| Kh-25ML/MLT/MR (NATO reporting name: AS-10 'Karen') Kh-25MP (AS-12 'Kegler') | |
|---|---|
 Kh-25ML | |
| Type |
tactical air-to-surface missile anti-radar missile (Kh-25MP) |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1975-current |
| Used by | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1971-1975 |
| Manufacturer | Zvezda-Strela |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
Kh-25ML :299 kg (659 lb)[1] Kh-25MP :315 kg (694 lb)[2] |
| Length |
Kh-25ML :370.5 cm (12 ft 2 in)[1] Kh-25MP 1VP :425.5 cm (167.5 in)[2] Kh-25MP 2VP :435.5 cm (171.5 in)[2] |
| Diameter | 27.5 cm (10.8 in)[1] |
| Warhead | High explosive, shell-forming |
| Warhead weight | Kh-25MP :89.6 kg (198 lb),[2] Kh-25MR :140 kg (309 lb)[3] |
|
| |
| Wingspan | 75.5 cm (29.7 in)[1] |
Operational range |
Kh-25ML :11 km (5.9 nmi)[3] Kh-25MP :up to 60 km (32 nmi)[3] Kh-25MTP : 20 km (11 nmi)[3] |
| Maximum speed |
Kh-25ML :1,370–2,410 km/h (850–1,500 mph)[1] Kh-25MP :1,080–1,620 km/h (670–1,000 mph)[2] |
Guidance system | Laser, passive radar, TV, IIR, satnav, active radar depending on variant |
Launch platform |
MiG-21,[4] MiG-23/27,[4] MiG-29,[4] Su-17/20/22,[4] Su-24,[4] Su-25,[4] Su-27,[4] Yakovlev Yak-130 Kh-25MP : MiG-23/27,[5] Su-17/22,[5] Su-24,[5] Su-25[5] |
The Kh-25/Kh-25M (Russian: Х-25; NATO:AS-10 'Karen') is a family of Soviet lightweight air-to-ground missiles with a modular range of guidance systems and a range of 10 km.[1] The anti-radar variant (Kh-25MP) is known to NATO as the AS-12 'Kegler' and has a range up to 40 km.[2] Designed by Zvezda-Strela, the Kh-25 is derived from the laser-guided version of their Kh-23 (AS-7 'Kerry'). It has now been succeeded by the Kh-38 family, but the Kh-25 remains in widespread use.
Development[]
Based on an air-to-air missile, the beam-riding Kh-66 had been the Soviet Union's first air-to-ground missile for tactical aircraft, entering service in 1968.[6] However it proved difficult to use in practice as the launch aircraft had to dive towards the target. A version with radio-command guidance, the Kh-23, was first tested in 1968 but problems with the guidance system meant that it would not enter service for another five years.[7] So in 1971 work began on a version with a semi-active laser seeker, which became the Kh-25.[6] This was initially known in the West as the Kh-23L.[8] State testing began on 24 November 1974, and the Kh-25 entered production in 1975.[6] Work began on an anti-radar missile derived from the Kh-66[5] in 1972, using a passive radar seeker and SUR-73 autopilot.[6] The long-range Kh-31 anti-radar missile came out of the same project.[6] The Kh-27 began state testing on a Mig-27 on 8 August 1975[6] but did not enter service until 2 September 1980.[6] It was assigned the NATO reporting name AS-12 'Kegler' and in effect it replaced the much heavier Kh-28 (AS-9 'Kyle').[5] In 1973 Victor Bugaiskii was appointed head engineer of the bureau and he started work on combining the Kh-23M, Kh-25 and Kh-27 into a single modular system to reduce costs and improve tactical flexibility.[6] This was completed by the end of 1978,[6] resulting in the Kh-25MP (anti-radar), Kh-25ML (laser-guided) and Kh-25MR (radio-guided) family. NATO continued to refer to these as the AS-12 and AS-10 respectively, even though they could now be switched by a simple change of seeker head.
Design[]
The Kh-25 is very similar to the later version of the Kh-23, with cruciform canards and fins.
