Kh-101

Development

In the late 1980s work began on a replacement for the Kh-55 cruise missile, with either conventional (Kh-101) or nuclear (Kh-102) warheads and greater stealth. The new missile was designed by Igor Seleznyev of Raduga. The importance of advanced missiles as "force multipliers" increased as Russia's fleet of available cruise-missile bombers declined in the early 1990s. The cancellation of the ambitious Kh-90 ramjet missile due to the INF Treaty in 1987 led to a renewed emphasis on improving on the Kh-55, in particular to achieve the

The first tests were conducted in 1995 and the missile was accepted for service in 2012. The first pictures of the Kh-101 appeared in 2007.

Design

The Kh-101/102 is specifically designed for air launch, abandoning the circular fuselage cross-section of the Kh-55 for a nose and forward fuselage section aerodynamically shaped to produce lift. It is 7.45 m long with a launch weight of 2200-2400 kg, and is equipped with a 400 kg high-explosive, penetrating, or cluster warhead, or a 250 kt nuclear warhead for the Kh-102. The missile is powered by a TRDD-50A turbojet producing 450 kgf of thrust to cruise at 700-720 km/h with a maximum speed of 970 km/h while flying 30–70 m above the ground, and hit fixed targets using a pre-downloaded digital map for terrain following and GLONASS/INS for trajectory correction to achieve accuracy of 6–10 meters; it is claimed to be able to hit small moving targets such as vehicles using a terminal electro-optical sensor or imaging infrared system. The missiles are equipped with an onboard EW defence system as of late 2018. It has a range of around 3,500 km.

The Tu-95MS can carry eight of the weapons on under-wing pylons, and the Tu-160 can be outfitted with two drum launchers each loaded with six missiles.

The Kh-SD tactical version was to have been carried by the Tu-95MS (fourteen missiles) and the Tu-22M (eight missiles).

Operational history

Syrian Civil War

In the course of the Russian bombing of Syria on 17 November 2015, Russian Defense Ministry reported that Tupolev Tu-95MS and Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers launched a total of 34 cruise missiles against 14 ISIL targets in Syria. the Tu-160s were equipped with the Kh-101 in their first combat use.

Russian news agency TASS reported on 17 November 2016 that modernized Tu-95MS armed with Kh-55 and Kh-101 cruise missiles had launched airstrikes against targets in Syria.

On 17 February 2017, Tu-95MS strategic bombers, flying from the Russian territory through the airspace of Iran and Iraq, attacked purported ISIL facilities near the Syrian city of Raqqa with the Kh-101 cruise missiles. The targets included purported militant camps and training centers as well as a command center of a major ISIL unit. Russian Tu-95MS long-range bombers struck ISIL targets in Syria again on 5 July 2017, at a range of about 1,000 kilometers. On 26 September 2017, Russia's Tu-95MS strategic bombers carried out further missile strikes with Kh-101 on ISIL and the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda (now known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) in the provinces of Idlib and Deir Ezzor.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Kh-101 has been used extensively in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. US Department of Defense sources claimed that they experienced a significant failure rate: "either they're failing to launch, or they're failing to hit the target, or they're failing to explode on contact." Ukraine at War: Paving the Road from Survival to Victory, a July 2022 study published by the UK Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for Defense and Security Studies, disagreed, noting that "as far as Ukrainian military scientists can determine, this is actually quite rare", with RUSI instead attributing the high rate of downed missiles to Ukrainian interception.

On 6 March 2022, about eight Kh-101 cruise missiles launched by Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers from over the Black Sea targeted the Havryshivka Vinnytsia International Airport.

On 14 September 2022, Ukrainian MoD reported Russian forces used eight Kh-101 cruise missiles, probably from Tu-95MS bombers, to target various hydraulic structures in Kryvyi Rih. This caused the water level of the Inhulets river to rise sharply. Previously it was reported that Kh-22 missiles had been used.

Since late 2022, an upgraded version of the Kh‑101 has been observed featuring the L-504 decoy dispenser developed by the Samara Research Institute "Ekran". This dispenser allows the missile to release countermeasures such as chaff and flares to confuse and evade radar‑guided air defences. In addition, the missile has been enhanced with an Otblesk‑U optical guidance system, which compares real‑time terrain images with preloaded maps for improved targeting precision.

