Kh-23
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kh-23M | |
|---|---|
| Type | Tactical air-to-ground |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1974 |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Zvezda-Strela |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 286 kg (630 lb) |
| Length | 2490 mm (8 ft 2 in) |
| Diameter | 275 mm (11 in) |
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|
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| Warhead | 111 kg (245 lb) |
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|
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| Engine | Single-stage solid propellant rocket |
| Wingspan | 785 mm (31 in) |
| Operational range |
10 km (6 mi) |
| Speed | 2900 km/h (1,800 mph) |
| Guidance system |
Beam-riding |
| Launch platform |
Aircraft: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-27 Sukhoi Su-17 |
The Zvezda Kh-23 (Russian: Х-23, NATO reporting name: AS-7 Kerry) was an early Soviet tactical air-to-surface missile.
In April 1965, the Vympel OKB received a directive to develop a tactical missile similar to the American AGM-12 Bullpup for the upcoming Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 fighter.[1]. Following delays due to difficulty in developing a guidance system, the Zvezda OKB submitted its own proposal based on experience firing the Kaliningrad K-5 air-to-air missiles against ground targets. The resulting weapon, known as Kh-66 or Izdeliye 66 (Article 66), utilized the K-5 guidance and propulsion systems but with a much larger 100 kg (220 lb) warhead (the K-5 warhead weighed only 13 kg {29 pounds}).[1] This was very advantageous as any aircraft capable of firing the K-5 could launch the new weapon. Testing began in 1966 and Kh-66 was certified for use on the MiG-21PFM in 1968, where it would be carried under the aircraft centerline.[1] In the meantime, Zvezda continued work on the Kh-23 which utilized the basic Kh-66 design but had an improved propellant and guidance systems. Significant delays were caused by problems with unreliable guidance which was eventually traced to the smoke generator which interfered with the antenna.[1] The missile was finally accepted into service in 1974 as the Kh-23M, and certified for MiG-23B and MiG-23S aircraft.
