Recent reports indicate that Russia has upgraded its Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles, significantly increasing their warhead size from 450 kg to approximately 800 kg. Ukrainian sources have published photos of a downed Kh-101 warhead, highlighting its increased size compared to older models. According to Defense Express and statements from a Colonel of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, this modification nearly doubles the missile's weight. The upgraded missiles now feature additional warhead modules, including ready-made striking elements of a cubic shape, enhancing their striking effect. These changes have resulted in a reduced range for the missiles, but they now deliver a significantly more powerful impact, with a remaining range of 500-700 km when launched from the Saratov region to targets in the Lviv region. The modernization efforts have also introduced new features such as flare dispensers to the missiles.
Russia’s upgraded cruise missiles travel a shorter distance than their predecessors — but pack twice the punch https://t.co/tMIU80IqAA https://t.co/vvXjvXfZKh
Russia has begun to modernize Kh-101 missiles with two warheads: the weight increased to 800 kg. The second warhead has ready-made striking elements of a cubic shape, which have a significant striking effect. The addition was made after the reduction in the size of the fuel… https://t.co/cjlTdRFSje
This isn't news to anyone paying attention, but the Russians have made significant changes to new "war-model" Kh-101 cruise missiles we've seen in Ukraine lately. New features include flare dispensers and a near-doubled warhead size, doubtless at the expense of (unneeded) range. https://t.co/1oEA8xpqtz
"Colonel of the General Staff", an officer in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, writes that the Russians started to use Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles with additional warhead module, which almost doubles its weight (from 450kg to 800kg). According to him, such modification was… https://t.co/5ArMurrIcW
😳 Russia has modernized the X-101 air-launched cruise missile, which has received an increased warhead from 450 kg to ~800, - Defense Express ❗️ If such missiles are launched from the Saratov region, even at targets in the Lviv region, such an X-101 will still have 500-700 km… https://t.co/3R6M2RzpIx
Ukrainian sources publish photos of a Kh-101 warhead that was downed last night claiming that is significantly larger then older warheads. https://t.co/IJtfSd8kyO