Kh-55 (missile family)

Ch- 55

The AS -15 Kent ( other name X -55, Kh- 55, Kh -55 Granat, GRAU index Ch- 55 ) is an airborne cruise missiles and is produced by the Russian company MKB Raduga.

Development

The AS -15 was developed as a counterpart to the U.S. BGM -109 Tomahawk. The development in the design office Raduga began in 1973. In 1984, the first systems were introduced in the Soviet Air Force. Until the collapse of the Soviet Union some 620 missiles were produced.

Nuclear variants:

  • AS -15A Kent A: ( Ch-55K/KR ) 2 series version with modified hull form and new materials.
  • AS -15A Kent A: ( Ch- 55M ) 3 Series version with improved precision. Reach 2500 km. Hit accuracy CEP 10-20 m.
  • AS -15A Kent A: ( Ch-55OM/OK ) prototype with DSMAC seeker.
  • AS- 15B Kent -B: ( Ch- 55SM / RKV -500B ) execution of the Ch- 55 with external fuel tanks. Reach 3000 km. Hit accuracy of 45 m CEP.

Conventional versions:

  • AS -15C - Kent C: ( Ch- 555SE ) version with 350-410 kg heavy fragmentation warhead. Reach 2000 km. Hit accuracy CEP 10-20 m.
  • AS -15C - Kent C: ( Ch- 555Sh ) version with 200-410 kg heavy penetration warhead. Reach 2000 km. Hit accuracy CEP 10-20 m.
  • AS -15C - Kent C: ( Ch- 555SD ) version with 200-410 kg of cluster munitions. Reach 2000 km. Hit accuracy CEP 10-20 m.

Variants for the export market:

  • Ch- 65SE: Version to ship combat with an active radar homing head. With 410 kg heavy penetration warhead. Reach over 580 km.
  • Ch- 65DE: Tactical missiles with 410 kg heavy fragmentation warhead or cluster munitions. Reach 280 km. Hit accuracy CEP 18-26 m.

Other variants are the submarine -based SS-N -21 Sampson and the vehicle-mounted version of SS -C -4 Slingshot.

Technology

Before the start of the coordinates of the target must be entered in the navigation system of the missile. This can also happen on board the carrier airplane on the ground, or in later versions. After the release of the plane first, a brief non-driven phase. During this unfold the wings and the turbofan engine is deployed and started. The missile can be launched individually or in series. The Ch- 55 can be launched at speeds of 540-1050 km / h in a height range of 200-12,000 m. The cruise takes place at a speed 720-830 km / h The cruise takes place autonomously contour flight, at an altitude of 40 to 150 m. The navigation during the march flight is accomplished by means of an inertial navigation platform. For the target approach is a terrain contour matching ( TERCOM ) is used, which compares the overflown terrain with stored data. It is reached by a 10-45 m CEP. The thermonuclear warhead can be triggered by the impact fuze contact with the ground detonate in the air by means of proximity fuze or.

Aircraft carrier:

  • Tupolev Tu- 95MS Bear -6 - H6 with max. 12 missiles
  • Tupolev Tu- 95MS Bear - H16 -16 with max. 16 missiles
  • Tupolev Tu -160 Blackjack with max. 12 missiles
Mach number Tomahawk (missile) Circular Error Probable Tupolev Tu-160 Kh-22 KSR-2 9K114 Shturm Kh-59
82190
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