During the 29 December 2023 Russian strikes on Ukraine Kh-101s were seen deploying decoy flares.

According to Defense Express, analysis of wreckage and debris from a Kh-101 shot down over Ukraine in March 2024 indicates that starting from early 2024, the size of the Kh-101 warhead was increased from 450kg to 800kg. This increase was made possible by reducing the capacity of the fuel tank, which accordingly lowers the range of the missile.

During the 8 July 2024 missile attacks six Kh-101 missiles hit the building of the Artem machine building plant in Kyiv. Another Russian Kh-101 missile hit the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv in the same attack. One doctor and one adult civilian were killed and 16 people, including seven children, were injured. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied that Russia hit the hospital and claimed the destruction was caused by a Ukrainian air defense missile. Pro-Russian sources variously described it as "an American Patriot air defense missile" or an AIM-120 AMRAAM. Footage of the attack shows a Kh-101 cruise missile striking the hospital, with the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine assessing a direct missile hit to have been 'highly likely'. Images also showed remnants of a Kh-101 missile in the ruins of the hospital.

Financial Times reported on 10 July 2024, citing an analysis by the Office of the President of Ukraine, that Russia surged the production of Kh-101 by eight times from 56 missiles before the war to 420 missiles in 2023 and also claimed that the missile uses more than 50 Western-made components.

On the early morning of September 2, 2024, 14 Kh-101 missiles, part of a larger attack from Tu-95MS planes from Volgograd, were launched. Also, on the same day, fragments of a missile, allegedly the remains of a Kh-101, were removed in Kyiv.

According to classified documents, Russia ordered 525 missiles in 2024, 700 in 2025, and 30 for delivery in 2026 (as of October 2025).

In the morning of November 19, 2025, a Kh-101 missile hit an apartment building in Ternopil murdering 31 residents.

Variants

• Kh-101 (NATO AS-23A "Kodiak") - conventional variant. Since January 2023, 11 months after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia has made use of a Kh-101 air-launched version that releases decoy flares in flight.
  • A variant of the Kh-101 has been used in the Russo-Ukrainian War, with a second high explosive warhead containing steel fragments. Increasing the total warhead weight from 450 kg to about 800 kg, this comes at the expense of range due to reduced fuel capacity.
• Kh-102 (NATO AS-23B "Kodiak") - nuclear variant.

