An X-101 red missile was shot down in the sky over Ukraine
Among the 15 cruise missiles intercepted by Ukrainian air defense systems, there was one non-standard one. It was a red X-101. This was reported by Defense Express.
Ukrainian experts are currently studying the unusual missile. According to experts, experimental or research models are usually painted red. X-101 missiles are no exception in this regard. There is a high probability that the missile shot down tonight was also an experimental or research missile.
The missile’s serial number shows that it was manufactured in the last quarter of 2021. The missile was the 19th in batch No. 6. Given the fact that a year and a half has passed since the missile was released, it is not entirely correct to consider it a research missile.
In 2021, Russia launched the production of “assembly kits” for advanced X-101 missiles. In the technical documentation, they were referred to as “Product 504AP”. The improved missiles differed from conventional X-101s in the presence of the “Vidblisko-U” guidance system, which is analogous to the Western DSMAC and TERCOM, and the SP-504 jamming station. The missile shot down tonight was one of the first “Product 504AP” missiles.
