The Kh-15 (AS-16 'Kickback') is a supersonic aeroballistic missile intended for destroying ships such as cruisers or destroyers. The missile has a solid-propellant rocket motor. During cruise flight (normally, at Mach 5), the missile climbs, and at the terminal part of flight it follows a ballistic trajectory.
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The missile can engage targets stand-off, without the launching aircraft entering into the ships air defense area. While cruising, the Kh-65 travels at altitudes of 40-110 meters at Mach 0.5-0.75. Unlike the Kh-55, the Kh-65 switches to homing upon approach to the target. For this purpose it has an active radar seeker, ensuring high precision guidance on the final approach to the target. Typically, the pilot can launch the Kh-65 missile at ranges of 50-250 km and at altitudes of 200- 12000 m. This missile can be launched from a beam or drum launcher.
Launch envelope of the Kh -65
The table below contains the main characteristics of various types of Russian ASMs.
Type USA/NATO Carrier (#) Weight, kg Range, km Targets
Kh-15 AS-16/Kickback Tu-95 (6),
Tu-142 (6),
Tu-22M3 (8) 1200 150 ships
Kh-25MP AS-9/Karen MiG-27 (2) 300 10 radar
Kh-25MT AS-9/Karen MiG-27 (2), Su-24 (4), Su-25 (4) 300 20 ground targets Kh-25MTL AS-9/Karen MiG-27 (2), Su-24 (4), Su-25 (4) 300 20 ground targets Kh-29T AS-14/Kedge MiG-27 (2), Su-24 (3), Su-25 (4), Su-27 (4) 680 12 ground targets, ships Su-27 FLANKER 75 Kh-35
The Zvezda Kh-35 (AS-17 'Krypton') is an anti-ship missile flying at transonic speeds (1100 km/h). The Kh-35 has a two-stage configuration: the missile is fired from the launcher by a solid- propellant motor, then the small-size cruise turbojet engine, operating on aviation kerosene, takes over its sustainer flight. For better handling, the size of the missile was reduced by creating folding wings, control surfaces and stabilizers. The aerodynamic surfaces of the missile open up as soon as it leaves the launching platform.
The Kh-35 employs combined guidance: during the initial part of flight an inertial guidance system guides the missile to a pre-programmed point provided by the navigation system or AWACS. In the terminal part of flight, the missile engages its active radar homing system, which can work in conditions of severe ECM and enemy fire. The missile cruises at extremely low altitudes (3-5 meters, depending on sea conditions), which greatly hampers interception by shipborne antimissile systems. The 145-kg piercing blast-fragmentation warhead allows reliable engagement of surface vessels up to cruiser class. The missile is normally fired at a stand-off range within its launch envelope (see the figure below).
Launch envelope of the Kh -35
Kh-65
The construction of the Kh -65 (NATO and USA designations are unknown) anti-ship missile is similar to that of the Kh-55. The Kh-65 can destroy ships such as cruisers or destroyers using targeting data relayed from the launch platform.
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For laydown deliver y, bombs are released with the aircraft flying straight and level or at a small climb or dive angle. In so doing, the pilot can pinpoint a target using various methods. One of them is to place the bombsight onto a visible target and lock onto it thereby providing the targeting data to the onboard computer (Point 1 on the figure above). The computer then starts continuously computing the coordinates of the target, the bomb impact point (CCIP), and the misalignment between them in horizontal angle and range. The pilot should line up the aircraft with the target designator (in order to zero the misalignment) and release the bombs as soon as the bombsight crosses the release point (Point 2). For more information on bombing, turn to Chapter 6, “Hitting Ground Targets”.
Dive and dive/pull-up bombing
For dive bombing, the pilot drops the bombs executing a dive maneuver, that is, when the aircraft flies at a constant (or slowly changing) dive angle. For dive/pull up bombing, bombs are released during the recovery from the dive.
Dive bombing (left) and dive/pull up bombing (right)
For dive bombing (left), it is necessary to fly the aircraft so that the bombsight pipper sets right on the target until the ‘GH’ Shoot Cue illuminates. Then the pilot pulls the trigger and releases the bombs. The pilot should pay special attention to the safety of his aircraft after the release of bombs to prevent both crashing to the ground, and being damaged by debris as the bombs detonate. Dive/pull up bombing (right picture) is normally carried out in two steps. At the first step, the pilot adjusts his trajectory so that the aircraft heads right for the target (Point 1). At the second step he pulls the aircraft up from the dive staying lined up on the target and releases the bombs as soon as the range misalignment between the impact point and the targets reduces to zero (Point 2).
