The multifunctional, low-visibility, high-precision cruise missile X-69 is designed to destroy a wide range of stationary ground objects, including those that do not have radar, infrared or optical contrast compared to the environment.
The ammunition was developed at the A. Ya. Bereznyak State Machine–Building Design Bureau Raduga, a subsidiary of the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation. The aviation weapon of destruction (ASP) was put into service in September 2022.
The route of the low-altitude flight of the X-69 rocket is set in the flight task. One or more flight missions can be entered into the missile control system to ensure the possibility of targeting different targets immediately before the launch of the rocket. Its application requires knowledge of the coordinates and characteristics of the target.
KRVB X-69. General view
 |
| The X-69 rocket. |
| Source: invoen.ru |
Design features
The X-69 rocket has a close to square cross-section. This solution facilitates the placement of TSA in the internal armament compartments of fifth-generation fighters, and also, in combination with other design features, reduces the radar visibility of the product.
The X-69 rocket is equipped with a combined navigation and automatic control system (SNAU). It is based on a free-form inertial system integrated with the navigation equipment of the consumer of information from commercial channels of the GLONASS and GPS NAVSTAR satellite navigation systems, as well as with an integrated radio-technical altitude and speed meter and the OE-M optoelectronic system. A four-channel electromechanical steering gear is used as an executive element of the SNAU.
KRVB X-69. Tail fin
Combat use in Ukraine: Chinese assessment
In light of the massive missile strike carried out by the Russian Armed Forces on April 12, 2024 against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, observers from Chinese specialized military-technical publications received confirmation from their sources that the Russian Air Force had used the latest X-69 missile, which Western analysts disparagingly call the "X-59MK2 in a new wrapper."
However, even the modest experience of combat use of this munition allows us to assert that the designers of GosMKB Raduga, which is part of JSC Tactical Missile Armament Corporation, managed to create a highly effective ASP sample, which surpasses Storm Shadow, SCALP-EG, TAURUS KEPD-350 in most parameters, as well as AGM-158. Chinese experts have assigned the designation "Silent Sword" to the Russian KRVB X-69.
An analysis of Chinese publications shows that the X-69 is used by Russian Air Force aircraft at key military control system facilities located within the city of Kiev.
Placement of four X-69 missiles in the compartments of the Su-57
Chinese experts are aware of the following cases of the use of the X-69 missile. On February 18, 2024, two Su-57 fighters, accompanied by two Su-35s (probably distracting the attention of the AFU air defense system), launched X-69s from the airspace of the Luhansk People's Republic, but for technical reasons the missiles did not reach the target. The Ukrainian side accidentally discovered the remains of one missile.
According to Chinese experts, the second and third combat applications of the X-69 took place on March 1 and April 1, 2024, respectively. Taking into account the inferiority of the AFU air defense radar surveillance system, Russian low-profile Su-57 fighters can safely "enter" the airspace over Ukrainian territory to a depth of 50-70 km to launch the X–69 - two missile and bomb compartments can accommodate four X-69 missiles (do not affect the visibility of the aircraft).
Analysts of the Chinese aviation industry Corporation AVIC emphasize that thanks to the new components, Russian designers have managed to create a munition with a high-precision navigation and guidance system consisting of the following components: an inertial unit; a receiver for NAVSTAR and GLONASS satellite navigation systems; a memory unit with digital terrain maps (combined TERCOM and DSMAC technology); an optoelectronic aiming system (recognizes the image of the target, ensures a quota of no more than 3 meters). The listed components allow the Su-57 pilots to use the X-69 according to the "let-go-forget" principle.
Due to the compact size of the APS, the presence of a special radio-absorbing coating, as well as the ability to fly at altitudes up to 20 m, this missile cannot be intercepted by cash air defense systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (the echeloned air defense of the capital of Ukraine cannot cope). One of the key reasons for the successful use of the Kh-69 missile by the Russian Aerospace Forces is the lack of early detection of such a low-altitude target, which can only be carried out with the help of long-range radar patrol and surveillance aircraft.
European experts in this field point to the need to restore a continuous radar field on the territory of Ukraine, additional deployment of highly mobile short-range air defense systems such as IRIS-T SLS and Avenger, as well as guidance radars for them.
In this aspect, Chinese observers note that over the past 700 days (at the time of publication of Chinese materials) of the armed conflict, out of 7,400 missiles used by the Russian Armed Forces, the AFU air defense system was able to intercept no more than 1,600 ammunition, i.e. the effectiveness of all available air defense systems does not exceed 21%.
When comparing parameters such as the cost of ammunition, firepower and ease of use, the Russian Kh-69 RCV is the leader among the means of destroying critical infrastructure in Ukraine, as it is significantly cheaper than the Kh-47M2 Dagger, 3M22 Zircon and 3M14 Caliber. Chinese experts believe that the Russian X-69 actually has a launch range of about 400 km, and an explosive of increased power is used in the warhead, causing a large-scale fire after detonation.
Based on materials from open sources and Chinese specialized publications