The Kh-25MP has two versions of its homing head, 1VP and 2VP, sensitive to different frequencies.[2]
Operational history[]
The original Kh-25 entered service with the Soviet Air Force between 1973-5, equipping the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, MiG-27 and Sukhoi Su-17M.[4] Since then it has been cleared for use on the MiG-21, MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-17/20/22 family, Sukhoi Su-24, Su-25 and Su-27.[4] It can also be carried by attack helicopters such as the Kamov Ka-50.
The Kh-25MP can be fitted to the MiG-23/27, Su-17/22, Su-24 and Su-25.[5]
Variants[]
NATO refers to all of the Kh-25 family as AS-10 'Karen' apart from the anti-radar variants. An "M" designation stands for "Modulnaya" - modular (seeker head).
- Kh-25 (Izdeliye 71, Kh-23L) - original laser-guided variant
- Kh-25ML - semi-active laser guidance with tandem warhead that can penetrate 1 metre (39 in) of concrete[9]
- Kh-25MA - active radar guidance, first offered for export in 1999[4]
- Kh-25MAE - Kh-25MA update announced for export in August 2005 with Ka-band seeker, probably Phazotron's PSM which can detect a tank at 4,000 m (4,370 yd) and which can also be used on the Kh-25MA[9]
- Kh-25MS - satellite navigation (GPS or GLONASS)[4]
- Kh-25MSE - export version of Kh-25MS, announced August 2005[9]
- Kh-25MT - TV guidance[4]
- Kh-25MTP - infra-red guidance variant of Kh-25MT[3][4]
- Kh-25R/Kh-25MR - Radio-command guidance variant,[4] it has a bigger 140 kg (309 lb) warhead.[3]
- Kh-27 (Kh-27/M, AS-12 'Kegler') - original anti-radiation missile
- Kh-25MP (AS-12 'Kegler') - modular anti-radiation variant[5]
- Kh-25MPU (AS-12 'Kegler') - Updated Kh-25MP[5]
Training rounds have "U" designations, so e.g. for the Kh-25ML there is :
- Kh-25MUL - combat training Kh-25ML[1]
- Kh-25ML-UD - functional training missile[1]
- Kh-25ML-UR - sectional training missile[1]
Operators[]
Similar weapons[]
- Kh-23M (AS-7 'Kerry') - predecessor to the Kh-25 had some technology "backported" from the Kh-25
- Kh-29 (AS-14 'Kedge') - 320 kg warhead; semi-active laser, IIR, passive radar and TV guidance with 10-30 km range
- Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt') - longer range Kh-25, with heavier warhead and TV guidance
- Kh-38 - successor to the Kh-25
- AGM-65 Maverick - similar lightweight missile in US service which has seen numerous guidance and warhead variants
- AGM-45 Shrike - US equivalent to the Kh-25MP anti-radar missile
External links[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Kh-25ML". Tactical Missiles Corporation. 2004. http://eng.ktrv.ru/production_eng/323/513/367/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Kh-25MP". Tactical Missiles Corporation. 2004. http://eng.ktrv.ru/production_eng/323/511/369/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 [1]
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 "Kh-25 (AS-10 'Karen')". 2008-08-01. http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2917.html. Retrieved 2009-02-07.[dead link]
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 "Kh-25MP, Kh-25MPU (AS-12 'Kegler')". 2008-08-01. http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/Kh-25MP-Kh-25MPU-AS-12-Kegler-Russian-Federation.html. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 "History of JSC Tactical Missile Corporation" (Word 97 DOC). pp. 4–6. http://eng.ktrv.ru/docs/history_eng.doc. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ↑ Friedman, Norman (1997). "The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems". Naval Institute Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-1-55750-268-1. http://books.google.com/?id=l-DzknmTgDUC&pg=PA235&lpg=PA235.
- ↑ "Kh-23, Kh-66 Grom (AS-7 'Kerry')". 2008-08-01. http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2915.html. Retrieved 2009-02-07.[dead link]
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Friedman, Norman (2006). "The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems". Naval Institute Press. p. 838. ISBN 978-1-55750-262-9. http://books.google.com/?id=4S3h8j_NEmkC&pg=PA838.
- ↑ http://www.waronline.org/mideast/algir.htm
- ↑ http://defense-studies.blogspot.com/search?q=algeria
References[]
- Gordon, Yefim (2004). "Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two". Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1.
- http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/yak_130/ 02. August 2013
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The original article can be found at Kh-25 and the edit history here.