The russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) Long Range Aviation Command (LRA) has increased the lethality of its premier Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) by operationally fielding the Kh-101 missile fitted with a second warhead, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
The LRA Command has sought to modify its systems and tactics throughout the war to: increase survivability as too many missiles were being intercepted by Ukrainian air defense systems; enhance capabilities to have greater effect; and use up older missiles as the VKS had depleted more modern systems in the early days of the war.
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This latest modification has likely reduced the range of the Kh-101 missile by half. The LRA does not need the full range to hit all of Ukraine. The second warhead is designed for increased fragmentation at the target. It is likely that this will make the system more effective in striking non-hardened targets.
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