Kh-59
Kh-59 Ovod ( | |
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Launch platform | Kh-59ME: Su-30MK[1] Kh-59: Su-24M, MiG-27, Su-17M3/22M4, HAL Tejas, Su-30 MKI Su-25 and Su-30[5] Kh-59MK2: Su-57[6] |
The Kh-59 Ovod (Russian: Х-59 Овод 'Gadfly'; AS-13 'Kingbolt') is a Russian cruise missile with a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system and 200 km range. The Kh-59M Ovod-M (AS-18 'Kazoo') is a variant with a bigger warhead and turbojet engine. It is primarily a land-attack missile; the Kh-59MK variant targets ships.[4]
Development
The initial design was based on the Raduga Kh-58 (AS-11 'Kilter'), but it had to be abandoned[citation needed] because the missile speed was too high for visual target acquisition.
It is believed that development of the Kh-59M started in the 1980s.[4] Details of the Kh-59M were first revealed in the early 1990s.[4]
Design
The original Kh-59 is propelled by a solid fuel engine, and incorporates a solid fuel accelerator in the tail. The folding stabilizers are located in the front of the missile, with wings and rudder in the rear. The Kh-59 cruises at an altitude of about 7 metres above water or 100–1,000 metres (330–3,280 ft) above ground with the help of a
The Kh-59ME has an external
The 36MT turbofan engine developed for the Kh-59M class of missiles is manufactured by
Target coordinates are fed into the missile before launch, and the initial flight phase is conducted under inertial guidance. At a distance of 10 km (6.2 mi) from the target the television guidance system is activated. An operator aboard the aircraft visually identifies the target and locks the missile onto it.
Operational history
Although the original Kh-59 could be carried by the
On 4 April 2022, during the
On 16 August 2022, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed over Social Media that Kh-59 missiles were used to strike an airbase in the Zhytomyr Oblast, the missiles being fired from towards the Belarusian border from what was believed to be Su-34 jets.
Variants
Kh-59 model
- Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt') – original version with dual solid-fuel rocket engines. First shown in 1991; exported as Kh-59 or Kh-59E.[7]
- Kh-59M (AS-18 'Kazoo') – adds turbojet engine and larger warhead. Range 115 km.[1]
- Kh-59ME – 200 km-range variant offered for export in 1999.[4]
- Kh-59MK – 285 km-range anti-shipping variant with turbofan engine and ARGS-59 active radar seeker.[4][11]
- Kh-59MK2 (AS-22) – land attack variant of Kh-59MK (fire-and-forget),[4] equipped with either a 320 kg penetrating or 285 kg (628 lb) pellet warhead.[9][12] First unveiled at MAKS 2015.[13][14]
- Kh-59M2 – Kh-59M/Kh-59MK with new TV/IIR seekers, reported in 2004.[4]
- Kh-20 – possible name for nuclear-tipped variant carried by Su-27 family.[4]
- Kh-59L – laser-guided variant that was developed.[5]
- Kh-59T – TV guided instead laser guidance variant.
- Kh-59MKM – penetrator version that eliminated the seeker section and fitted a 360 kg (790 lb) warhead, able to penetrate 3 m of reinforced concrete.[15]
Proposed development options for the Kh-59M/ME have included alternative payloads (including cluster munitions) but their current development status is unclear.[5][16]
Kh-69 model
Operators
Current operators
Former operators
See also
- Kh-69next generation, long range & stealth missile
- AGM-130 TV-guided penetration missile
- AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile
- AGM-62 Walleye II – TV-guided glide bomb with 83 km range
- Kh-37 variant of Kh-35U (AS-20 'Kayak') – 145 kg warhead, 250 km range
- Kh-58 (AS-11 'Kilter') – Raduga anti-radar missile, 120 km range
- Kh-35 (AS-20 'Kayak')
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rosoboronexport Air Force Department and Media & PR Service (2005). Aerospace Systems. Export Catalogue (PDF). Rosoboronexport. p. 124. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2007.
- ^ a b Närväinen, Tuomas. "Soviet Missiles". Tuomas Närväinen's Homepage. Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
- ^ "Aero-Engine Scientific and Technical Complex "Soyuz"". amntksoyuz.ru. Soyuz Scientific Production Association. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Kh-59M, Kh-59ME Ovod-M (AS-18 'Kazoo')". Jane's Air-Launched Weapons. 3 December 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kh-59 Ovod (AS-13 'Kingbolt')". Jane's Air-Launched Weapons. 24 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ^ a b "Russian Su-57 reportedly fired cutting-edge Kh-59Mk2 cruise missile during tests in Syria". Russian Aviation. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ a b c "Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt'/Ovod)". Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems. 9 September 2008. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- NPO Saturn. Archived from the originalon 30 June 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ^ "Russia's KH-59M missile hit a grain depot in southern Ukraine". News7F. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Kh-59MK extended-range Air-to-Surface Missile". roe.ru. Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Kh-59MK2 Air-to-Surface Guided Missile". roe.ru. Rosoboronexport. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ Eshel, Tamir (30 August 2015). "Russian Stealth Ship Killers Debut at MAKS 2015". Defense Update. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ "The X-59MK2 guided aircraft missile updated version". Retrieved 10 April 2022 – via Imgur.[unreliable source?]
- Janes.com. Archivedfrom the original on 4 August 2021.
- ^ Wiebe, Virgil; Peachey, Titus (2000). "Chapter 2: Cluster Munitions in the Russian Arsenal". Clusters of Death: The Mennonite Central Committee Global Report on Cluster Bomb Production and Use (Report). Mennonite Central Committee. Archived from the original on 17 February 2001. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
Also known as the Kh-59M Ovod-M, the AS-18 is 'modernized version of AS-13 Kingbolt.['] [...] The warhead can be either a 705-lb high explosive or 617-lb cluster submunitions.
- ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
- better source needed]
Bibliography
- ISBN 1-85780-188-1.