Artillery

Kh-101

Also known as
  • AS-23 Kodiak
  • X-101
  • Kh-101/Kh-102

The Kh-101 is Russia's conventional member of the Kh-101/Kh-102 air-launched cruise-missile family, built by Raduga for long-range standoff attacks from strategic bombers. Its low-altitude flight profile, turbofan propulsion, inertial/satellite navigation, electro-optical terminal guidance, and documented wartime modifications make it one of Russia's principal long-range strike weapons in Ukraine and Syria.

Kh-101, Air-launched cruise missile, Artillery
Image source: Downed Russian Missile in Lviv Oblast, 2024-02-07

Role in Conflicts

2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Long-Range Strike
Side
Russia

Russian forces use Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles from strategic bomber strike packages against Ukraine; UN investigators identified Kh-101 characteristics in a December 2023 Dnipro strike, and Ukraine's Ministry of Defence says recovered missiles show wartime changes to warheads, navigation, and self-protection systems.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
Air-launched cruise missile
Service note
Operational since the 2010s
Designer
A.Y. Bereznyak GosMKB Raduga JSC
Designed
Development traced to the late Soviet and post-Soviet replacement effort for the Kh-55 family
Produced
2010s-present
Developed from
Kh-55 family

Specifications

Class
Air-launched cruise missile (ALCM)
Launch platforms
Tu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers are consistently documented carriers; CSIS also lists additional possible aircraft
Length
7.45 m
Diameter
0.51 m
Wingspan
4.3 m listed by War & Sanctions
Launch weight
Approximately 2,300-2,400 kg
Range
Approximately 2,500-2,800 km reported by CSIS
Warhead
Conventional Kh-101 payload about 450 kg in baseline reporting; War & Sanctions and Ukraine MoD document 400-800 kg high-explosive, cluster, or tandem configurations
Propulsion
TRDD-50A turbofan
Speed
Mach 0.58 cruise, up to about Mach 0.78 maximum
Guidance
Inertial and GLONASS navigation with electro-optical terrain/terminal guidance reported
Self-protection
Ukraine MoD reports SP-504 jammer and decoy-flare changes in wartime Kh-101 variants
Variants

Open references describe the Kh-101/Kh-102 family as paired conventional and nuclear air-launched cruise missile variants.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Kh-102Nuclear variant

CSIS describes the Kh-102 as the nuclear-capable counterpart to the Kh-101 within the same air-launched cruise missile family.

Sources: Kh-101 / Kh-102

Kh-101 wartime modernizationModified Ukraine-war configurations

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reports four major wartime Kh-101 modernization stages, including dual-warhead, cluster-submunition, navigation, and SP-504 self-protection changes.

Sources: Russia Modified Kh-101 Missiles Four Times

Carrier Aircraft

The Kh-101 is an air-launched missile whose operational reach depends on Russian strategic bomber carriage.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
Tu-95, Strategic turboprop bomber and cruise-missile carrier, Aircraft & UAVsTu-95Strategic bomber and cruise-missile carrier

CSIS lists the Tu-95MS16 Bear-H among Kh-101 launch platforms, and its Syria reporting documents Tu-95MS Kh-101 launches.

Sources: Kh-101 / Kh-102, Russia Fires Kh-101 Cruise Missiles into Syria

Tu-160, Strategic supersonic bomber and cruise-missile carrier, Aircraft & UAVsTu-160Strategic supersonic bomber and cruise-missile carrier

CSIS lists the Tu-160 Blackjack among Kh-101 launch platforms, and AIN reported Russian MoD imagery of a Kh-101 separating from a Tu-160 during the November 2015 Syria campaign.

Sources: Kh-101 / Kh-102, Latest Russian Strikes on Syria Employ New Cruise Missile

Why the carrier link matters

Because the Kh-101 is carried by long-range aviation, conflict reporting often identifies the missile through bomber launch packages, wreckage, or post-strike forensic analysis rather than launcher positions.

