2024-04-04 19:07:05
This came to light after reports of March 29 appeared on social media. A modified version of the Kh-101 successfully intercepted by the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces.
According to information obtained from the Telegram channel war_home, the intercepted new stealth version of the Russian cruise missile had an additional warhead that essentially doubled its total payload.
An examination of the wreckage of the downed missile also revealed that the mass of the explosive payload had increased from 400 to 800 kilograms, raising concerns about increased destructive capabilities.
As Defense Express reported, the modernization was made possible by reducing the size of the fuel tank, which reduced the range of the missile from 5,500 to almost 2,250 kilometers.
This change made it possible to install an additional warhead and at the same time maintain the operational capability of the missile.
The decision to integrate dual warheads into the Kh-101 missile was first made public in 2024. in January
The disclosure raised concerns about the potential implications of such improvements in ongoing conflicts. More information came from the Telegram channel “Polkovnyk HSH”, which provided photos of the warheads and emphasized that this discovery was made after analyzing the recently downed Kh-101 missile on March 29.
The second warhead contains ready-made cube-shaped warheads, typically used in anti-aircraft missiles, but now posing a significant threat to ground targets as well.
Although reducing the size of the fuel tank limits the range of the missile, it does not significantly affect its operational effectiveness in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Even with a reduced range, the Kh-101 maintains high maneuverability, so potential targets in western Ukraine are still within reach, Eurasian Times writes.
2024-04-04 19:07:05