(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — A few months ago, the Russian Ministry of Defense has released a rare video showcasing the launch of the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) “KH-101” from Tupolev Tu-95 “Bear” strategic bombers and its impact on targets.
According to Russian authorities, the subsonic KH-101 is a strategic guided missile that entered military service in 2013.
Developed by the renowned Russian missile manufacturer Raduga Design Bureau, the KH-101 cruise missile, equipped with a 400kg conventional explosive payload, demonstrates the capability to engage targets up to 5,500km away with high precision.
In addition to conventional explosives, the long-range cruise missile also has a nuclear variant, the KH-102, which can be equipped with a nuclear payload ranging from 250 kilotons to one megaton.
Designed to evade radar detection and air defense systems, the cruise missile allows for the precise targeting of high-priority enemy assets.
In addition to aerial deployment from bombers, the cruise missile can also be launched from ground-based and naval launch systems.
Meanwhile, recent footage captured by Ukrainian civilians revealed the KH-101 cruise missile deploying flares during flight to counter infrared-guided missiles and avoid being shot down.
A few months ago, Russia unleashed hundreds of missiles and suicide drones on several Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kiev, possibly in retaliation for Ukraine’s Storm Shadow cruise missile attack in Crimea, causing significant damage to a Russian naval vessel.
The flares released by the KH-101 serve as countermeasures, a strategic move by Russia to ensure the cruise missile can reach its target without being shot down.
Information about the Russian military’s implementation of countermeasure systems on the KH-101, reported as Izdeliye 504AP flare system, started surfacing last year.
Military analysts interpret Russia’s actions as a response to the proliferation of Western-made air defense systems in Ukraine, aiming to safeguard the effectiveness of the KH-101 cruise missile amidst the challenging operational environment.
In a recent report, Russia has improved the performance of its main air-launched cruise missile Kh-101 by fielding it with a second warhead. missile with a new warhead, stated British Defense Ministry intelligence report on X on May 8.
The recent modification likely halved the range of the Kh-101 missile, as the Russian RAF doesn’t require maximum range to target all of Ukraine, according to a report.
Meanwhile, the new warhead is designed to increase fragmentation damage to targets, potentially enhancing the system’s effectiveness against unprotected targets.
In January, Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (HUR), stated in Davos that the Russians were deploying different Kh-101 cruise missiles compared to those used in 2022.
He highlighted that the new missiles are outfitted with an active electronic warfare system and heat traps. — DSA