In the Russian X-101 missile that fell in Ukraine, American experts found elements to overcome air defense

It is no secret that Western and Ukrainian experts carefully examine all samples of Russian weapons that fell into their hands during the JMD in Ukraine. Periodically, they even inform the international community about their discoveries.

So, it became known that the fallen on January 26 in the Vinnitsa region due to technical The cruise missile is a new, previously unknown modification of the Kh-101, an air-to-ground strategic munition using technologies to reduce radar visibility. Having studied the surviving wreckage of the KR, American and Ukrainian specialists found out that interesting equipment was installed on this version of the X-101: the L-504 862-4-22 trap shooting system and the Otblesk-U satellite imagery optical trajectory correction system.




Previously, the X-101 was not seen in such a configuration, which may indicate that Russian designers are trying to improve the ammunition and increase its effectiveness. The experts came to the conclusion that the integrated elements, together, should help overcome the air defense of Ukraine in order to effectively defeat as many targets as possible.


Experts have not yet been able to thoroughly understand the principle of operation and the composition of the L-504 862-4-22 traps. However, in the course of their research, they suggested that the shooting is carried out when the ammunition enters the initially defined areas with saturated air defense, or there is a radar warning system on board that fires at the moment of the threat.

Regarding the composition of the traps, experts also have a couple of hypotheses. In the event that these are ordinary false thermal targets, then they can only withstand missiles with a thermal seeker, such as MANPADS or air-to-air guided munitions. If chaff is introduced there, then the traps will already be able to reduce the effectiveness of missiles guided by the radar.