Kh-59

The Kh-59 Ovod is a Soviet/Russian air-launched tactical cruise missile family developed by Raduga for standoff strikes from tactical aircraft. Later Kh-59M, Kh-59MK, Kh-59MK2, and Kh-59MKM variants added turbojet propulsion, larger warheads, anti-ship or land-attack guidance options, and longer range. Russia has used Kh-59-series guided air-launched missiles during the Russia-Ukraine War as part of mixed missile and drone attacks.

Russia-Ukraine WarRussia

Conflict side: Russia
Built by: Raduga Design BureauTactical Missile Armament CorporationSmolensk Aviation Plant
Built in: Soviet UnionRussia

Kh-59, Air-launched tactical cruise missile, Artillery

Profile

Type: Air-launched tactical cruise missile
Conflict side: Russia
Origin: Soviet Union / Russia
Service note: Entered service in the late Cold War; modernized variants remain in Russian service

cruise missile air-launched precision fires anti-shipstandoff weapon

Service History

In service: Original Kh-59 entered service between 1978 and 1982; later Kh-59M-family variants remain in use
Used by: Russian Aerospace Forces
Wars: Russia-Ukraine War

Production History

Designer: Raduga Design Bureau
Designed: 1970s original design; Kh-59M development began in the mid-1980s
Built by: Raduga Design BureauTactical Missile Armament CorporationSmolensk Aviation Plant
Built in: Soviet UnionRussia
Unit cost: Not publicly confirmed
Produced: Late Cold War to present for successive family variants
Number built: Not publicly confirmed
Variants: Kh-59 Ovod, Kh-59M / Kh-59ME Ovod-M, Kh-59MK, Kh-59MK2, Kh-59MKM

Specifications

Launch platform: Tactical aircraft including Su-24M and other compatible Russian combat aircraft, depending on variant
Guidance: Original and Kh-59M variants use inertial and TV guidance; Kh-59MK uses active radar homing for anti-ship attack; Kh-59MK2 uses satellite guidance with terrain matching
Range: About 40-50 km for the original Kh-59, about 120 km for Kh-59M, about 285 km for Kh-59MK/MKM, and reported up to 550 km for Kh-59MK2
Warhead: About 148 kg on the original Kh-59; later variants carry roughly 315-360 kg high-explosive, penetrating, or submunition warheads
Speed: High subsonic, roughly 900-1,050 km/h depending on variant
Dimensions: Kh-59MK: 5.7 m length, 1.3 m wingspan, 0.38 m body diameter

Conflict Usage

Russia-Ukraine War: Side: Russia
Russian forces have launched Kh-59 guided air-launched missiles against Ukraine; Ukrainian Air Force reporting has documented individual launches and interceptions during nationwide air attacks.

Kh-59 Images

Kh-59, Air-launched tactical cruise missile, Artillery - view 1

Kh-59, Air-launched tactical cruise missile, Artillery - view 2

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Sources

Russian Strike MissilesPublisher: Forecast International | Note: Supports Kh-59 family background, Raduga design attribution, variant descriptions, service timing, and technical specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 Kh-59MKPublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Supports Kh-59MK variant role, launch platforms, range, speed, warhead weight, and dimensions. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 Joint-Stock Company Tactical Missile Armament CorporationPublisher: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine War & Sanctions Portal | Note: Supports Tactical Missile Armament Corporation production involvement for Kh-59MK and Kh-59M2/Kh-59M2A guided air-to-surface missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 Joint-Stock Company Smolensk Aviation PlantPublisher: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine War & Sanctions Portal | Note: Supports Smolensk Aviation Plant manufacturing and state-contract role for Kh-59 and Kh-59M2/Kh-59M2A missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 Air Force downs 13 of 19 Shahed drones and 1 of 6 missiles launched by RussiaPublisher: Ukrainska Pravda | Note: Directly supports Russia-Ukraine War use by reporting Ukrainian Air Force details that Russia launched a Kh-59 guided air missile and that Ukrainian air defenses destroyed it over Poltava Oblast. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 Kh-59MK2 maks2009.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Primary image provenance: Kh-59MK2 photographed at MAKS 2009 by Allocer, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 and GFDL. | Accessed: 2026-06-20 Kh-59MK2 missile at MAKS-2015 01.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Gallery image provenance: Kh-59MK2 photographed by Vitaly V. Kuzmin, with Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA licensing and VRT permission notes. | Accessed: 2026-06-20