References

References

1. (17 November 2015). "25 Russian long-range strategic bombers in action over Syria for the very first time".
2. (2008-09-08). "Kh-101/-102". Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems.
3. (1995-08-19). "Air Force Priority Given To Conventional Cruise". Jane's Defence Weekly.
4. (2008-07-28). "Kh-101, Kh-102 (Russian Federation), Air-to-surface missiles - Stand-off and cruise". Jane's Air-Launched Weapons.
5. "Х-101/102, крылатые ракеты".
6. (26 May 2005). "В России прошли испытания высокоточной ракеты Х-555, которая "попадает прямо в окно"".
7. (2007-10-22). "Details emerge of Russia's latest cruise missiles". Jane's Defence Systems News.
8. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/russia-to-field-kh-101-cruise-missile-next-year-376954/ Russia to field Kh-101 cruise missile next year] {{Webarchive. link. (29 November 2016 - Flightglobal.com, 27 September 2012)
9. [http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/ready-war-russias-stealthy-kh-101-cruise-missile-debuts-14387 Ready for War: Russia's Stealthy Kh-101 Cruise Missile Debuts in Syria] {{Webarchive. link. (29 November 2016 - Nationalinterest.org, 18 November 2015)
10. [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/russian-bombers-deploy-kh-101-cruise-missiles-over-s-419305/ Russian bombers deploy Kh-101 cruise missiles over Syria] {{Webarchive. link. (23 November 2015 - Flightglobal.com, 19 November 2015)
11. [http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2015-11-20/latest-russian-strikes-syria-employ-new-cruise-missile Latest Russian Strikes on Syria Employ New Cruise Missile] {{Webarchive. link. (5 March 2017 - Ainonline.com, 20 November 2015)
12. [http://airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2016/august/2855-tactical-missiles-corporation-plans-to-upgrade-kh-101-cruise-missile.html Tactical Missiles Corporation plans to upgrade Kh-101 cruise missile] {{Webarchive. link. (29 November 2016 - Airrecognition.com, 18 August 2016)
13. Butowski, Piotr. (2022-09-14). "Russia’s Secretive Long-Range Bomber Operations Against Ukraine".
14. (2021-10-22). "[Actu] Modernisation du Tupolev Tu-95MS".
15. (2008-09-09). "Kh-65SE/Kh-SD". Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems.
16. {{youTube. GQh5BVcz8g8{{dead link. (January 2020)
17. While the Tu-95MS used the Kh-55 cruise missile,{{youTube. E6ro3Yrr3Ko
18. (17 November 2015). "Russia launches long-range air sorties into Syria". IHS Jane's 360.
19. (19 November 2015). "Russian bombers deploy Kh-101 cruise missiles over Syria".
20. {{youTube. d48LHI6u3bY
21. {{youTube. Ja_kvsngEFI
22. (17 November 2016). "Russian bombers deliver strike at terrorist strongholds in Syria — Defense Ministry". TASS.
23. (17 November 2016). "Russia's Tupolev-95MSM bomber delivers first-ever strike on mission to Syria". TASS.
24. (5 July 2017). "Dismantling of ISIS's objects by cruise missiles X-101 of strategic missile carriers Tu-95MS". [[Ministry of Defence (Russia).
25. (26 September 2017). "Нанесение авиаударов Ту-95МС крылатыми ракетами Х-101 по объектам ИГИЛ в Сирии". [[Ministry of Defence (Russia).
26. Douglas Barrie. (1 April 2022). "Ukraine: Russia's air-launched cruise missiles coming up short". The International Institute for Strategic Studies.
27. (4 July 2022). "Ukraine at War - Paving the Road from Survival to Victory". Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI).
28. (6 March 2022). "Missile strikes on Vinnytsia airfield launched from Black Sea".
29. (14 September 2022). "Russian missile strike damaged hydraulic structures in Kryvyi Rih".
30. (14 September 2022). "Water level of Ukraine's river Inhulets rises after Russia strikes hydraulic structures of Kryvyi Rih". [[Novaya Gazeta]].
31. (24 June 2025). "Upgraded Russian Kh‑101 Cruise Missile: New Guidance System, Electronics and Radio Traps". Defence‑UA.
32. Joseph Trevithick. (29 December 2023). "Russian Kh-101 Cruise Missile Filmed Firing-Off Decoy Flares".
33. "russia Started Production of the Kh-101 With Two Warheads, Making the Missile Twice As Dangerous".
34. "Ukraine reels after one of Russia's deadliest air attacks".
35. "Russian offensive campaign assessment, July 8, 2024".
36. (2024-07-08). "ТАСС: ВС России ударили по военному заводу "Артем" в Киеве, поражен склад".
37. Santora, Marc. (2024-07-08). "Russia Strikes Children’s Hospital in Deadly Barrage Across Ukraine". The New York Times.
38. Sean Seddon. (2024-07-09). "Ukraine mourns after day of Russian air strikes". [[BBC News]].
39. Sheldon, Michael. (2024-07-09). "Russian Missile Identified in Kyiv Children’s Hospital Attack".
40. Humayun, Helen Regan, Hira. (2024-07-10). "UN says ‘high likelihood’ a Russian cruise missile hit Ukraine’s main children’s hospital".
41. (2024-07-10). "Russian missile with foreign components targets Kyiv children’s hospital".
42. "FirstFT: Western parts used in type of Russian missile that hit Kyiv children’s hospital".
43. "x.com".
44. (2024-09-02). "Sappers remove fragments of Kh-101 missile in Kyiv".
45. (2025-10-23). "From Kalibr to Kinzhal: How Much Do Russian Missiles Really Cost?".
46. Trevithick, Joseph. (2023-12-29). "Russian Kh-101 Cruise Missile Filmed Firing-Off Decoy Flares".
47. THOMAS NEWDICK. (8 May 2024). "Russia Now Firing Kh-101 Cruise Missiles Modified With Two Warheads At Ukraine".