Sources: Kh-101 / Kh-102, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine

Operational Profile

The Kh-101 combines long-range bomber launch with low-altitude cruise, terrain or scene-matching guidance, and wartime self-protection changes. The main public split is between the conventional Kh-101 and nuclear Kh-102, while Ukraine-war recovery data has added evidence of modified warhead and countermeasure configurations.

FeatureDocumented detailPrimary support
Carrier aircraftTu-95MS and Tu-160 strategic bombers are the clearest recurring public launch platforms.CSIS Missile Threat and AIN Syria reporting
Guidance pathOpen sources describe inertial and satellite navigation paired with electro-optical or scene-matching terminal guidance.CSIS and Ukraine MoD reporting
Wartime changesUkraine's Ministry of Defence reports dual-warhead, cluster-submunition, navigation, and SP-504 self-protection changes after combat recoveries.Ukraine Ministry of Defence
Timeline

Kh-101 Key Events

  1. Tu-160-linked Syria strike reporting

    AIN reported Russian MoD imagery of a Kh-101 separating from a Tu-160 bomber during Russia's November 2015 Syria strike campaign.

    Sources: Latest Russian Strikes on Syria Employ New Cruise Missile

  2. Tu-95MS Kh-101 launches in Syria

    CSIS documented Russian Tu-95MS bomber launches of Kh-101 cruise missiles against Islamic State targets near Aqirbat, Syria.

    Sources: Russia Fires Kh-101 Cruise Missiles into Syria

  3. UN investigators identify Kh-101 strike characteristics

    The UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine identified Kh-101 characteristics in a December 2023 Dnipro strike during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

    Sources: Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine

  4. New-production missile remnants documented in Ukraine

    Conflict Armament Research documented remnants of a Kh-101 missile recovered in Ukraine in January 2026 with production markings from the same year.

    Sources: Kh-101 missile produced in 2026 used in Ukraine

  5. Ukraine details wartime Kh-101 modifications

    Ukraine's Ministry of Defence reported four major Kh-101 modernization stages observed after missile use in real combat conditions.

    Sources: Russia Modified Kh-101 Missiles Four Times

Media

Kh-101 Videos

Kh-101 Images

Kh-101, Air-launched cruise missile, Artillery - view 1
Source: H101 Missile
Kh-101, Air-launched cruise missile, Artillery - view 2
Source: Part of Russian Missile Kh-101
Related Weapon Systems
Kh-32, Supersonic air-launched anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile, ArtilleryArtilleryKh-32Supersonic air-launched anti-ship and land-attack cruise missileThe Kh-32 is a Russian supersonic air-launched cruise missile derived from the Kh-22 family for long-range attacks on ships and fixed ground targets. Built by the Raduga design bureau within Russia's Tactical Missiles Corporation network, it is carried by Tu-22M3-series bombers and combines a high-altitude flight profile, inertial navigation, and terminal radar homing. Russia has used the Kh-22/Kh-32 family against Ukraine, where its speed, steep terminal profile, and anti-ship design heritage make interception difficult and raise accuracy risks when fired at urban land targets.
Kh-22, Air-launched supersonic anti-ship cruise missile, MunitionsMunitionsKh-22Air-launched supersonic anti-ship cruise missileThe Kh-22, NATO reporting name AS-4 Kitchen, is a large Soviet air-launched cruise missile designed by Raduga for attacks on carrier groups, radar-contrast surface targets, and major fixed targets. Its liquid-propellant rocket motor, supersonic flight profile, and roughly one-ton conventional or nuclear warhead made it a heavy standoff weapon for Tu-22, Tu-22M, and modified Tu-95K-22 bomber variants. Russia has repurposed Kh-22-family missiles for land attack in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, where the missile's naval-targeting heritage, large warhead, and high terminal speed have produced severe urban-strike risks and a difficult air-defense problem.
Kh-69, Air-launched land-attack cruise missile, MunitionsMunitionsKh-69Air-launched land-attack cruise missileThe Kh-69 is a Russian subsonic air-launched land-attack cruise missile developed by Raduga within Tactical Missiles Corporation for precision strikes against fixed targets. Its compact square-section body and folding surfaces are tied to tactical-aircraft carriage, including Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57 launch contexts, while its guidance stack combines inertial, satellite, terrain-height, and electro-optical terminal inputs. The missile has been documented in Russian strikes during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, including the April 2024 destruction of the Trypilska thermal power plant.
Kh-59, Air-launched cruise missile family, MunitionsMunitionsKh-59Air-launched cruise missile familyThe Kh-59 Ovod is a Soviet/Russian air-launched cruise missile family developed by Raduga for tactical standoff strike from combat aircraft. The family spans the original TV-guided Kh-59, turbojet-powered Kh-59M/ME, active-radar Kh-59MK anti-ship missile, satellite-guided Kh-59MK2 land-attack missile, and Kh-59MKM penetrator variant. Russia has used Kh-59-series missiles during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, and open sources separately describe caveated Kh-59MK2 combat-test reporting from Syria.
MiG-31, Long-range interceptor with MiG-31K air-launched ballistic missile carrier variant, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsMiG-31Long-range interceptor with MiG-31K air-launched ballistic missile carrier variantThe MiG-31 is a Soviet-designed, twin-engine, two-seat long-range interceptor built for high-speed patrols, bomber and cruise-missile interception, and wide-area air defense. Russian industry sources describe the MiG-31BM modernization as adding the Zaslon-M radar and expanded weapons-control capabilities, while Russia's MiG-31K conversion carries the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal and MiG-31BM patrols have been documented with R-37M missiles in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Related News

