A dramatic video exhibiting an air-to-air missile making an attempt to intercept a Russian cruise missile has surfaced on-line. In keeping with the Telegram account Navy Observer [VO, Voennoy Obrazovatel in Russian], the video was recorded by Ukrainian residents, almost certainly with a cell phone.
VO claims that the primary captured missile passing by was the Russian Kh-101 cruise missile. Shortly after, one other missile, presumed to be an air-to-air missile fired by a Ukrainian fighter jet, may be seen in pursuit of the Kh-101. This incident gives a uncommon glimpse into the realities of the struggle in Ukraine, the place an air-to-air missile is recorded “chasing” a cruise missile.
Regrettably, the exact timing and placement of this footage stay unknown. The occasion captured might have transpired lately or at some unspecified time up to now. Neither the Ukrainian resident who recorded the video nor the Russian VO supply has given any data concerning the result of the chase. Whether or not the air-to-air missile efficiently intercepted the Kh-101 or if the Russian cruise missile managed to evade it, finishing its mission, stays a thriller.
The video fails to establish the kind of Ukrainian fighter jet that launched the air-to-air missile. Ukraine operates three forms of fight plane – the Su-25 assault plane, and the MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters. On this specific occasion, the fighter acted as an air protection level.
Air-to-air missile
The air-to-air missile in query stays unidentified. One of many predominant forms of missiles employed by the Ukrainian Air Pressure is the R-27 missile, also called the AA-10 Alamo. The R-73 or AA-11 Archer missile is one other generally used air-to-air projectile. This short-range missile, identified for its excessive maneuverability and infrared concentrating on capabilities, proves efficient in shut fight situations. It’s typically utilized by the MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters, that are integral parts of Ukraine’s Air Pressure. Moreover, the Ukrainian Air Pressure applies the P-60 missile, additionally known as the AA-8 Aphid. Lastly, the Ukrainian Air Pressure is thought to make the most of the R-77 or AA-12 Adder missile.
Nevertheless, these missiles, being of Soviet [Russian] manufacturing, have seemingly been utilized by the Ukrainian Air Pressure for a major period. The AIM-120 AMRAAM is the air-to-air missile being provided by Kyiv’s Western companions as navy aviation assist.
As early as 2022, deliveries of AIM-120 AMRAAM to Ukraine commenced. The problem then was integrating this Western missile underneath the wings and command of Soviet fighters. Shortly after the supply, with the help of Western and Polish engineers, the combination was achieved, enabling the MiG-29 and Su-27 to successfully make use of this weapon. The profitable integration was additionally replicated with the American AGM-88 HARM missile; nonetheless, this is an anti-radar missile and its chance of taking down the Kh-101 is just about nil.
Kh-101 is susceptible
The Kh-101 was used pretty frequently by the Russian Air Pressure. Nevertheless, whereas this missile initially posed a major problem to the Ukrainian air protection, over time the Ukrainians efficiently realized to intercept it. The primary report of a downed Kh-101 dates again to April 2022. In keeping with the top of the Vinnytsia Regional Navy Administration, Sergey Borzov, the missile was intercepted with the unlikely assist of an unusual machine gun. Borzov defined that the missile was susceptible to such a primitive weapon as a result of it was flying at a really low altitude.
In stark distinction to the incident in April 2022, a large missile assault was carried out by Russian aviation on Ukrainian targets on March 24 of this yr. On the night time of February 23-24, Russian forces initiated a sequence of drone and missile strikes directed on the Ukrainian power infrastructure, with main targets positioned in southern and western Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Pressure reported on March 24 that Russian forces launched 29 Kh-101/Kh-555 missiles from strategic Tu-95MS plane, together with 28 Shahed-136/131 drones from Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Krasnodar Krai, and the occupied Cape Chauda in Crimea. The Ukrainian air protection detailed intercepting 18 Kh-101/555 missiles and 25 Shahed drones over areas together with Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kyiv, Volyn, and Lviv.
Kh-101 changed Kalibr
If at the outset of the battle, the Kalibr was the first cruise missile of the Russian military, deployed primarily from their sea vessels, it has now been totally changed by the strategic air-launched cruise missile, the Kh-101.
The principal limitation in the manufacturing of each these missiles is their energy unit, as they each use the TRDD-50 engine. Nevertheless, the requirement for the Kalibr missile to suit right into a submarine’s 533-mm torpedo tube, restricts its dimension considerably, as in comparison with the Kh-101 missile, which has a diameter of 742 mm. This leads to a decrease flight weight, 1,770 kilograms for the Kalibr, versus 2,300 kilograms for the Kh-101. As well as, to make sure optimum aerial efficiency, the Kh-101 has an elevated wingspan in comparison with the Kalibr, with respective measurements of 4 m and three.1 m.
One other essential issue to contemplate is the air launch. The missile is launched from an plane with a fairly excessive preliminary velocity, omitting the necessity to make the most of gas for preliminary acceleration. As compared, the Kalibr missile carries 560 kilograms of gas, and the Kh-101 already holds 1,250 kilograms within the base model. Though the ammunition is analogous there’s a major disparity within the flight vary. 5,500 kilometers for the Kh-101 versus 2,000-2,500 kilometers for the Kalibr missile.
The identified knowledge for Kh-101
The X-101 missile is a Russian air-launched cruise missile developed by the Rainbow Design Bureau. It’s a long-range, low-visibility missile designed for precision strikes in opposition to each stationary and shifting targets, even these with excessive defensive capabilities.
The scale of the Kh-101 missile are fairly important. It boasts a size of seven.45 meters, a diameter of 0.77 meters, and a wingspan of roughly 3 meters. Regardless of its dimension, the missile employs stealth know-how to reduce its radar cross-section, making it troublesome to detect.
Characterised by a complicated steerage system, the Kh-101 missile makes use of a mixture of inertial navigation. The satellite tv for pc navigation, and terrain contour matching to precisely hit its targets. Additionally, due to its stealthy design which reduces its radar cross-section, the missile’s survivability fee is notably larger.
Propulsion and warhead
The propulsion of the Kh-101 missile is supplied by a turbofan engine. This kind of engine is thought for its effectivity and reliability, which contribute to the missile’s lengthy operational vary. Moreover, the engine propels the missile at subsonic speeds, enhancing its stealth capabilities.
The operational vary of the Kh-101 missile is one in all its most spectacular traits. Able to hitting targets as much as 3,000 kilometers away, the missile permits plane to launch it from a protected distance. This long-range functionality gives the missile with a strategic benefit.
The warhead of the Kh-101 missile is one other key facet of its design. It carries a standard warhead with a yield of roughly 400 kilograms. Designed for precision strikes, the Kh-101 turns into an efficient software for neutralizing high-value targets.
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