Kh-15
| Raduga Kh-15 (NATO reporting name: AS-16 'Kickback') |
|
|---|---|
Raduga Kh-15
|
|
| Type | air-to-surface missile antitank missile |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1988 |
| Used by | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Raduga |
| Designed | 1970s–1980s |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). |
| Length | 478 cm (15 ft 8 in) |
| Diameter | 45.5 cm (17.9 in) |
| Warhead weight | 150 kg (331 lb) |
|
|
|
| Wingspan | 92 cm (36.2 in) maximum |
|
Operational
range |
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| Speed | Up to Mach 5[1] |
|
Guidance
system |
inertial guidance, active radar homing, or anti-radiation missile |
|
Launch
platform |
Tu-95MS-6, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 [1] |
The Raduga Kh-15 or RKV-15 (Russian: Х-15; NATO: AS-16 'Kickback'; GRAU:) is a Russian air-to-surface missile carried by the Tupolev Tu-22M and other bombers. Originally a standoff nuclear weapon similar to the U.S. Air Force's AGM-69 SRAM, versions with conventional warheads have been developed.
Contents
Development
In 1967, MKB Raduga started developing the Kh-2000 as a replacement for the Kh-22 AS-4 'Kitchen' heavy anti-shipping missile.[1] Development of the Kh-15 started some time in the early 1970s.[2] The sophistication of the design made it suitable for other roles, and a nuclear-tipped version was developed in tandem with the conventionally armed variant.[1] An upgrade under development was cancelled in 1991, but reports in 1998 suggested an upgraded Kh-15 might be fitted to Su-35 tactical aircraft.[2]
Design
The Kh-15 climbs to an altitude of about 40,000 m (130,000 ft) and then dives in on the target, accelerating to a speed of about Mach 5, which makes it the fastest aircraft-launched missile to date.[1]
Operational history
It entered service in 1988.[3] It can be carried by the Tu-95MS-6 'Bear-H', Tu-22M3 'Backfire C', and Tu-160 'Blackjack'.[1] The Tu-22M3 can carry six missiles on a MKU-6-1 rotary launcher in its bomb bay, plus four missiles on two underwing pylons for a total of ten missiles per aircraft.[2] It is reported that the Tu-160 can carry two MKU-6-1s for a total of twelve missiles internally.[2]
Variants
- Kh-15 (RKV-15) - the original version with nuclear warhead and inertial guidance
- Kh-15P - passive seeker for anti-radar use
- Kh-15S - active radar seeker for anti-shipping use[1]
Operators
Current
Former
Soviet Union- Passed onto successor states
Similar weapons
- Raduga KSR-5 (AS-6 'Kingfish') - heavy anti-surface missile carried under the wings of Tu-22M
- Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt') - ASM for tactical aircraft, up to 285 km range
- Kh-37 (updated version of AS-20 'Kayak') - land attack version of subsonic 'Harpoonski', 250 km range
- AGM-69 SRAM - 1000 kg US missile with up to 170 km range
Notes
References
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Articles with dead external links from September 2014
- Articles containing Russian-language text
- Anti-radiation missiles of Russia
- Anti-radiation missiles of the Soviet Union
- Cold War air-to-surface missiles of the Soviet Union
- Cold War anti-ship missiles of the Soviet Union
- Nuclear air-to-surface missiles
- Air-to-surface missiles of the Soviet Union
- Anti-ship missiles of Russia
- Anti-ship missiles of the Soviet Union
