KSR-5 | |
---|---|
Tu-16 with KSR-5 under wing | |
Type | Air-to-surface missile |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1969−1994 |
Used by | See operators |
Production history | |
Designer | Tupolev and Mikoyan Missile Design Bureau |
No. built | 300 |
Variants | See variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) |
Length | 10.56 m (34.6 ft) |
Diameter | 920 mm (36 in) |
Wingspan | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
Maximum firing range | 400 km (250 mi) |
Warhead | High-explosive, HE semi-armour-piercing, nuclear |
Warhead weight | 930–1,000 kg (2,050–2,200 lb) |
Blast yield | 350 kT (Nuclear) |
Propellant | Solid |
Maximum speed | Mach 2 or Mach 3 |
Guidance system | Inertial with active or passive radar |
Launch platform | Tu-16, Tu-22M, Tu-95M |
References |
The KSR-5, also designated as the Kh-26 (NATO reporting name AS-6 Kingfish) was a long-range, air-launched cruise missile and anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union. It was essentially a scaled down version of the Kh-22 'Kitchen', built to be carried by the less capable Tu-16.
Background
In the early 1960s the development of new nuclear-capable strategic bombers came into a virtual halt in the Soviet Union, with the focus being shifted on nuclear ballistic missiles and developing cruise missiles for existing aircraft.
Description
Developed in the late 1960s, the KRS-5 (also designated as the Kh-26) is an improved version of the Kh-22 missile, designed to be smaller, lighter and with a smaller radar signature. According to Janes, it was designed jointly by the Tupolev and Mikoyan Design Bureaus. It was developed as a conventional anti-ship missile and a nuclear cruise missile capable of striking ground targets. Originally designed to be carried on the Tu-22 "Blinder", it was primarily mounted on the Tu-16 "Badger", the Tu-22M "Backfire" and Tu-95M "Bear" aircraft as well.
The missile had a maximum range of 400 km (250 mi) and cruise speed of Mach 3 when released from high altitude and 250 km (160 mi) range and cruise speed of Mach 2 when launched at low altitude.
Variants
- Kh-26 − Nuclear variant with inertial guidance. Armed with a 350 kiloton warhead weighing about 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).
- Kh-26N − Active radar homing anti-ship variant, it could carry either a nuclear warhead or a conventional 930 kg (2,050 lb) HE SAP warhead. The seeker had a lock-on range of 25–30 km (16–19 mi).
- Kh-26MP − Anti-radiation variant with a passive radar seeker and a HE blast/fragmentation warhead for use against land-based or ship-mounted radars.
- KSR-5NM and KSR-5MV − Russian air-launched target designed by MKB Raduga. It was offered for export in 1993.
Operational history
The KSR-5 entered service in 1969, with later versions designed to be carried in the Tu-95 and Tu-95M being introduced in 1973 and 1976 respectively. In June 1991, it was estimated that the Soviet Union had 300 missiles carried on Badger-G bombers.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the remaining missiles were used by Russia and possibly Ukraine until 1994. With the retirement of the Tu-16, the nuclear versions of the KSR-2 and KSR-5 missiles were retired by 1993. In 1991, it was estimated Russia had about 100 missiles in its inventory, but most were converted into supersonic targets.
Operators
- Belarus
- Russia − Most were converted for missile target practice
- Soviet Union − Passed on to successor states
- Ukraine
References
- ^ Taylor 1991, p. 71.
- ^ Lennox 2003, p. 191.
- ^ Bukharin et al. 2004, p. 345.
- ^ Lennox, Duncan, ed. (1997). "AS-6 'Kingfish' (KSR-5/11 and Kh-26)". Jane's Air-Launched Weapons (35th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group.
- Moore 1993, p. 57.
Bibliography
- Bukharin, Oleg; Kadyshev, Timur; Miasnikov, Eugene; Podig, Pavel; Sutyagin, Igor; Tarasenko, Maxim; Zhelezov, Boris (2004). Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. London: MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-66181-2.
- Lennox, Duncan, ed. (2003). Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems (38th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-0880-2.
- Moore, Mike, ed. (July–August 1993). "Nuclear Notebook". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 49 (6). Chicago, IL: Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science: 56–57. ISSN 0096-3402. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- Taylor, John W. R. (June 1991). "Gallery of Soviet Missiles". Air Force Magazine. 74 (6). Arlington, VA: Air Force Association.: 70–74. ISSN 0730-6784. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
External links
Russian and former Soviet military designation sequences for radar, missile and rocket systems | |||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Radar systems |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Missiles |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Unguided rockets |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Engines |
Russian and former Soviet aircraft ordnance | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Missiles |
| ||||||||||||||||
Rockets | |||||||||||||||||
Aerial bombs | |||||||||||||||||
Autocannons, machine guns |
|