Kh-101 development complete

September 26, 2003: Russia has apparently finished over a decade of development work on the Kh-101, it’s long range (up to 5,000 kilometers) air launched cruise missile. The missile weighs 2.4 tons and has a 900 pound warhead. It has two modes of travel. At high altitude (40-50,000 feet) it can travel 5,000 kilometers and hit to within 70 feet of its aiming point. Flying at 100-200 feet altitude, the missile can go 3,000 kilometers and hit to within 40 feet of its aim point. The missile uses multiple guidance systems (inertial, satellite signal, terrain following and pattern recognition for the last kilometer or so). The 200 Tu-160, Tu-22M [sic- it should be Tu-22M3] and Tu-95 [sic- Tu-95MS] heavy bombers are being equipped to carry Kh-101s. It is not known if the Kh-101 will be offered for export.

It was first fired in October 1998 by a Tu-160 during 37th Air Army exercises, and is in series production. In 1999, the Air Forces Repair Plant No 360 at Ryam began adapting Tu-95MS bombers to carry the Kh-101.