons.
Missiles on the Tu-160 internal launcher. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
A characteristic feature of the X-101 and X-102 projects are measures to reduce visibility and counteract detection systems. The missiles have characteristic fuselage contours that scatter radar signals. According to some reports, the missiles are equipped with their own electronic warfare stations.
The rocket is equipped with a compact short-life turbojet engine, which develops a high subsonic speed. Different flight profiles are envisaged with altitudes from tens of meters to 8-10 km. The maximum range is 5500 km, which places the X-101 ALCM in the category of strategic missiles.
According to known data, the X-101 is equipped with a combined control and guidance system. It includes inertial navigation devices, an altimeter and digital map correction tools. According to some sources, a radar or optical homing head is used in the final leg of the flight. Due to such GOS, the missile is capable of hitting stationary and moving targets with a CEP of no more than 7-10 m.
The X-101 ALCM carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 400 kg. The unified Kh-102 missile is a carrier of a nuclear warhead. The exact parameters of the latter are unknown.
Cruise missile in flight over Ukraine, March 2022. Photo by Telegram / "Rybar"
Potential and its application
Since 2015, the Russian Air Force has used several dozen Kh-101 cruise missiles and successfully destroyed a comparable number of enemy targets. These products have proven their performance and potential, and have demonstrated a number of important benefits. At the same time, it can be assumed that the new domestic ALCMs have not yet fully shown themselves and retain a reserve of characteristics. In addition, one cannot exclude their future modernization with the aim of a new increase in performance.
Like the previous Kh-55/555 ALCM, the new Kh-101 has the highest flight performance. The missile is capable of hitting targets at a strategic depth of defense. In addition, it is possible to use it for less distant targets with the construction of an optimal route that bypasses dangerous areas. In a number of cases, carrier bombers also get the opportunity to launch over their own territory without approaching the enemy's air defense coverage area.
It should be noted that the Kh-101 ALCM is used by the Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic missile carriers. They have a high flight range and have the ability to refuel in the air. Due to this, the combat radius of the aviation complex consisting of an aircraft and a missile can exceed 10-12 thousand km.
The missile has an increased chance of breaking through enemy air defense / missile defense. This is facilitated by reduced visibility, the possible presence of an electronic warfare system, as well as the use of an optimal route and high-altitude flight profile. The ability of the X-101 product to break through the defense was repeatedly shown during the current Special Operation. The launched missiles successfully hit all the intended targets, incl. in areas with maximum air defense cover.
Flight of the product to the target, June 2022. Photo by Telegram / ChDambiev
In the official materials of the Ministry of Defense and on filming from the spot, the hit of Kh-101 missiles on the target and the consequences of such strikes were repeatedly demonstrated. All these photos and videos show the real accuracy of hitting targets, provided by a modern multi-component guidance system.
Available materials also show the high efficiency of the used warhead. At the same time, strategic aviation has at its disposal a unified Kh-102 missile with a special warhead for special cases. Fortunately, this potential of the original project has not yet been used. However, a nuclear missile is involved in the processes of nuclear deterrence and also contributes to national security.
Obvious prospects
Thus, the Kh-101 long-range cruise missile is distinguished by its high tactical and technical characteristics and wide operational capabilities. Thanks to this, it is one of the most effective types of weapons in the arsenals of Russian strategic aviation. With its help, missile bombers not only hit targets at long ranges, but also become a more flexible and convenient tool, and not only of a strategic class.
All these possibilities have been repeatedly confirmed by practice. X-101 successfully hit targets in Syria and Ukraine. It can be expected that the use of such weapons against Ukrainian targets will continue as needed. It is not known what goals the command will assign, but it is obvious that the next launches will again be successful and effective.
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