AS-1 Kennel
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The AS-1 Kennel missile (in Russian KS-1 (крылатый снаряд - winged missile)) was a short range air-to-surface missile developed by the Soviet Union. Development was begun in 1947 along with a related ground-launched missile, the SSC-2B "Samlet" (S-2 Sopka), both missiles being derived from the MiG-15 fighter aircraft, and developed under the anti-ship missile codename "Komet".
The AS-1 was designed for use against surface ships. It was basically a MiG-15 with the cockpit and undercarriage deleted. Its main fuselage was cigar-shaped with delta wings and an aircraft type tail. It was propelled by a MiG-15 turbojet engine. Guidance was provided by an inertial navigation system (INS) in the midcourse phase, and by a semi-active radar in the terminal phase which directed the missile to its target. A 600 kg high explosive (HE) armor-piercing warhead was carried.
The AS-1 is believed to have entered service in 1955, being deployed initially on the Soviet Tupolev Tu-4 "Bull" and later on the Soviet Tupolev Tu-16KS "Badger B" tactical and strategic bomber, on two under-wing pylons. The missile was also exported to Egypt and Indonesia.
Sources indicate that most of the AS-1 "Kennel" missiles were replaced by the AS-5 "Kelt" (KSR-2/Kh-11), which was first deployed in 1966. The last AS-1 "Kennel" missiles were removed from service in 1969.[1]
[edit] Specifications
- Length : 8.29 m (27 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan : 4.77 m (15 ft 7 in)
- Diameter : 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in)
- Weight : 3,000 kg (6,614 lb)
- Speed : Subsonic
- Range : 90 km (56 mi)
- Propulsion : RD-500K turbojet
- Warhead : 600 kg (1000 lb) High Explosive
[edit] References
- ^ Gordon, Yefim & Rigman, Vladimir (2004), Tupelov Tu-16 Badger: Versatile Soviet Long-Range Bomber, Midland Publishing, England, ISBN 1-85780-177-6
