Russia's Cruise Missiles Just Became More Lethal

Russia has modified its Kh-101 cruise missiles to accommodate two separate warheads, making them more lethal on the battlefield in Ukraine, according to the U.K.'s latest defense intelligence update.

The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) Long Range Aviation Command (LRA) has "increased the lethality" of its "premier" long-range missiles by fitting them with a second warhead, the U.K.'s Ministry of Defence said in an update on Wednesday.

The Kh-101 missiles have previously been described by the MOD as "Russia's premier precision guided munition." They have a range of around 4,000 kilometers (nearly 2,500 miles) and are also known by their NATO code designation as AS-23a Kodiak missiles.

Moscow has used the missiles to launch large-scale attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure throughout the war. They are designed to defeat air defense systems by flying at low, terrain-hugging altitudes to avoid radar systems, the Center for Strategic and International Studies has previously noted.

Newsweek reached out to Russia's Defense Ministry via email for comment.

"The LRA Command has sought to modify its systems and tactics throughout the conflict to: increase survivability as too many missiles were being intercepted by Ukrainian air defence systems; enhance capabilities to have greater effect; and use up older missiles as the VKS had depleted more modern systems in the early days of the conflict," British military intelligence said.

The MOD intelligence analysis said this latest modification has, however, likely reduced the missile's range by half.

"The LRA does not need the full range to hit all of Ukraine. The second warhead is designed for increased fragmentation at the target. It is likely that this will make the system more effective in striking non-hardened targets," the update said.

On Wednesday, Defense Express, a Ukrainian security and defense publication, published a photo it said it obtained of one of the modified Kh-101 cruise missiles. It said the missile had been downed during a missile attack Russia launched against Ukraine overnight on Tuesday.

The publication said that alongside its 450-kilogram warhead, it has been modified to carry a second 350-kilogram warhead, totaling 800 kilograms, increasing its destructive power, but shortening its flight range by about half.

The modified missiles were first observed on the battlefield in Ukraine in late March, according to the outlet.

Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its air defense systems downed 39 of 55 Russian missiles from the large-scale barrage. These comprised 33 Kh-101 cruise missiles, four Kalibr cruise missiles, and two Kh-59/69 cruise missiles, as well as 20 Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones.

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