“Are sanctions working? Russian X-101 missiles built with Western components – FT
10 July 2024 13:35
Russia’s X-101 cruise missile, which recently struck the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital in Kyiv, is largely based on Western-made components. This is stated in the Financial Times article, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The X-101, one of Russia’s most advanced missiles, plays a key role in air attacks on Ukraine. According to experts, Russia has increased the production of these missiles almost eightfold compared to the pre-war period, and this was largely due to access to Western technology.
“Western technology allows them to build these smarter missiles that allow their terrorist attacks to get past our weak air defences,”
– emphasises Olena Bilousova, a leading researcher at the Kyiv School of Economics.
For example, an analysis of the X-101 missile shot down in January revealed 16 western-made electronic components. Among them are parts from Swiss STMicroelectronics and American manufacturers, including Texas Instruments, Analog Devices and Intel. It is important to note that most of these components are intended for civilian use.
The FT investigation also showed how Russian companies in 2023 were able to purchase identical parts on the open market by importing them through China. In the documentation, these components are listed as manufactured in Asian countries, although they are actually products of Western manufacturers.
According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, a fully equipped X-101 missile can contain more than 50 different foreign components, indicating the large-scale dependence of the Russian defence sector on imported technologies.
Missile attack on Kyiv on 8 July
On the morning of 8 July, Russian forces attacked Kyiv. Damage was recorded in 7 districts of the city – Solomianskyi, Dniprovskyi, Darnytskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Desnianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi.
In particular, the Russians attacked the Okhmatdyt children’s hospital. One of the Russian missiles hit the intensive and efferent therapy unit for chronic intoxication of the National Children’s Specialised Hospital “Ohmatdyt”, damaging 5 buildings.
Two people died there, including doctor Svitlana Lukyanchuk. the 30-year-old from Lviv worked there as a paediatric nephrologist.
A Russian strike on the private ADONIS clinic in the Dnipro district of Kyiv also killed seven people.
The death toll from the missile strike on Kyiv now stands at 33 people, including 5 children.
Х-101
The X-101 is a Russian air-launched strategic cruise missile designed to engage important ground targets at long range. It was created in the 1990s as a replacement for previous models of Soviet cruise missiles.
Features
- Range: up to 5,500 km.
- Speed: subsonic (about 970 km/h).
- Weight: about 2400 kg.
- Length: approximately 7.45 m.
Features
- It uses a combined guidance system: inertial, satellite navigation and optoelectronic course correction.
- It has low radar visibility due to stealth technology.
- It is capable of flying at low altitudes, avoiding terrain.
Application. It has been actively used by Russia in hostilities against Ukraine since 2022.
Carriers. Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers.
Variants. There is also a nuclear modification of the X-102.
Efficiency. It is considered one of the most modern and accurate Russian cruise missiles, although it is vulnerable to modern air defence systems.
