Cruise Missile
Kh-101 / Kh-102
The Kh-101 is a long-range, conventionally armed, air-launched cruise missile made by Raduga in Russia, in service since about 2012. It has a range above 2,500 km, while the Kh-102 is its nuclear-armed version.
Russia|RadugaWhat Is the Kh-101? Overview, History and Development
Raduga in Dubna developed the Kh-101 from the 1980s as a successor to the Kh-55 and Kh-555. The first test was around 1995 and it became operational about 2012, with NATO naming it AS-23A Kodiak. A turbofan engine drives it at subsonic speeds of about 720–970 km/h at altitudes of 30 to 6,000 m. It weighs about 2,200–2,400 kg, is 7.45 m long and carries a warhead of about 400 kg, with a low radar signature from shaping and absorbent materials.
Range is above 2,500 km for the Kh-101 and about 4,500–5,500 km for the Kh-102, though official figures are not published. Guidance combines inertial navigation, satellite correction, TERCOM and an optical correlator. Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers launch it. It was first fired in Syria in November 2015 and has been used in large numbers against Ukraine since 2022, with high interception rates reported. Estimated production is dozens per month, and some missiles reportedly contain Western components.
Kh-101 Specifications: Range, Speed, Warhead and Guidance
Kh-101 Variants and Versions Compared
The conventionally armed version with a range above 2,500 km.
The nuclear-armed version, with a reported range of about 4,500–5,500 km.
The earlier Kh-55 derivative that the Kh-101 was developed to replace.
Which Countries Use the Kh-101? Operators and Users
RussiaKh-101 FAQ: Price, Range, Operators and Most Asked Questions
How much does the Kh-101 cost?
The Kh-101 costs about 10 million US dollars per missile in some estimates, though prices vary widely by source. Russia does not publish unit costs.
What is the range of the Kh-101?
The Kh-101 has a range above 2,500 km, while the nuclear Kh-102 is credited with about 4,500–5,500 km. Official figures have not been published, so all ranges are estimates.
How fast is the Kh-101?
The Kh-101 flies at about 720–970 km/h, which is subsonic. It cruises at low altitude, between about 30 and 6,000 m, to avoid air defences.
Is the Kh-101 stealth?
The Kh-101 has a reduced radar cross-section from its shape and radar-absorbent materials, but it is not stealth in the sense of an F-35. It is a subsonic cruise missile that air defences can still intercept.
Kh-101 vs Tomahawk: which is better?
The Kh-101 has a much longer range, above 2,500 km, and a 400 kg warhead, while the Tomahawk reaches about 1,600 km and is launched from ships and submarines. The Kh-101 is air-launched only.
Which countries have the Kh-101?
The Kh-101 is operated by Russia only. It was first fired in Syria in 2015 and has been used extensively against Ukraine since 2022, but there are no export operators.