Kh-29
(NATO reporting name: AS-14 'Kedge') |
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 |
| Weight | 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 pentrating warhead[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] |
| 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 |
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,[5] Su-17/22,[5] Su-24,[5] Su-33, Su-34, Su-37 |
The Kh-29 (Russian: Х-29; AS-14 'Kedge';GRAU 9M721) is a Russian air-to-surface missile with a range of 10-30 km. It has a large warhead of 320 kg, has a choice of laser or TV guidance, and is typically carried by tactical aircraft such as the Su-24 and Su-30.
It is comparable to the United States' AGM-65 Maverick missile but with a much heavier warhead.[6] The Kh-29 is intended for primary use against larger battlefield targets and infrastructure such as industrial buildings, depots and bridges,[6] but can also be used against ships up to 10,000 tonnes, hardened aircraft shelters and concrete runways. [1]
[edit] 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.[6] The first firing of the missile took place in 1976 and after extensive trials the Kh-29 was accepted into service in 1980.[2]
[edit] 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.[6] 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.[5]
[edit] Operational history
The Kh-29 entered service with the Russian air force in 1980, and has been widely exported since.
[edit] Variants
- Kh-29L (Izdeliye 63, 'Kedge-A')[6] uses semi-active laser guidance and has a range of 8–10 km.[3]
- Kh-29ML is an upgraded version of the Kh-29L.[6]
- Kh-29T (Izdeliye 64, 'Kedge-B')[6] 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 Possible anti-radar version developed to give Su-17 'Fitter' SEAD capability.[6]
Some Western sources mention a fourth guidance variant, a "Kh-29D" using "infrared". This could be a reference to a possible modification of the Kh-29T camera to use imaging infrared for day/night use[6] like the Maverick, but does not appear in Russian references.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Current Operators
[edit] Former Operators
[edit] 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.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f X-29TE / X-29L, Tactical Missiles Corporation, http://eng.ktrv.ru/production_eng/323/513/514/, retrieved 2009-02-06
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t 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
- ^ "KH-29". The Probert Encyclopaedia. http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/I_KH-29.HTM. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
- ^ a b c d "Vympel Kh-29 (AS-14 'Kedge')", Jane's Electro-Optic Systems, 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
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Kh-29 (AS-14 'Kedge')", Jane's Air-Launched Weapons, 2008-08-06, http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2921.html
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/mig-29k.htm
- ^ Gertz, Bill (2002-07-01), "China test-fires new air-to-air missile; Taiwan likely to get upgraded arms", The Washington Times: page A1
- ^ 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, p. 4-2C, http://www.uscc.gov/researchpapers/2004/04fisher_report/7airforcesystems.htm
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