Kh-29

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Kh-29
(NATO reporting name: AS-14 'Kedge')
Kh-29L (1).jpg
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
2014 Libyan conflict
Russian-led military intervention in Syria
Production history
Designer Matius Bisnovat
Georgiy I. Khokhlov
Designed 1975
Manufacturer Vympel / Tactical Missiles Corporation[1]
Produced 1980-current[2]
Specifications
Weight Kh-29L :Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). [3]
Kh-29T :Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). [3]
Kh-29TE :Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). [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 armour-piercing[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 :Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[3]
Kh-29T :Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). [3]
Kh-29TE :Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). [3]
Speed 1,470 km/h (910 mph)[4]
Kh-29ML :900–1260 km/h (560–780 mph)[5]
Guidance
system
Kh-29L : semi-active laser guidance
Kh-29T/TE : passive homing TV guidance
Kh-29D : infrared homing guidance (IIR)[6][7]
Kh-29MP : active radar homing [8]
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,[9] Su-17/22,[9] Su-24,[9] Su-33, Su-34, Su-37

The Kh-29 (Russian: Х-29; NATO: 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 has been compared to the United States' AGM-65 Maverick, but the AGM-65 is a much smaller missile than the Kh-29, and weighs less than half as much.[10] The Kh-29 is intended for primary use against larger battlefield targets and infrastructure such as industrial buildings, depots and bridges,[10] but can also be used against ships up to 10,000 tonnes, hardened aircraft shelters and concrete runways.[1]

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.[10] The first firing of the missile took place in 1976 and after extensive trials the Kh-29 was accepted into service in 1980.[4]

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.[10] 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.[9]

Operational history

The Kh-29 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1980, and has been widely exported since.

The Kh-29L were used by Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24 aircraft in the 2015 Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War.[11]

2014 Libyan conflict

Libyan Su-24-borne Kh-29Ts supplied in large quantities to Muammar Gaddafi's Jamahiriya have been used by Islamist factions against pro-government forces around Tripoli during the current low-level civil war (they were seized from Ghardabiya Air Base depots). Their use, however, was in an unguided ground-to-ground role, launched from modified trucks and with their fins and ailerons at the front and back removed for a somewhat more stable flight path.[12][13]

Variants

  • Kh-29L (Izdeliye 63, 'Kedge-A')[10] uses semi-active laser seeker and has a range of 8–10 km.[3]
  • Kh-29ML is an upgraded version of the Kh-29L.[10]
  • Kh-29T (Izdeliye 64, 'Kedge-B')[10] 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.[6][8]
  • Kh-29D is a fourth guidance variant (fire-and-forget) of the Kh-29TE, using imaging infrared.[6][7]

Operators

File:Kh-29 operators.png
Map with Kh-29 operators in blue with former operators in red

Current Operators

Former Operators

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.

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Written by Polish former Su-22 pilot
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. 7.0 7.1 [1]
  8. 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. http://www.waronline.org/mideast/algir.htm
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. 2011 Annual Report of Tactical Missile Corporation, http://bmpd.livejournal.com/290141.html
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References

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