Russia deploys new dual-warhead Kh‑101 missile against Ukraine

Defense Express reports that the Russians launched 10 Kh-101 cruise missiles towards Ukraine in an attack carried out on the night of 21 June. According to the sources cited, at least one of these missiles is new—having been produced in the second quarter of 2024—and contained a cluster warhead.

The missile found after Saturday's shelling confirms that the Russian defence industry continuously supplies the army with upgraded missiles compared to previous ones. The military has at its disposal the latest variant of the popular ammunition used during the conflict with Ukraine—the Kh-101 with two warheads, one of which is a cluster warhead. The first use of this missile was recorded at the beginning of June, and in the following weeks, at least one documented launch of the Kh-101 with a cluster warhead was reported.

It should be noted that the upgrade with the cluster warhead represents essentially the fourth generation of these missiles. The first version had one warhead and an optical system based on a single lens. In the next version, the Russians improved the "vision" by reinforcing it with three lenses and an additional system to defend against jamming.

Soon after, the third version of the Kh-101 appeared on the front, upgraded in terms of defensive capabilities—the newer ammunition contained two warheads. Now, the Russian Federation is using the fourth generation of this advanced weapon – it also features two warheads, but one of them is a cluster warhead.

The cluster warhead essentially increases the destructive power of the Kh-101. Its principle of operation is based on scattering numerous submunitions over a large area contained within a larger casing. The fuselage opens when the missile reaches a specified height, and the cluster munitions spread over a large area. In the case of the modernised Kh-101 missile, there are at least 60 "balls", or smaller projectiles, hidden in the warhead.

Apart from their warheads, the Kh-101 missiles are among the most dangerous for Ukrainians because they can strike targets with high precision. This is due to the Otblesk-U guidance module, which compares the aerial view during flight with the pre-recorded view before the ammunition was launched. This allows the Kh-101 to strike with an accuracy estimated at a maximum of a few yards.

Moreover, the missile can reach speeds of about 1,000 km/h. Its range can be up to 5,000 km, likely reduced during recent modernisations. The Russian Federation may not need such a long range for the missile, so by lowering the fuel tank, they decided to increase the warheads (essentially enabling the placement of two warheads).