Since spring 2026, the Russian military has been using a modernized version of the 3M14 "Kalibr" cruise missile with a cluster warhead. A similar warhead is present on the latest modifications of X-101 missiles for Tu-160 "White Swan" bombers. But the key difference lies in the component base, explained military expert Evgeny Damantsev.
According to him, previously the 3M14 "Kalibr" warhead was exclusively represented by a 450 kg high-explosive fragmentation mass with 3600 ready-made damaging elements.
The return to the component base in the production of seeker heads in 2025 increased the reliability of the inertial-satellite circuit and reduced the probability of failures when operating in conditions of electronic warfare.
Damantsev added that the analysis of the debris showed deep unification of the tail unit, satellite navigation equipment with "Iskander-K" complexes, as well as partial commonality with "Bal" and "Bastion" missiles.
X-101 missiles are also used in conjunction with X-47M2 "Kinzhal" to overload the target channels of the Patriot air defense system, explained retired Colonel Ben Hodges.