On February 1, a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber launched a Kh-22 supersonic anti-ship missile, designated AS4 Kitchen by NATO, intended for a strike on Ukrainian targets. However, the missile deviated from its path and crashed in Russia’s Lipetsk region, hundreds of kilometers from the conflict zone. This incident underscores the recurring issue of Russian missiles designed for Ukraine inadvertently posing a threat to Russian territory, highlighting the reliability problems associated with Soviet-era weaponry still in use.

Social media reports indicate the missile exploded in the Yelets district of Lipetsk, with video footage capturing a powerful detonation. Experts are speculating on the cause, with theories ranging from a guidance system failure to issues with the missile’s fuel. Regardless of the precise cause, this event emphasizes the limitations of aging Russian missile systems, which, while capable of carrying nuclear warheads, suffer from significant accuracy flaws.

The AS4 Kitchen, developed in the 1960s for targeting large naval vessels like aircraft carriers, uses an inertial guidance system that results in a large circular error probable (CEP) of hundreds of meters, sometimes even kilometers, during conventional strikes. Russian sources often assert its ongoing effectiveness, but real-world results tell a different story. Since its deployment against land-based targets in Ukraine, numerous AS4 Kitchens have veered off course, with several falling within Russian borders.

This is not an isolated event. In January 2023, a Russian missile targeting Ukrainian positions crashed in Belgorod, and in spring 2024, an Iskander ballistic missile was reported to have landed in a field in the Rostov region. A more notable failure occurred on November 19, 2024, when a Kalibr cruise missile launched from a Black Sea submarine lost its orientation and fell into Russian waters, causing significant environmental damage.

The continued use of the AS4 Kitchen, despite its shortcomings, suggests a dwindling missile stockpile, with newer, more reliable missiles either in short supply or deemed too valuable to expend. Each incident raises concerns about how many more missiles will fail to reach their intended targets and endanger the very forces launching them.

Originally designed as a long-range anti-ship missile, the AS4 Kitchen’s accuracy is notably poor by modern standards. With a guidance system based on gyroscopes and rudimentary radar, the missile’s CEP often exceeds 600 meters, a precision unacceptable for hitting fast-moving, maneuverable targets. It is most effective against large, stationary structures such as aircraft carriers or major land-based facilities, particularly when carrying nuclear warheads, where targeting precision is less critical.

Further complicating matters, the missile’s radar struggles in urban settings and can be disrupted by electronic countermeasures, rendering precision strikes against well-defended or crowded targets highly unlikely. Consequently, Russian forces often launch multiple AS4 Kitchens in hopes that one will find its mark.

With a length of nearly 40 feet and a launch weight of 13,000 pounds, the AS4 Kitchen is a formidable yet unwieldy weapon. Designed for high-speed, long-range strikes, its size and Cold War-era design make it more akin to a small aircraft than a conventional missile. It carries a 2,000-pound warhead, either conventional or nuclear, with guidance via an inertial navigation system paired with rudimentary terminal-phase radar.

The missile’s high-speed capability, powered by a liquid-fueled RD-9F turbojet engine, allows it to reach Mach 4.6, making it difficult to intercept. However, the volatile nature of its fuel complicates maintenance and heightens the risk of malfunction, both on the ground and during flight. Its operational range can extend up to 600 kilometers when launched from high altitudes, but the range is significantly reduced at lower altitudes.

Despite its origins as an anti-ship missile, the AS4 Kitchen has been increasingly used against land targets in Ukraine, where its lack of accuracy has become more apparent. Without modern upgrades such as GPS or advanced targeting systems, the missile’s accuracy remains a significant concern in conventional warfare, though it is still effective in nuclear scenarios.

The Kh-32, a supposed modernized version, is claimed to offer improved accuracy and range, yet the older AS4 Kitchen missiles remain in use, often with unpredictable outcomes. This reliance on outdated technology underscores the continued presence of Cold War-era weaponry in contemporary Russian military operations.