Draft:Kh-101/102

The Kh-101/102 is a Russian stealth subsonic air-launched cruise missile designed by MKB Raduga.

Development
Kh-101/102 has been developed from the Kh-55, incorporating a low radar cross-section of about 0.01 square meters. The Kh-101/102 is specifically designed for air-launch, abandoning the circular fuselage cross-section of the Kh-55 for a nose and forward fuselage section aerodynamically shaped to produce lift. It is 7.45 m (24.4 ft) long with a launch weight of 2,200–2,400 kg (4,900–5,300 lb), and is equipped with a 400 kg (880 lb) high-explosive, penetrating, or cluster warhead, or a 250 kt nuclear warhead for the Kh-102. The missile is powered by a TRDD-50A turbojet producing 450 kgf of thrust to cruise at 700–720 km/h (Mach 0.57 – Mach 0.59) with a maximum speed of 970 km/h (Mach 0.79) while flying 30–70 m above the ground, and hit fixed targets using a pre-downloaded digital map for terrain following and GLONASS/INS for trajectory correction to achieve accuracy of 6–10 meters; it is claimed to be able to hit small moving targets such as vehicles using a terminal electro-optical sensor or imaging infrared system. Range estimates vary from 2,000 km (1,200 mi), to 4,500–5,500 km (2,800–3,400 mi), with a flight endurance of 10 hours. The missiles are equipped with an onboard EW defence system as of late 2018.

The Tu-95MS can carry eight of the weapons on four under-wing pylons, and the Tu-160 can be outfitted with two drum launchers each loaded with six missiles, but the smaller Tu-22M3 will continue to carry the Kh-55, although it can also carry the Kh-101/Kh-102. Long range is essential since Russia has few bases abroad and cannot provide distant fighter escorts.

The first tests were conducted in 1995 and the missile was accepted for service in 2013.

According to Defense Express the size of the Kh-101 warhead was increased from 450kg to 800kg. This increase was made possible by reducing the capacity of the fuel tank, which accordingly lowers the range of the missile.

Variants
Kh-101 - conventional armed variant

Kh-102 - Nuclear armed variant