Kh-15

Raduga Kh-15 (NATO reporting name: AS-16 'Kickback')
Raduga Kh-15
Type	Air-launched ballistic missile Air-to-ground missile Anti-radiation missile (Kh-15P) Anti-ship missile (Kh-15S)
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1980
Used by	Russia
Production history
Designer	Raduga
Designed	1974–1980
Manufacturer	Dubna Machine-building Plant
Produced	1980
Specifications
Mass	1,200 kg (2,650 lb)
Length	478 cm (15 ft 8 in)
Diameter	45.5 cm (17.9 in)
Wingspan	92 cm (36.2 in) maximum
Warhead	conventional or nuclear
Warhead weight	150 kg (331 lb)
Blast yield	300 kt
Engine	solid-fuel RDTT-160
Operational range	300 km (160 nmi)
Flight ceiling	40,000 m (130,000 ft)
Maximum speed	Up to Mach 5
Guidance system	inertial guidance, active radar homing, or anti-radiation missile
Launch platform	Tu-22M3,

The Raduga Kh-15 or RKV-15 (Russian: Х-15; NATO: AS-16 "Kickback"; GRAU:) is a Russian hypersonic aero-ballistic air-to-ground missile carried by the Tupolev Tu-22M and other bombers. Originally developed as a standoff nuclear air-to-ground missile similar to the U.S. Air Force's AGM-69 SRAM, versions with conventional warheads have been developed.

As of early 2019, it was uncertain whether the Kh-15 was in service, with rumors that it had been retired or placed in storage.

Development

In 1967, MKB Raduga started developing the Kh-2000 as a replacement for the Kh-22 (NATO reporting name AS-4 Kitchen) heavy anti-shipping missile. Development of the Kh-15 started some time in the early 1970s. The sophistication of the design made it suitable for other roles, and a nuclear-tipped version was developed in tandem with the conventionally armed variant. An upgrade under development was cancelled in 1991, but reports in 1998 suggested an upgraded Kh-15 might be fitted to Su-35 (Flanker-E) tactical aircraft.

Design

The Kh-15 climbs to an altitude of about 40,000 m (130,000 ft) and then dives in on the target, accelerating to a speed of about Mach 5.

Operational history

It entered service in 1980. It can be carried by the Su-33, Su-34, Tu-95MS-6 'Bear-H', Tu-22M3 'Backfire C', and Tu-160 'Blackjack'.

Variants

• Kh-15 (RKV-15) - the original version with nuclear warhead and inertial guidance
• Kh-15P - passive seeker for anti-radar use
• Kh-15S - active radar seeker for anti-shipping use

Operators

Current

• Russia

Former

• Soviet Union - Passed onto successor states

Similar weapons

• KSR-5 (AS-6 'Kingfish') - heavy anti-surface missile carried under the wings of Tu-22M
• Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt') - ASM for tactical aircraft, up to 285 km range
• Kh-37 (updated version of AS-20 'Kayak') - land attack version of subsonic Kh-35 Anti-Ship missile, 250 km range
• AGM-69 SRAM - 1000 kg US missile with up to 170 km range

Photo Gallery

• 
  Kh-15 from rear
• 
  Mission profile

References

• Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1.
• Healey, John K. (January–February 2004). "Retired Warriors: 'Cold War' Bomber Legacy". Air Enthusiast. No. 109. pp. 75–79. ISSN 0143-5450.