Russia has significantly ramped up the production of its advanced Kh-101 cruise missiles, according to recent reports from Ukrainian intelligence and Defense Express.
This increase in production capacity comes as the Russian military continues to employ a strategy of extensive missile strikes against Ukrainian targets, necessitating a robust stockpile of munitions, accordingt to Tech.
Production Rate Rises
As of the latest assessments, Russian forces have approximately 160 Kh-101 missiles ready for deployment. More concerning for Ukrainian defense analysts is Russia's current production rate, which has reportedly risen to 50 missiles per month.
This represents a notable increase from earlier in the year; in April, production levels were estimated at 40 units per month, marking a 25% rise in a few months.
This boost in missile production is even more stark when compared to figures from 2023. Last year, Russian factories produced around 460 Kh-101 missiles, averaging about 38 per month. At the current rate, Russia could potentially produce 600 units annually, assuming consistent production levels.
Significant Upgrades
In addition to increasing the quantity, Russian defense industries are also enhancing the capabilities of the Kh-101 missiles. The latest variants of these missiles feature significant upgrades, including dual warhead systems with one potentially being a cluster type.
These missiles can reach speeds of up to 1000 km/h and have a range of up to 5,000 km, although this may be reduced in newer versions to accommodate advanced warhead configurations.
The Kh-101 is equipped with the Otblesk-U guidance system, which enhances accuracy by comparing real-time terrain imagery with pre-loaded data, ensuring precision strikes within a few meters of the target.
