How Russia’s Kh-101 missile uses decoy flares to slip past air defence shields

During the recent Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital, a footage was circulated online that appeared to show a Russian-made Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile releasing decoy flares during flight. This was similar to a video released in 2023, which had offered a rare visual confirmation of its countermeasure capability that had been immensely discussed in Ukrainian and Western reports. Adding a visible layer to Russia’s broader effort to modernise the Kh-101 family during the war, including upgrades meant to improve survivability against Ukrainian air defences.The footage has added another visible layer to Russia’s broader effort to modernise the Kh-101 missile family during the ongoing war, including upgrades designed to improve survivability against increasingly sophisticated Ukrainian air defence systems.According to The War Zone, the countermeasures in the video could reportedly be heard “popping off” as they were deployed. Unlike traditional flares, they did not appear to leave visible smoke trails behind them. Analysts suggested these may have been spectral flares, where the primary heat plume is invisible to the naked eye, or smaller flares with shorter burn durations. Radar-confusing chaff may also have been released alongside the flares. Chaff generally consists of thin metallic strips, metalised paper, or fibreglass threads designed to interfere with radar tracking, though its deployment is often difficult to observe from the ground.

Russia upgrades Kh-101 missile during war

Ukrainian defence reporting points towards a broader wartime modernisation programme involving the Kh-101. According to Ukrainian outlet Defence Express, analysis of recovered missile fragments identified at least four major upgrade phases carried out during the conflict.The upgrades reportedly include a tandem warhead configuration designed to penetrate hardened targets, a cluster warhead equipped with incendiary elements, improved guidance systems, and a new electronic warfare protection suite.The electronic protection package is believed to be one of the most significant improvements. Defence Express reported that the system can generate decoy jamming signals while deploying both thermal flares and radar-confusing chaff to mislead enemy air defence networks.The latest footage has therefore strengthened assessments that Russia is actively adapting its long-range strike systems to overcome Ukraine’s layered air defence capabilities, which have become increasingly effective with Western military assistance.

Ukraine claims high interception rates

Despite Russia’s missile upgrades, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly claimed strong interception rates against Russian aerial attacks, including cruise missiles and drones.According to Defence Express, Ukrainian air defence systems were reportedly able to intercept around 88 per cent of launched Kh-101, Kh-55 and Kh-555 missiles during previous attack waves.While such figures are difficult to independently verify during wartime, analysts believe Russia’s decision to equip the Kh-101 with advanced countermeasures itself reflects Moscow’s concerns over Ukraine’s improving air defence network.The War Zone noted that it could not independently confirm Ukraine’s interception claims, but added that the appearance of countermeasure-equipped Kh-101 missiles suggested Russia viewed Ukrainian air defences as a growing operational challenge.

Oreshnik hypersonic missile remains bigger concern

Even as Ukraine demonstrates growing success against Russian cruise missile attacks, analysts say Kyiv faces a more difficult challenge in countering Russia’s emerging hypersonic missile capabilities.Particular attention has focused on the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads while travelling at speeds reportedly exceeding Mach 10.Such speeds drastically reduce interception windows for air defence systems and complicate detection and tracking efforts. Military experts believe hypersonic systems like Oreshnik could become increasingly central to Russia’s long-range deterrence strategy if the war continues to escalate.

What is the Kh-101 cruise missile?

The Kh-101, known by its Nato reporting name AS-23 “Kodiak”, is one of Russia’s most advanced strategic air-launched stealth cruise missiles.The missile is primarily deployed by Russian strategic bombers including the Tupolev Tu-95 and Tupolev Tu-160.

Key features of the Kh-101 missile: