| KS-1 Komet/AS-1 'Kennel' | |
|---|---|
| Type | anti-ship missile |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1955–1961 |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | MKB Raduga |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3,000 kg (6,614 lb) |
| Length | 8.29 m (27 ft 2 in) |
| Diameter | 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) |
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| Warhead | 600 kg (1300 lb) High Explosive |
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| Engine | RD-500K turbojet |
| Wingspan | 4.77 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Operational range |
90 km (56 miles) |
| Speed | Mach 0.9 |
| Guidance system |
initial - inertial, terminal - active radar homing |
| Launch platform |
Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger' |
The Raduga KS-1 Komet (Russian: КС-1 "Комета", NATO reporting name: Kennel), also referred to as AS-1 and KS-1 (крылатый снаряд - winged missile) was a short range air-to-surface missile (primarily used for anti-shipping missions) developed by the Soviet Union, and carried only on the Tupolev Tu-4K 'Bull' and, more notably, on the Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger'.
Development was begun in 1947 along with a related ground-launched missile, the SSC-2B "Samlet" (S-2 Sopka), both missiles using aerodynamics derived from the MiG-15 'Fagot' fighter aircraft, and developed under the anti-ship missile codename "Komet".
The KS-1 was designed for use against surface ships. It resembled a scaled-down MiG-15 with the cockpit and undercarriage deleted. Its main fuselage was cigar-shaped with swept wings and an aircraft type tail. It was propelled by a RD-500K turbojet engine, reverse-engineered from the Rolls-Royce Derwent 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, initially being deployed on the Tupolev Tu-4 'Bull' and later on the 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 KS-1s were removed from service in 1969.[1]