Cruise Missile
Kh-22 / Kh-32
The Kh-22 (NATO AS-4 Kitchen) is a Russian supersonic air-launched anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile made by Raduga, in service since 1962. It flies at about Mach 4.6, and the Kh-32 is its modernised version.
Russia|RadugaOverview
Raduga designed the Kh-22 to destroy US carrier groups, and it entered service in 1962 with Tu-95K-22 and Tu-22M bombers. A liquid-fuel Isayev R-201-300 rocket drives it to about Mach 4.6 at high altitude. The missile weighs about 5,820 kg, is 11.65 m long and 0.9 m in diameter. Range is 400 km on a low-high-low profile and up to about 600 km at high altitude. The Kh-22N carries a 350 kt nuclear warhead or a 1,000 kg conventional charge, while the Kh-22M is conventional.
The Kh-32 is a modernised version for the Tu-22M3M, with a range of up to about 1,000 km and a lighter dual-mode seeker (reported). Russia has used the Kh-22 and Kh-32 against Ukraine since 2022, including strikes on a Kremenchuk shopping centre on 27 June 2022 and a Dnipro apartment building in January 2023. Ukraine reports they are hard to intercept, with Patriot successes reported in 2023 and 2024. Russia is the only current operator, and no export version exists. Unit prices are unpublished.
Key Specifications
Variants
The Kh-22 is the original Soviet supersonic anti-ship cruise missile entering service in 1962.
The Kh-22N and Kh-22M variants carry a nuclear or a conventional warhead, with improved guidance.
The Kh-32 is the modernised version for the Tu-22M3M with extended range and updated guidance.
Operators
RussiaFrequently Asked Questions
How fast is the Kh-22 missile?
The Kh-22 flies at about Mach 4.6 at high altitude, as typically cited. That makes it supersonic, not hypersonic, and it does not manoeuvre like a hypersonic glide vehicle.
What is the range of the Kh-22?
The Kh-22 has a range of about 400 km on a low-high-low profile and up to about 600 km at high altitude. The Kh-32 is reported to reach around 1,000 km.
Is the Kh-22 hypersonic?
No, the Kh-22 is a supersonic missile that flies at around Mach 4. It is not considered hypersonic because it does not manoeuvre in the way hypersonic weapons do.
Can Patriot stop the Kh-22?
Ukraine reported Patriot interceptions of Kh-22 and Kh-32 missiles in 2023 and 2024. These missiles are described as hard to intercept.
Kh-22 vs Kinzhal: what is the difference?
The Kh-22 is a liquid-fuel cruise missile that flies at about Mach 4.6 and is launched from Tu-22M3 and Tu-95 bombers. The Kinzhal is an air-launched ballistic missile fired from the MiG-31K.
Which countries have the Kh-22?
Russia is the only current operator of the Kh-22 and the Kh-32, launched from Tu-22M3 and Tu-95MS bombers. There is no export version.