--- title: "Death Conveyor: How Russia Modernizes Kh-101 and Uses Western Chips for Strikes on Ukraine" description: "Russia produces up to 50 Kh-101 cruise missiles per month, using Western chips via intermediaries. Experts confirm: missiles fly to targets in Ukraine almost immediately off the assembly line. πŸš€πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦" date: 2026-06-13T07:58:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/death-conveyor-how-russia-modernizes-kh-101-and-uses-western-chips-for-strikes-on-ukraine tags: [] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Death Conveyor: How Russia Modernizes Kh-101 and Uses Western Chips for Strikes on Ukraine ![Underwing Kh-101 missiles on a strategic bomber Tu-95MSM, showcasing the modernization of Russia's death conveyor using Western technologies](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/13/rossiya-mesyachno-vypuskaet-50-krilatyh-raket-h-101-dlya-udarov-po-ukraine/rossiya-mesyachno-vypuskaet-50-krilatyh-raket-h-101-dlya-udarov-po-ukraine-1.webp) The Russian military-industrial complex is demonstrating high production intensity of air attack weapons. According to experts, dozens of Kh-101 cruise missiles roll off the assembly line every month, which are almost immediately sent on combat missions to Ukrainian territory. This information was confirmed by Alexander Zaruba, the Chief Researcher of the State Scientific Research Institute for Testing and Certification of Weapons, a Colonel. His statement, published by Interfax-Ukraine citing RBK-Ukraine, reveals details of the Russian defense industry's operations and the tactics for employing high-precision weaponry. ### Production Rates and Strike Logistics According to expert estimates, Russia produces between 40 and 50 Kh-101 cruise missiles per month. An analysis of the aftermath of recent attacks has led to the conclusion that missiles manufactured only a few weeks ago were used. This indicates that the production cycle and preparation for the use of weapons have been maximally compressed. The Kh-101 missile, although not a new model, has undergone serious modernization. Engineers have made significant changes to the design to complicate the detection and destruction of the munition by air defense systems. ### Technical Changes: More Explosives, Less Fuel The key change was the redesign of the missile's internal layout. The weight of the warhead was increased from 450 kg to approximately 800 kg. This was made possible by reducing the volume of the fuel tank β€” the freed-up space was occupied by an additional warhead charge. The modernized warhead has acquired new functionality: it can be dropped or detonated at an altitude of 100–200 meters from the target, which significantly increases the weapon's destructive capability when attacking ground objects. ### Dependence on Western Electronics Despite sanctions, the Russian defense industry continues to actively use foreign components. According to Zaruba, the production of missiles has seen a shift from civilian chips to specialized microelectronics. However, the overwhelming majority of these components are of foreign manufacture. "Up to 80-90% of critical microelectronics is the production of companies from the USA, Taiwan, Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Germany," the expert stated. This refers primarily to dual-use components, which formally can be used in the civilian sector but are actively purchased for military needs through a network of intermediaries. ### Other Weaponry Directions Parallel to the production of cruise missiles, Russia is increasing the use of other types of munitions. Significant attention is being paid to the modernization of Soviet aviation bombs, which are being converted into guided aviation bombs (KAB) with the UMPK module. The use of cluster aviation bombs has also been recorded. Currently, an intermediate type of munition is being developed, occupying the niche between a guided bomb and a strike drone. In general, the production rates of air attack weapons in Russia have increased significantly. ### Context of Recent Attacks The relevance of this data is confirmed by events of recent days. On the night of June 13, Russia attacked Ukraine with 118 strike drones of various types. Air defense forces shot down 110 of them, however, hits were recorded on three objects. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) link the escalation of threats, including mentions of the use of the "Oreshnik" missile, to the image problems of the Russian leadership against the backdrop of failures.