The new U.S.-Russian arms reduction treaty probably will lead to increased Russian efforts to convert segments of its cruise missile arsenal to conventional-warhead use, Aviation Week & Space Technology reported this week (see GSN, May 14).

One cruise missile Russia has been working to convert is its Kh-55 air-launched cruise missile, according to Aviation Week.  In its place, Russia has worked to develop the Kh-555, which is based on the Kh-55, but replaces a nuclear warhead with a conventional one.  Russia has already conducted flight tests of the Kh-555 and received 600 Kh-55 missiles from Ukraine, which will act as a stock for the new Kh-555 inventory, according to Aviation Week.

Russia has also worked to develop a successor to its Kh-101 and Kh-102 missiles, Aviation Week reported.  Early attempts failed, however, to refit the Kh-101 with an improved propulsion system, Aviation Week reported (Douglas Barrie, Aviation Week & Space Technology, May 20).

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