Expert reveals Ukraine’s costs to intercept Kh 22 and Kh 32 missiles
A military expert explained why Kh 22 and Kh 32 missiles are hard to intercept and detailed the costs of taking them down with Patriot and NASAMS systems.
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A Russian Tu aircraft carrying Kh 32 missiles / © Defense Express
In the large-scale air raid on the night of January 24, Russia intentionally launched Kh 22 and Kh 32 anti-ship missiles. These weapons are used when the Kremlin aims for the highest possible chance of hitting specific targets.
A Patriot surface-to-air missile costs about $2 million, while a single Kh 32 missile is estimated at around $1 million.
Military expert Oleh Starikov told Telegraf that, based on available information, the strike may have been aimed at disrupting energy connections between Kyiv and the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant. That is why the missiles’ flight path was chosen near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
«The Russians likely calculated that, given the range and limits of Ukraine’s air defenses, the shortest and most effective route passed through the Chernobyl area, ” the expert said.
Starikov explains the Kh 22 and upgraded Kh 32 travel at speeds exceeding 5,000 km per hour, making them significantly harder to intercept. Most cruise missiles fly at lower speeds and are therefore easier to destroy.
Only a small number of Western air defense systems, including Patriot and NASAMS, are capable of countering such targets, he said.
Interceptor missiles must execute sharp manoeuvres and rapidly correct their flight path, he added, noting that even slight calculation errors can lead to misses of tens of meters, which is why several surface to air missiles are often launched to ensure a successful interception.
Cost of intercepting Kh 22 and Kh 32 missiles
Ukraine’s Air Force says nine out of 12 Kh 22 and Kh 32 missiles were shot down that night. Starikov said achieving that result required the use of a significant number of scarce Patriot interceptors.
A single Patriot interceptor costs about $2 million, he said, compared with an estimated $1 million for one Kh 32 missile. In some cases, intercepting a single target may require interceptor missiles worth up to $6 million.
The expert believes Moscow’s primary goal is to exhaust Ukraine’s air defense system, reducing its ability to effectively protect both Kyiv and other regions of the country.