Kh-25

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 the Kh-23 Grom (AS-7 'Kerry'). The Kh-25 remains in widespread use despite the apparent development of a successor, the Kh-38.

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.

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] The Kh-27 missile was chosen as a basis, due to its more powerful rocket engine and new autopilot.^[9] 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 Grom, with cruciform canards and fins.

The Kh-25MP has two versions of its homing head, 1VP and 2VP, sensitive to different frequencies.^[2]

Combat history

The original Kh-25 entered service with the Soviet Air Force between 1973-5, equipping the

The Kh-25MP can be fitted to the MiG-23/27, Su-17/22, Su-24 and Su-25.[5]

Soviet war in Afghanistan

Starting in April 1986, during the

Russian Air Force Su-25s employed the Kh-25 in its two Chechen campaigns for attacks on fixed positions, such as mortars and bunkers. However, their usage wasn't extensive in relation to those of unguided bombs and rockets. The use of precision-guided munitions allowed air support in areas too dangerous for attack helicopters. Their use was not widespread in the First War as was in the Second, mainly due to differences in weather conditions and, probably, the need to keep a strategic reserve of stockpiles shortly after the fall of the USSR.^[12]

Russia intervention in Syria

Laser-guided Kh-25s were employed by

• 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[13]
• 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^[13]
• Kh-25MS – satellite navigation (
  GPS or GLONASS)^[4]
• Kh-25MSE – export version of Kh-25MS, announced August 2005[13]
• 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

Current operators

•  Algeria: Algerian Air Force^[14]
•  Ethiopia: Ethiopian Air Force, Kh-25ML on the Su-25^[15]
•  India: unknown status
•  Iran
•  North Korea^[16]
•  Russia: The Defense Ministry ordered a large-scale upgrade of tactical antiradar air missiles Kh-25MP. They will be able to destroy both radars and armor, aircraft at airfields, bridges and river crossings, surface warships, etc. The missile will be also able to destroy fortified command posts and pillboxes.^[17]
•  Ukraine: still in use with Sukhoi Su-24s.^[18]
•  
  Su-30MK2.^[19]

•  People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
•  Czechoslovakia
• Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
•  Hungarian People's Republic - today ⦁  Hungary
•  Polish People's Republic - today ⦁  Poland
•  People's Republic of Bulgaria - today ⦁  Romania^[20]
•  Ba'athist Iraq /  Republic of Iraq^[11]
•  Soviet Union passed on successor and export countries

Similar weapons

• Kh-23
  M (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 missile 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

Notes