Kh-101 what is it? A strategic air-launched cruise missile from Russia.
Kh-101
Produced by Raduga strategic air-launched cruise missile. Main weapon of strategic bombers Tupolev Tu-95MS and Tu-160. Range over 2500 km, stealth design, low flight, guidance INS+GPS/GLONASS. There are variants with a conventional warhead Kh-101 and a nuclear warhead Kh-102. During the war in Ukraine, this is regular ammunition for Russian strategic bombers.
What is Kh-101?
Kh-101 (Russian: Х-101, NATO: AS-23 Kodiak) is a strategic air-launched cruise missile manufactured by the Russian company Raduga (part of the Tactical Missiles Corporation). It is the primary weapon of the strategic bombers Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear and Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack.
It is a modernized successor to the Soviet Kh-55 (1980s). The Kh-101 family includes two variants:
- Kh-101 — conventional warhead (≈400 kg).
- Kh-102 — nuclear warhead (≈250 kt).
Innovations in design:
- Stealthy body — reduced radar cross-section (RCS). Unlike the cylindrical design of the Kh-55, it has a slightly flattened and streamlined shape.
- Range over 2500 km — some Russian sources indicate figures up to 5500 km (disputed).
- Low flight — 30-70 m above ground, terrain-following.
- Guidance INS + GLONASS; in some variants terminal optical matching (type DSMAC).
- Can carry 8 on Tu-95, 12 on Tu-160 external missiles.
During the war in Ukraine, the Kh-101 became the primary ammunition for Russian strategic bombers. Tu-95MS take off from the Caspian Sea/Volga region and strike, then return to bases; the missiles traveling over 1000 km fall on Ukrainian territory. A significant portion of them was intercepted by Ukrainian air defense (Patriot, IRIS-T, NASAMS); nevertheless, they caused serious damage to power grids, water supply, heating systems.
