Kh-59
Encyclopedia
The Kh-59 Ovod is a Russia
n TV-guided cruise missile
with a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system and 115 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 but the Kh-59MK variant targets shipping.
(AS-11 'Kilter'), but it had to be abandoned because the missile speed was too high for visual target acquisition.
Raduga OKB developed the Kh-59 in the 1970s as a longer ranged version of the Kh-25 (AS-10 'Karen'), as a precision stand-off weapon for the Su-24M and late-model Mig-27's.. The electro-optical sensors for this and other weapons such as the Kh-29
(AS-14 'Kedge') and KAB-500 Kr bombs were developed by S A Zverev NPO
in Krasnogorsk.
It is believed that development of the Kh-59M started in the 1980s.. Details of the Kh-59M were first revealed in the early 1990s.
. It can be launched at speeds of 600 to 1,000 km/h at altitudes of 0.2 to 11 kilometers and has a CEP
of 2 to 3 meters. It is carried on an AKU-58-1 launch pylon.
The Kh-59ME has an external turbofan
engine below the body just forward of the rear wings, but retains the powder-fuel accelerator. It also has a dual guidance system consisting of an inertial guidance system to guide it into the target area and a television system to guide it to the target itself.
The 36MT turbofan engine developed for the Kh-59M class of missiles is manufactured by NPO Saturn
of Russia.
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 from the target the television guidance system is activated. An operator aboard the aircraft visually identifies the target and locks the missile onto it.
Proposed development options for the Kh-59M/ME have included alternative payloads (including cluster munitions) but their current development status is unclear.
Russia: Russian Air Force
India: Indian Air Force
: Venezuelan Air Force
: People's Liberation Army Air Force
: Indonesian Air Force
: Malaysia Air Force
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n TV-guided cruise missile
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
with a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system and 115 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 but the Kh-59MK variant targets shipping.
Development
The initial design was based on the Raduga Kh-58Kh-58
The Kh-58 is a Russian anti-radiation missile with a range of 120 km. the Kh-58U variant was still the primary anti-radiation missile of Russia and her allies. It is being superseded by the Kh-31.-Development:...
(AS-11 'Kilter'), but it had to be abandoned because the missile speed was too high for visual target acquisition.
Raduga OKB developed the Kh-59 in the 1970s as a longer ranged version of the Kh-25 (AS-10 'Karen'), as a precision stand-off weapon for the Su-24M and late-model Mig-27's.. The electro-optical sensors for this and other weapons such as the Kh-29
Kh-29
The Kh-29 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...
(AS-14 'Kedge') and KAB-500 Kr bombs were developed by S A Zverev NPO
Krasnogorskiy Zavod
Krasnogorskiy zavod im. S. A. Zvereva is a Russian factory in Krasnogorsk near Moscow which specializes in optical technology.During the Soviet period it was called Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works...
in Krasnogorsk.
It is believed that development of the Kh-59M started in the 1980s.. Details of the Kh-59M were first revealed in the early 1990s.
Design
The original Kh-59 is propelled by a powder-fuel engine, and incorporates a powder-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 meters above water or 100-1,000 meters above ground with the help of a radar altimeterRadar altimeter
A radar altimeter, radio altimeter, low range radio altimeter or simply RA measures altitude above the terrain presently beneath an aircraft or spacecraft...
. It can be launched at speeds of 600 to 1,000 km/h at altitudes of 0.2 to 11 kilometers and has a CEP
Circular error probable
In the military science of ballistics, circular error probable is an intuitive measure of a weapon system's precision...
of 2 to 3 meters. It is carried on an AKU-58-1 launch pylon.
The Kh-59ME has an external turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
engine below the body just forward of the rear wings, but retains the powder-fuel accelerator. It also has a dual guidance system consisting of an inertial guidance system to guide it into the target area and a television system to guide it to the target itself.
The 36MT turbofan engine developed for the Kh-59M class of missiles is manufactured by NPO Saturn
NPO Saturn
NPO Saturn is a Russian aircraft engine manufacturer, formed from the mergers of Rybinsk and Lyul'ka-Saturn . Saturn's engines power many former Eastern Bloc aircraft, such as the Tupolev Tu-154. Saturn holds a 50% stake in the PowerJet joint venture with Snecma...
of Russia.
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 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 MiG-27, Su-17M3, Su-22M4, Su-24M, Su-25 and Su-30 family if they carried an APK-9 datalink pod, it was only fielded on the Su-24M in Russian service.Variants
- Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt') - original version with dual solid-fuel rocket engines. First shown in 1991; exported as Kh-59 or Kh-59E.
- Kh-59M (AS-18 'Kazoo') - adds turbojet engine and larger warhead. Range 115 km.
- Kh-59ME - 200 km-range variant offered for export in 1999.
- Kh-59MK - 285 km-range anti-shipping variant with turbofan engine and ARGS-59 active radar seeker.
- Kh-59M2/Kh-59MK2 - Kh-59M/Kh-59MK with new TV/IIR seekers, reported in 2004.
- Kh-20 - possible name for nuclear-tipped variant carried by Su-27 family.
- Kh-59L - laser-guided variant that was developed but may not have been deployed. Kh-59T was the parallel name for the TV-guided version that became the basic Kh-59.
Proposed development options for the Kh-59M/ME have included alternative payloads (including cluster munitions) but their current development status is unclear.
Operators
Russia: Russian Air ForceRussian Air Force
The Russian Air Force is the air force of Russian Military. It is currently under the command of Colonel General Aleksandr Zelin. The Russian Navy has its own air arm, the Russian Naval Aviation, which is the former Soviet Aviatsiya Voyenno Morskogo Flota , or AV-MF).The Air Force was formed from...
India: Indian Air ForceIndian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
: Venezuelan Air Force
: People's Liberation Army Air Force
People's Liberation Army Air Force
The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...
: Indonesian Air Force
Indonesian Air Force
The Indonesian Air Force is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.The Indonesian Air Force has 34,930 personnel equipped with 110 combat aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30.-Before Indonesian independence :...
: Malaysia Air Force
Similar weapons
- AGM-84E/H/K Standoff Land Attack MissileStandoff Land Attack MissileThe Standoff Land Attack Missile or SLAM is a subsonic, over-the-horizon, all-weather standoff cruise missile which grew out of the United States Navy's Harpoon anti-ship missile in the 1970s.-Original SLAM:...
- AGM-62 WalleyeAGM-62 WalleyeThe AGM-62 Walleye is a television-guided glide bomb which was produced by Martin Marietta and used by the United States armed forces during the 1960s. Most had a 250 lb high-explosive warhead, some had a nuclear warhead...
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-58Kh-58The Kh-58 is a Russian anti-radiation missile with a range of 120 km. the Kh-58U variant was still the primary anti-radiation missile of Russia and her allies. It is being superseded by the Kh-31.-Development:...
(AS-11 'Kilter') - Raduga anti-radar missile, 120 km range