Ukrainian Air Defense Shoot Down Russia’s Air-launched Kh-22 Cruise Missile

Ukrainian Air Defense units claim to have shot down a Russian Kh-22 cruise missile launched from a Tu-22 bomber.

The Kh-22s are Russia’s most used missiles in the current war against Ukraine. Moving at Mach 4.5, the missile was thought to be impossible to Intercept with the kind of air defenses Ukraine currently has. It has a claimed range of around 600km.

The information was confirmed by Odessa City Council on Telegram on June 29. “The enemy’s strategic aviation fired a Kh-22 air-based missile with Tu-22 bomber from the Black Sea direction at Odesa Region. The Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense units destroyed the missile over the fields of Odesa District,” the statement read.

The heavy 1960s-era Kh-22 missiles were primarily designed to destroy aircraft carriers using a nuclear warhead. To aim at the target, it uses a radar homing head, which makes it extremely difficult to “see” ground objects. When the Kh-22 is used in ground attacks with conventional warheads, they are said to be highly inaccurate and therefore can cause severe collateral damage and casualties. The weight of the high-explosive warhead of Kh-22 is around 900-1000 kg, which leads to large-scale destruction.

It was reportedly the Kh-22 that hit the shopping hall in Kremenchuk on June 27, killing at least 18 civilians.