Russia modifies Kh-101 missile with second warhead - UK intelligence

Russia modifies Kh-101 missile with second warhead (Getty Images)

Russia has modernized its Kh-101 cruise missiles. The military probably reduced the missile range but equipped it with a second warhead instead, says the British Ministry of Defense on X.

According to the report, the Long-Range Aviation Command of the Russian Aerospace Forces has increased the lethality of its main air-launched cruise missile Kh-101 (AS-23 KODIAK in NATO's classification). It is likely that the missile was equipped with a second warhead.

Russia's aviation command has been trying to change its systems and tactics throughout the war against Ukraine. Since Ukraine's air defense intercepts a large number of missiles, the Russian military wanted to increase efficiency and use older missiles as the stockpile of new ones has been depleted.

"This latest modification has likely reduced the range of the AS-23 by half," the intelligence said.

The agency believes that Russia does not need the full range of these missiles to attack Ukraine. But a second warhead is intended to increase the fragmentation effect on the target.

"It is likely that this will make the system more effective in striking non-hardened targets," the report says.

Background

Earlier, the media reported that Russia had doubled the warhead of the Kh-101 cruise missile. According to experts, the shelling of Ukraine will become more dangerous.

Russian troops launch Kh-101 missiles from strategic aviation aircraft (e.g., Tu-95MS bombers). Last night, they fired 45 Kh-101/Kh-555 missiles at Ukraine from Tu-95 MS aircraft (launch areas - Saratov region and the Caspian Sea).

To learn more about Tu-95 aircraft and how dangerous they are, read RBC-Ukraine's report.