X-101 cruise missile in Ukraine: Chinese assessment

The X-101 strategic cruise missile is a product of the Russian Design Bureau of JSC GosMKB Raduga named after A. Ya. Bereznyak. The design of the rocket began in the mid-1980s based on the X-55 KR series. 

According to open sources, the X-101 rocket is made on a new technological basis, from Russian components. Guidance is carried out using an inertial system with optoelectronic correction. At the end of the trajectory, the homing head (GOS) is activated. Unlike the previous generation of missiles, there is a fundamental possibility of changing the target already in flight of the rocket.

In the transport position, the engine is located inside the rocket, the wings and tail are folded. After launch, the engine is pulled out of the rocket body, the tail is laid out according to the "low-wing" scheme.

KRVB X-101. Projections

Tactical and technical characteristics of the X-101 cruise missile

Modifications

• The X-102 is a cruise missile with a thermonuclear warhead with a capacity from 250 Kt to 1 Mt. It was tested at the end of 2018 at the Pemboy missile range.
• The 504AP product is a modification of the X-101, equipped with the Otblesk-U optical targeting system. The L-504 false target firing unit is also installed on board the rocket. According to open sources, about 111 modified missiles were manufactured in 2021-2022.

Modifications

• The X-102 is a cruise missile with a thermonuclear warhead with a capacity from 250 Kt to 1 Mt. It was tested at the end of 2018 at the Pemboy missile range.
• The 504AP product is a modification of the X-101, equipped with the Otblesk-U optical targeting system. The L-504 false target firing unit is also installed on board the rocket. According to open sources, about 111 modified missiles were manufactured in 2021-2022.

The Tu-95MSM bomber with the Kh-101 missile defense system

Chinese experts' assessments of the KRVB X-101

According to Chinese observers, SAMs / SAMs in service with the air defense units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been intercepting no more than 20% of the X-101 cruise missiles since the beginning of the special military operation in the process of repelling massive missile strikes carried out by such aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces as Tu-160, Tu-95MSM. This circumstance is facilitated by the low flight altitude of this missile (30 m), and a special material that absorbs radiation from the AFU air defense missile defense system.

In the publications of Chinese specialized military-technical publications, it is noted that the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has Soviet-era air defense systems, namely the S-300PS/PT, as well as the Buk-M1 or American air defense systems.ru/arsenali/zenitnie-rakenie-kompeksi/zrk-nasams-ukraina-kitajskaja-ozenka/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NASAMS are not capable of intercepting these missiles due to the low effective scattering area (ESR), not exceeding 0.01 square meters.m. Increased probability of enemy air defense breakthrough It is also ensured that the X-101 rocket has false thermal target (LTC) launchers, which receive a signal from the radar radiation detection system – the rocket independently decides to shoot the LTC.

According to the information received, the specialists of the Raduga State Design Bureau carried out several development work during 2022, which made it possible to modernize the X-101 rocket. As a result, the product received a new navigation system "Otblesk-U" (according to the Western classification, it belongs to the DSMAC type – (Digital Scene Matching Area Correlator) – an optical correlation system for final homing), which provides increased accuracy of orientation on a digital map. In addition, the new onboard digital computer under the designation "Baguette 62-04" of the autopilot system has a positive impact on the performance of the flight along a given route.

According to Chinese analysts, serial production of the upgraded X-101 began in January 2023, and the first use was recorded in March 2023.

By increasing the mass of the warhead from 400 to 800 kg, Russian specialists were able to significantly increase the effectiveness of strikes against such classic targets as "thermal power plant", "hydroelectric power plant" or "underground fuel storage". Since the vast majority of such facilities located on the territory of Ukraine were built during the Soviet period, they have sufficient resistance to the use of weapons of destruction, which have an explosive mass of less than 500 kg. In terms of firepower, the modern modification of the X-101 ranks second after the supersonic KR X-22 "Storm" .  

Preparation of KRVB X-101 for use

Chinese experts point out that the placement of an additional mass of explosives led to a decrease in the mass of solid fuel for the engine and, as a result, a decrease in the firing range to 2,250 km, which is quite enough to hit targets in the Lviv area, provided the Russian Aerospace Forces choose traditional launch areas.

Chinese experts attribute the increased accuracy of the latest X-101 missiles (with a range of less than 10 m) to the introduction of an optoelectronic guidance module into the seeker, which is significantly more reliable and efficient compared to infrared/thermal target guidance equipment.

According to the information received, the American curators set the task for the Ukrainian military to find and assemble parts of the X-101, which did not reach the target and fell on the territory controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Blocks and parts of missiles intercepted (by anti-aircraft missiles) They are not accepted because American engineers are tasked with recreating a batch of fully functional X-101s that can be used in the training of their specialists.

Representatives of relevant enterprises of the defense industry of the People's Republic of China note that the modern modification of the X-101 cruise missile, if necessary, will allow Russian Air Force bombers to launch effective strikes against the facilities of the Aegis missile defense system located in Europe, even without involving units equipped with Iskander missile defense systems deployed in the Kaliningrad region. 

Taking into account the experience of combat use of the upgraded X-101, which introduced some innovations in air defense tactics, the PLA Air Force Command initiated several R&D projects within its framework to refine several models of its own anti-aircraft missiles, which are the main means of destruction for long-range bombers "Hun-6" .    

Based on materials from open sources and Chinese specialized publications