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Kh-29
(NATO reporting name: AS-14 'Kedge')
Kh-29L (1)
Kh-29L
Type air-to-surface missile
Place of origin Soviet Union
Service history
In service 1980s-current
Used by Warsaw Pact, China, India, Iraq
Wars Iran-Iraq War
Production history
Designer Matius Bisnovat
Georgiy I. Khokhlov
Designed 1975
Manufacturer Vympel / Tactical Missiles Corporation[1]
Produced 1980- 2003 [2]
Specifications
Mass Kh-29L :660 kg (1,460 lb) [3]
Kh-29T :685 kg (1,510 lb) [3]
Kh-29TE :690 kg (1,520 lb) [3]
Length Kh-29L/T :390 cm (12 ft 10 in)[3]
Kh-29TE :387.5 cm (12 ft 9 in)[3]
Diameter 38.0 cm (15.0 in) [3]
Warhead HE armour-piercing[1]
Warhead weight 320 kg (705 lb)[1]
Detonation
mechanism
Impact [1]

Engine Fixed thrust solid fuel rocket[1]
Wingspan 110 cm (43 in) [3]
Operational
range
Kh-29L :10 km (5.4 nmi)[3]
Kh-29T :12 km (6.5 nmi) [3]
Kh-29TE :30 km (16 nmi) [3]
Maximum speed

1,470 km/h (910 mph)[2]

Kh-29ML :900–1260 km/h (560–780 mph)[4]
Guidance
system
Kh-29L : semi-active laser guided
Kh-29T/TE : passive TV guided
Kh-29D : infrared guidance (IIR)[5][6]
Kh-29MP : active radar homing [7]
Launch
platform

Kh-29L&T : MiG-27K,[3] MiG-29M,[3]
Su-27UB,[3] Su-30MK,[3] Su-39[3]
Kh-29L only : Su-25[3]
Kh-29T only : Su-35[3]

Also : Mirage F1E,[8] Su-17/22,[8] Su-24,[8] Su-33, Su-34, Su-37

The Kh-29 (Russian: Х-29; NATO: AS-14 'Kedge'; GRAU: 9M721) is a Soviet air-to-surface missile with a range of 10–30 km. It has a large warhead of 320 kg, has a choice of laser, infrared, active radar or TV guidance, and is typically carried by tactical aircraft such as the Su-24, Su-30, MiG-29K as well as the "T/TM" models of the Su-25, giving that craft an expanded standoff capability.

It is comparable to the United States' AGM-65 Maverick missile but with a much heavier warhead.[9] The Kh-29 is intended for primary use against larger battlefield targets and infrastructure such as industrial buildings, depots and bridges,[9] but can also be used against ships up to 10,000 tonnes, hardened aircraft shelters and concrete runways.[1]

Development[]

Design started in the late 1970s at the Molniya design bureau in Ukraine on what would be their only air-to-ground munition, but when they moved exclusively to space work Vympel took over development of the Kh-29.[9] The first firing of the missile took place in 1976 and after extensive trials the Kh-29 was accepted into service in 1980.[2]

Design[]

The basic aerodynamic layout of the Kh-29 is similar to the Molniya R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid'), reflecting Molniya's heritage in air-to-air missiles.[9] The laser guidance head came from the Kh-25 (AS-10 'Karen') and the TV guidance from the Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt'), mated to a large warhead.[8]

Operational history[]

The Kh-29 entered service with the Russian air force in 1980, and has been widely exported since.

Variants[]

  • Kh-29L (Izdeliye 63, 'Kedge-A')[9] uses semi-active laser guidance and has a range of 8–10 km.[3]
  • Kh-29ML is an upgraded version of the Kh-29L.[9]
  • Kh-29T (Izdeliye 64, 'Kedge-B')[9] is the TV-guided version which is fitted with automatic optical homing to a distinguishable object indicated by the pilot in the cockpit.
  • Kh-29TE is a long-range (30 km) development of the Kh-29T.[3] Minimum range is 3 km; launch altitude is 200-10,000 m.[3]
  • Kh-29MP is a third generation guidance variant with active radar homing, makes it a fire-and-forget weapon. It has a large 250 kg warhead with 12 km range.[5][7]
  • Kh-29D is a fourth guidance variant (fire-and-forget) of the Kh-29TE, using imaging infrared.[5][6]

Operators[]

Current Operators[]

  • Flag of Malaysia Malaysia: Malaysia Air Force on its Su-30MKM

Former Operators[]

See also[]

  • Kh-25 (AS-10/12 'Karen/Kegler') - 320 kg missile with 90 kg warhead and 10–25 km range
  • AGM-65 Maverick - 200–300 kg missile with 57–135 kg warhead and 27 km range
  • AGM-62 Walleye I - 1967 US glide bomb delivering 385 kg warhead over 30 km.

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "X-29TE / X-29L". Tactical Missiles Corporation. http://eng.ktrv.ru/production_eng/323/513/514/. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Fiszer, Michal A.. "25 years of service of Russian Kh-29 missile". Situational Awareness. http://edefense.blogspot.com/2005/12/25-years-of-service-of-russian-kh-29.html. Retrieved 2008-09-07.  Written by Polish former Su-24 pilot
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 Rosoboronexport Air Force Department and Media & PR Service. "AEROSPACE SYSTEMS export catalogue". Rosoboronexport State Corporation. p. 122. http://www.rusarm.ru/cataloque/air_craft/aircraft.pdf. 
  4. "KH-29". The Probert Encyclopaedia. http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/I_KH-29.HTM. Retrieved 2008-09-05. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 [1]
  6. 6.0 6.1 [2]
  7. 7.0 7.1 [3]
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Vympel Kh-29 (AS-14 'Kedge')". 2008-09-04. http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Electro-Optic-Systems/Vympel-Kh-29-AS-14-Kedge-Russian-Federation.html. Retrieved 2009-02-06. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 "Kh-29 (AS-14 'Kedge')". 2008-08-06. http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2921.html. [dead link]
  10. http://www.waronline.org/mideast/algir.htm
  11. http://geo-army.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=9&lang=en
  12. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/mig-29k.htm
  13. 2011 Annual Report of Tactical Missile Corporation, http://bmpd.livejournal.com/290141.html
  14. Gertz, Bill (2002-07-01). "China test-fires new air-to-air missile; Taiwan likely to get upgraded arms". p. page A1. 
  15. Fisher, Richard D., Jr. (January 2004). "The Impact Of Foreign Weapons And Technology On The Modernization Of China's People's Liberation Army". US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. pp. 4–2C. http://www.uscc.gov/researchpapers/2004/04fisher_report/7airforcesystems.htm. 

References[]

  • Gordon, Yefim (2004). "Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two". Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1. 
All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Kh-29 and the edit history here.
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