Details emerge of Russia’s latest cruise missiles

Robert Hewson Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons Editor
London

Exclusive images of Russia’s two most advanced long-range airborne weapons – the Kh-101 and Kh-555 conventionally armed cruise missiles – have recently been acquired by Jane’s .

Russia has been modernising its cruise missile inventory over the past few years and has recently increased the operational tempo of the strategic bomber fleet that would deploy such weapons.

Developed by the Raduga Design Bureau (now part of the unified Tactical Missiles Corporation), the Kh-555 is a modified version of the original nuclear-tipped Kh-55 strategic stand-off weapon (AS-15 ‘Kent’). It is thought to have entered service in 2004, but details are scant. The Kh-101 is a stealth-optimised design, conceived as a Kh-55 replacement. No images of this missile have previously been shown in public.

In the imagery acquired by Jane’s , the Kh-101 is seen carried in pairs on four pylons under an upgraded Tu-95MS16 ‘Bear-H’ (Tu-95MSM) bomber. The Tu-95MS16 variant can carry a theoretical load of 16 cruise missiles (Kh-55s): 10 on underwing pylons and six on its MKU-6-5 internal rotary launcher. This ‘overload’, which requires two pylons each to carry three missiles, proved to be impractical and is not used operationally. Typically, the combat load for a ‘Bear’ would be carried on the internal launcher only to maximise aircraft range.

The Tu-95MS16 variant maintains the ability to carry underwing missiles as seen in the image (unlike the Tu-95MS6). The eight Kh-101 configuration may be the (maximum) standard load for this new weapon. The aircraft is adorned with photo calibration markings and so the red-painted missiles are likely to be a trial fit.

The Kh-101 appears to be longer than the Kh-55/555 series (approximately 7 m in length) with a more slender and angular design. The missile has a chiselled nose section and a flat-sided triangular main body, all calculated to reduce radar cross-section. Three folding tail fins are mounted at the end of a tapered rear section. A pop-out wing is mounted under the missile, which is thought to be powered by an NPO Saturn TRDD-50 turbojet. The podded engine is housed inside the rear of the missile and drops down on a pylon when the missile is released from its launch aircraft.

The operational status of the Kh-101 is still not clear, although it is obviously in an advanced test and development stage and is probably available for use. Russian sources note that flights with the missile and the Tu-95MSM have been ongoing for over a year.

Photographs of the Kh-555 being loaded onto a Tu-95 are significant because this missile had previously been associated only with the Tu-160 ‘Blackjack’ bomber. It was always probable that the Kh-555 would be integrated with the Tu-95 but doing so increases the operational flexibility of Russia’s bomber force and provides the Tu-95 with a modern conventional weapon capability for the first time.

Given the increased size of the Kh-101 (about 1 m longer than the Kh-55), it is unlikely that this missile can be carried on the standard MKU-6-5 internal launcher. It is possible that a conventionally armed Tu-95 could operate with a mix of external Kh-101s and internal Kh-555s.

Pics

* The first pictures of the Kh-101 cruise missile to emerge in public show eight of the stealthy missiles loaded on an upgraded Tu-95MS bomber (Via Robert Hewson)
* Russian ground crew load a Kh-555 into the internal weapons bay of a Tu-95MS. The missile’s conventional warhead section appears to be shorter than the nuclear Kh-55 (Via Robert Hewson)

RS-24 with MIRVs is going operational next year.

Any hard info on the missile itself?

Including throw weight, range, payload, etc?

“The state rearmament program until 2016 stipulates no allocations for carrier programs,” Kravchenko said. In 2009, the government will approve a concept for expanding the Russian Navy until 2050. Hopefully, the document will call for building new aircraft carriers.

http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20080716/114109195.html

That sort of clarifies the funding issue. Next year it will be decided if the carriers will be built for sure. . .

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080724/114858589.html

Wonder what sort of precision weaponry those Tu-142 aircraft are testing, possibly the new cruise missiles Russia has developed?

Russian Navy prioritizes construction of nuclear submarines

In 2009, the Russian Navy will receive the first nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Project 885 Yasen (Graney) class, named Severodvinsk, Vysotsky said.

Severodvinsk is the first Russian submarine of the true multipurpose type, combining the ability to launch a variety of long-range nuclear missiles (up to 3,100 miles) and effectively engage hostile submarines and surface warships.

Sounds like they are going to equip the Yasen with the Kh-101/102 series missiles?

I imagine the Yakhont and Klub should be part of the kit too.

USAF comment on the rumor.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080722180457.q0jlf4en&show_article=1

“The president repeated that our missile defense system should not be seen as a threat to Russia, we want to actually work with the Russians to design a system that Russia, and Europe and the United States could work on together as equal partners and we’ll continue to do that,” she said.

“We seek strategic cooperation with the Russians. We want to work with them on preventing missiles from rogue nations like Iran from threatening our friends and allies,” said Perino. “

What is this crap? Didn’t the Americans already put off the deal the Russians offered for a joint defense system?

It does not matter whether the IAC is built quickly or not, as soon as two of them are in the water expect Gorky to return to her seemingly natural state of not so well maintained pier side hulk.

Yeah, the Indian Navy is just going to let a ship they bought rot. . . grand logic lawrence.

If you get two pieces of machinery, and can use them both to better yourself, you don’t let the other one rot.

If you have the production and design capacity for both there is not much in it and a unilateral withdrawal from the INF would hardly be challenging and could take effect instantaneously. Furthermore both the Bulava and RS-24 programs show that Russia is not affraid to embark upon fresh development. I am sure that a ground launched Kh-101/102/555 would not be a difficult exercise for Russian industry.

Yes, however, the SS-27 packs a much bigger punch, and is much harder to intercept.

The SS-27 is also fairly portable, which means a lot.

If you followed developments in the politics, procurement and strategy of Russian military affairs (which you clearly do not) you would be well aware that there have been several threats to withdraw from the INF treaty and accompanying statements about howeasy it would be for Russia to make new IRBM’s and GLCM’s all of which would be far more appropriate for deployment to Cuba. While I would be amazed if the idea has not been muted in Russian Government and defence circles I would be equally amazed if they were dumb enough to try it. Look what happened last time and the issue is now such an ego fuelling historical precident that there is almost no way that a US president could back down and let it happen. If the Russians really want to be annoying they should just plant some conventional forces in Venezuela or Cuba, a few SAM systems or fighters (we are defending are allie blah blah) but I would be surprised if even that happens. Cuba is potentially to fragile and why let Chavez have stuff for free when he has the oil dollars and ego to pay for it?

Here lets get this straight in about 1/4 the text.

Is it easier to make more of what you are producing now (SS-27) or develop and produce something you can’t even use at the moment (SS-X-IRBM-whatever) ?