Kh-29
| Kh-29 (NATO reporting name: AS-14 'Kedge') |
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.jpg) Kh-29L |
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| 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] |
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| Warhead | HE armour-piercing[1] |
| Warhead weight | 320 kg (705 lb)[1] |
| Detonation mechanism |
Impact [1] |
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| 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 Kh-29D : infrared guidance (IIR)[5][6] Kh-29MP : active radar homing [7] |
| 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] |
The Kh-29 (Russian: Х-29; AS-14 'Kedge';GRAU 9M721) 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 Su-25, giving that craft an expanded standoff capability.
It is comparable to the United States' AGM-65 Maverick missile but with a much heavier warhead.[9] The Kh-29 is intended for primary use against larger battlefield targets and infrastructure such as industrial buildings, depots and bridges,[9] but can also be used against ships up to 10,000 tonnes, hardened aircraft shelters and concrete runways.[1]
Contents |
[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.[9] 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.[9] 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.[8]
[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')[9] uses semi-active laser guidance and has a range of 8–10 km.[3]
- Kh-29ML is an upgraded version of the Kh-29L.[9]
- Kh-29T (Izdeliye 64, 'Kedge-B')[9] 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 is a third generation guidance variant with active radar homing, makes it a fire-and-forget weapon. It has a large 250 kg warhead with 12 km range.[5][7]
- Kh-29D is a fourth guidance variant (fire-and-forget) of the Kh-29TE, using imaging infrared.[5][6]
[edit] Operators
[edit] Current Operators
Belarus: Belarusian Air Force- on its modernized MiG-29BMs.[2]
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Air Force- on its Su-22M4s,[2] which were withdrawn from service in 2004 and now used only for reconnaissance. Currently used on Su-25.
Georgia: Georgian Air Force- on its SU-25KM Scorpion [10]
India: Indian Air Force- on its on new Su-30MKIs[2] and Indian Navy- on its on new MiG-29Ks.[11]
Indonesia: Indonesian Air Force on its Su-30 [12]
Iran: Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force on its Su-24 Fencer
People's Republic of China: People's Liberation Army Air Force- received 2000 Kh-29T's in 2002[13] for use on their Su-27SK's, Su-27UBK's, Su-30MKK's, Shenyang J-11's and possibly their JH-7's ('Flounder') and Q-5's ('Fantan').[14]
Poland: Polish Air Force- on its on Su-22M4s.[2]
Russia: Russian Air Force
Syria: Syrian Air Force
Ukraine: Ukrainian Air Force.[2]
Peru: Peruvian Air Force on its Su-25
Venezuela: Venezuelan Air Force on its Su-30
Malaysia: Malaysia Air Force on its Su-30MKM
[edit] Former Operators
Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovak Air Force- passed onto successor states.[2]
East Germany: East German Air Force.[2]
Hungary: Hungarian Air Force - on Su-22M3s
Iraq: Iraqi Air Force- all retired
Slovakia: Slovak Air Force- Su-22M4s.[2]
Soviet Union: Soviet Air Force- passed onto successor states
[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] Notes
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kh-29 |
- ^ 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 [1]
- ^ a b [2]
- ^ a b [3]
- ^ 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 "Kh-29 (AS-14 'Kedge')", Jane's Air-Launched Weapons, 2008-08-06, http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2921.html[dead link]
- ^ http://geo-army.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=9&lang=en
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/mig-29k.htm
- ^ www.dephan.go.id
- ^ 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, pp. 4–2C, http://www.uscc.gov/researchpapers/2004/04fisher_report/7airforcesystems.htm
[edit] References
- Gordon, Yefim (2004), Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two, Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing, ISBN 1-85780-188-1
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