During the night of October 16, 2023, russia launched an attack on Ukraine from multiple directions, using ballistic weaponry, cruise missiles and drones. A total of one Iskander-M ballistic missile, five Kh-59 cruise missiles and 12 Shahed-136/131 drones were detected.
There were two distinct reasons that made this incident exceptional: the simultaneous use of missile strikes and the Shahed drone attacks, and the uncommon deployment of so many Kh-59 missiles in a single salvo.
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The Kh-59 is a type of air-launched cruise missile designed for tactical aviation and can be used on aircraft such as the Su-24M, Su-30, Su-34, Su-35 and Su-57. There are three basic variants of this missile: the Kh-59, Kh-59M and Kh-59MK2 (in two subvariants). The launch range for these modifications varies from 45 kilometers to 110 kilometers and up to 285 kilometers.
![The Kh-59 missile under the wing of Su-24M aircraft Defense Express](/media/contentimages/355652d1e9d0d8c4.jpg)
It is highly likely that the russian forces are using the Kh-59MK2 variant for strikes in Ukraine, not only because of its extended launch range but also because its guidance system may overcome the limitations found in the Kh-59 and Kh-59M variants, which are known to be sensitive to fog and rain.
Providing additional characteristics specific to the Kh-59MK2 missile, its fuselage length is only 4.2 meters, wing span is 2.45 meters, the launch weight is 770 kg and the warhead can be either penetrative or cassette-type, weighing 310 kg. Interestingly, the Kh-59MK2 missile is equipped with the TRDD-50B engine, a variant of the TRDD-50 engine also used in long-range russian cruise missiles like the Kh-101 and 3M-14 Kalibr.
![The Kh-59MK2 missile Defense Express](/media/contentimages/cdb652d1ea72752b.jpeg)
The russians have been using Kh-59 missiles for strikes on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure since the early weeks and months of the full-scale invasion. For instance, as previously reported by Defense Express, by mid-April 2022, there were already two known incidents involving the use of Su-57 aircraft, which launched Kh-59 missiles at targets within Odesa Sea Port and in Kirovohrad region. In March 2022, Su-35 jets equipped with Kh-59 missiles were employed by the occupiers for strikes on oil depots in Rivne region, resulting in significant damage.
![The Kh-59 missile, summer 2022 Defense Express](/media/contentimages/793652d1eb4512fa.jpg)
The Kh-59 missile is a small-sized air target, even smaller in fuselage length than the Kh-101 missile (4.2 meters compared to 7.45 meters for the Kh-101). This significantly complicates the task of intercepting Kh-59-type cruise missiles, making each successful interception of such aerial target a remarkable achievement for the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces.
It should be reminded that on October 1, 2023, there was a successful attack on the Smolensk Aircraft Plant, which is one of the key subcontractors in the russian military-industrial complex’s chain for the production of aviation missiles, including the Kh-59 type.
Read more: Are There Any Prospects for Ukrainian Long-Range Missiles in Mass Production