Sources

Kh-101 / Kh-102Publisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Supports system background, service status, launch platforms, guidance, propulsion, range, dimensions, and warhead specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Kh-101 Missile War & SanctionsPublisher: War & Sanctions, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine | Note: Supports Kh-101 missile specifications, carrier aircraft, combat-unit options, and component context from Ukraine's War & Sanctions database. | Accessed: 2026-06-29A.Y. Bereznyak GosMKB Raduga JSCPublisher: War & Sanctions, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine | Note: Identifies Raduga as a Russian missile developer and main contractor for Kh-101 strategic air-launched cruise missile supply. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Russia Modified Kh-101 Missiles Four TimesPublisher: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine | Note: Direct conflict use source for the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War; reports Kh-101 missiles launched against Ukraine and documents wartime modifications identified from combat-condition analysis. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Kh-101 missile produced in 2026 used in UkrainePublisher: Conflict Armament Research | Note: Direct conflict use source for the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War; documents remnants of a Russian Kh-101 missile recovered in Ukraine in January 2026 and production markings from 2026. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Defence Secretary Oral Statement on War in UkrainePublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Direct conflict use source for the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War; documents Russian strikes against Ukraine using Kh-101 and Kh-555 long-range air-launched cruise missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on UkrainePublisher: United Nations Human Rights Council | Note: Direct conflict use source for the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War; identifies Kh-101 characteristics in a Russian armed forces strike in Dnipro and notes Russian use of the missile in Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Latest Russian Strikes on Syria Employ New Cruise MissilePublisher: Aviation International News | Note: Direct conflict use source for the 2011 Syrian Civil War; reports Russian MoD imagery of a Kh-101 separating from a Tu-160 during Russia's November 2015 Syria strikes. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Russia Fires Kh-101 Cruise Missiles into SyriaPublisher: CSIS Missile Threat | Note: Direct conflict use source for the 2011 Syrian Civil War; documents Russian Tu-95MS bomber launches of Kh-101 cruise missiles against Islamic State targets in Syria in July 2017. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Downed Russian Missile in Lviv Oblast, 2024-02-07Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Primary image provenance; Wikimedia lists the source as the National Police of Ukraine and the license as Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. | Accessed: 2026-06-20H101 MissilePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance; Wikimedia lists the file as the uploader's own work under the CC0 1.0 public domain dedication. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Part of Russian Missile Kh-101Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance; Wikimedia lists the source as the Security Service of Ukraine and the license as Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. | Accessed: 2026-06-20