History of Kh-59 in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 19, 2026

The Kh-59 Ovod is a family of Soviet and Russian television-guided air-to-surface missiles designed for standoff precision strikes against ground and naval targets. First introduced in the 1980s, the weapon is characterized by its modular design, typically featuring a solid-fuel rocket motor for propulsion and an integrated guidance system that allows the pilot or a dedicated weapon systems officer to steer the missile toward its target via a data-link pod. Over the decades, the platform has evolved into several variants, including the Kh-59M and the modern Kh-59MK/MK2, which feature improved range, turbojet engines, and advanced navigation systems like GPS/GLONASS and inertial guidance. Capable of being carried by various fighter-bombers such as the Su-24, Su-30, and Su-57, the Kh-59 serves as a critical asset for tactical aviation, enabling accurate engagement of infrastructure and military installations while remaining outside the effective range of short-range air defense systems.

2008: Commencement of Kh-59 Missile Deliveries to China

Starting in 2008, Russia began the delivery of approximately 200 Kh-59 missiles to China, intended for use with their Su-30MK2 aircraft fleet.

2015: Completion of Kh-59 Missile Export Cycle to China

By 2015, Russia concluded the delivery of about 200 units of Kh-59 missiles to China, which included variants such as the Kh-59MK and Kh-59MK2.

2018: Kh-59MK2 Test-Firing by Su-57

During a 2018 deployment in Syria, the Su-57 stealth fighter successfully conducted test-firings of the Kh-59MK2 missile.

April 2022: Kh-59M missile strike near Mykolaiv

On 4 April 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, photographic and CCTV evidence surfaced showing a Russian Kh-59M missile being launched and directed toward a grain silo in the vicinity of Mykolaiv, Ukraine.

August 2022: Ukrainian Air Force Deployment of Kh-59 Missiles

On 16 August 2022, the Ukrainian Air Force utilized Kh-59 missiles to conduct a strike against an airbase located in the Zhytomyr Oblast, with the launch executed from Su-34 aircraft directed toward the Belarusian border.