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Type USA/NATO Carrier (#) Weight, kg Range, km Targets
Kh-31P AS-12/Kegler MiG-27 (2),
Su-24 (2), Su-25 (2),
Su-27 (6) 600 100 radar
Kh-31A AS-12/Kegler MiG-27 (2),
Su-25 (2),
Su-27 (6) 600 50 ships
Kh-35 AS-17/Krypton MiG-27 (2),
Su-27 (6),
Tu-142 (8) 600 130 ships
Kh-55 AS-15/Kent Tu-95 (4) 1250 300 ground
targets
Kh-59 AS-13/Kingbolt Su-24 (2) 920 115 ground
targets
Kh-65 Unknown Tu-142 (6) 1250 280 ships
Bombs
Bombs are used for destroying comparatively large and fortified targets. After the release the bomb either follows a ballistic trajectory (free-fall bombs), or moves under control of its guidance system (guided bombs).
A typical bomb consists of a cylindrical body equipped with stabilizers, a charge of explosive, and a fuse. The most common bombs are blast (Russian designation FAB), fragmentation (OAB), concrete piercing (BetAB) and incendiary (ZAB) bombs, and combined action bombs, for example, blast-fragmentation (OFAB) bombs. All these types of bombs can be monolithic or cassette. There are various methods of placing bombs on the target: laydown bombing, dive bombing, dive/pull-up bombing, and loft bombing.
Laydown bombing
Laydown bombing
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OFAB-250 blast-fragmentation bomb
The OFAB-250 is a 250-kg blast-fragmentation bomb (OFAB stands for Blast Fragmentation Aviation Bomb in Russian) that combines the effects of both the general purpose and fragmentation bombs. The blast results in forming a large cloud of small fragments.
This weapon is effective against personnel and lightly armored vehicles. It is released at airspeeds from 500 to 1000 km/h and at altitudes from 500 to 5000 meters using any delivery method.
PB-250 retarded bomb
The PB-250 is a blast-fragmentation retarded bomb weighing 250-kg and fitted with an aft bay containing a drogue chute deployed when the bomb is released. The parachute increases air resistance of the bomb and, consequently, greatly reduces its speed. This allows the pilot to bomb from low altitudes, since the aircraft will have enough time to leave the dangerous area of flying debris and bomb fragments.
The bomb contains a blast-acting charge, the required fragmentation being provided by special design of the bomb casing. The PB-250 is effective against personnel, lightly armored vehicles, truck convoys, parked aircraft on airfields, etc. Delivery should be as for laydown bombing from altitudes of 100-300 meters and at airspeeds of 500-1000 km/h.
BetAB-500ShP concrete-piercing bomb
The BetAB-500ShP concrete-piercing bomb (BetAB stands for Concrete-Piercing Aviation Bomb in Russian) is a special purpose bomb and is effective against reinforced concrete bunkers and runways. As opposed to a general purpose bomb, the BetAB has a stronger frame and a hardened nose. Due to these distinctions and given sufficient kinetic energy, the bomb penetrates through concrete and then explodes. The BetAB-500ShP is fitted with a drogue chute and a solid-propellant booster. The parachute initially slows the bomb down giving the aircraft more time to clear the impact zone. The parachute is then released as the booster ignites accelerating the bomb to the speed necessary to penetrate hardened concrete.
To deliver the BetAB-500ShP, the pilot uses the laydown bombing technique from altitudes of 150-500 m at airspeeds from 550 to 1100 km/h.
ZAB-500 incendiary bomb
The ZAB-500 is an 500-kg incendiary bomb (ZAB stands for Incendiary Aviation Bomb in Russian) intended for destroying enemy personnel, industrial facilities, railway stations, etc. Its casing is
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Loft bombing is sometimes called toss bombing, because the bombs are thrown rather than dropped.
Loft bombing
For loft attacks, target data must be downloaded to the onboard computer (Point 1) in the same way as in laydown bombing. The aircraft pulls up into a climb (approximately 30° nose up) a good way out from the target about 20 units of time on the countdown (see Point 2). In so doing, the pilot remains on course to the target. The bombs are released in the climb (Point 3) on countdown zero. The aircraft can now leave the bombing zone, while the bomb follows a parabola trajectory to the target.
This method gives the aircraft more time to leave the impact point and extends the bomb delivery range.