According to recent monitoring, as many as 16 Russian Tu-22M3 fighter bomber with missile supersonic cruiser Kh-22 and Kh-32 they were transferred from the Far East to Olenia airport, in the Murmansk region, 1,800 kilometers from the border with Ukraine. This could mean the Kremlin is preparing a missile attack. What do they know about these missiles and what potential do they have?
What do we know about missiles?
The Kh-22 is a long-range supersonic air-launched anti-ship missile. It was built in 1960 and entered service in 1972 with the Soviet Armed Forces. The missile is powered by a jet engine and its fuel tank allows it to travel a distance of up to 300 kilometers. This ship can rely on a wide choice of weapons and high cruising speed so that it is able to neutralize land and sea targets as well as carry out reconnaissance missions if necessary. The Kh-32 is a more modern version of the Kh-22 missile. Work on this missile began in the late 1980s, but due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, its testing was halted several times and was only adopted in 2016. The missile has the same body as the Kh-22 and its fuel tank has been enlarged, reducing the warhead. Last but not least, the aircraft has been equipped with a new anti-interference radar inertial guidance system with radio command correction and terrain reference.
The last time they were used in Ukraine
Both missiles are very fast and capable of flying at high altitudes. They are therefore difficult to track by enemy radar and can cause significant damage. Suffice it to say that the Kh-22 is designed to inflict wounds 5 meters wide and 12 meters deep on aircraft carriers. The last time they were deployed in Ukraine was in June 2025 before being transferred to the Far East.
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