Pro-Ukrainian milblogger “Colonel GSh” published images There was a video on the Telegram channel on Wednesday showing the wreckage of a nearly completed Russian Kh-59MK cruise missile that crashed somewhere over Ukraine during the latest attack. Examination of the missile showed that it was missing two key elements.

The Kh-59MK (NATO: AS-18 Kazoo) is an upgraded version of the earlier Kh-59 air-launched cruise missile. It therefore replaced the previous model’s solid fuel booster with an internal fuel tank and an external Turbojet. It is also equipped with an engine mounted under the fuselage just forward of the wings. This increased the range from 115 kilometers (72 miles) to approximately 285 kilometers (178 miles).

Missile guidance uses three systems; a mid-course inertial navigation system (INS) paired with an in-flight command-guidance (CMD-G) update system and a third terminal attack system. The Kh-59-MK replaced the original TV guidance attack system with the ARGSN U559 active radar homing (ARH) seeker. It carries a 320-kilogram (704-pound) shaped charge warhead (for anti-ship or “bunker destruction” use) or a 285-kilogram (625-pound) cluster ammunition warhead.

It is claimed to be designed to be launched from most Russian fighter-bombers, including the MiG-35, Su-30MK, Su-32, Su-35 and Su-24M. It will fly at around 1,000 km/h (625 mph) at a cruising altitude of 10-15 meters (33-50 feet) before descending to 4-7 meters (13-22 feet) during the terminal phase.

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However, the missile recently captured in Ukraine was found to have replaced the ARH warhead with a solid metal block used to compensate for the weight of the lost ARGSN seeker to maintain the missile’s designed center of mass in flight.

It was also determined that the P95-300 two-stage solid fuel engine, originally produced by Ukraine, was used. ZaporizhiaMotor Sich factory, which is either a remnant of Soviet-era stocks or removed from the dismantled Kh-55 1970s legacy cruise missile.

Replacing these two elements indicates a lack of components to power the most complex parts of the missile system.

The loss of the ARGSN has the most significant operational consequences on the use of the weapon. The missile must now rely entirely on the INS and CMD-G update system for guidance. This not only negatively affects its overall accuracy, but can also increase its vulnerability to some countermeasures during the final phase of the flight. The less powerful engine is also likely to limit its operating range.

This isn’t the first time Russian missiles have been found to have replaced key components with lower quality parts or inert elements to stabilize them in flight. In December 2022 and March 2023, Russian Kh-55SM missiles containing inert, simulated warheads were encountered in multiple missile strikes, possibly with the aim of influencing Ukraine. air defense divert assets away from other “live” missiles.