| Kh-25ML/MLT/MR (NATO reporting name: AS-10 'Karen') Kh-25MP (AS-12 'Kegler') |
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Kh-25ML |
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| Type | tactical air-to-surface missile anti-radar missile (Kh-25MP) |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1975-current |
| Used by | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1971-1975 |
| Manufacturer | Zvezda-Strela |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Kh-25ML :299 kg (659 lb)[1] Kh-25MP :315 kg (694 lb)[2] |
| Length | Kh-25ML :370.5 cm (12 ft 2 in)[1] Kh-25MP 1VP :425.5 cm (167.5 in)[2] Kh-25MP 2VP :435.5 cm (171.5 in)[2] |
| Diameter | 27.5 cm (10.8 in)[1] |
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| Warhead | High explosive, shell-forming |
| Warhead weight | Kh-25MP :89.6 kg (198 lb)[2], Kh-25MR :140 kg (309 lb)[8] |
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| Wingspan | 75.5 cm (29.7 in)[1] |
| Operational range |
Kh-25ML :11 km (5.9 nmi)[3] Kh-25MP :up to 60 km (32 nmi)[4] Kh-25MTP : 20 km (11 nmi)[5] |
| Speed | Kh-25ML :1,370–2,410 km/h (850–1,500 mph)[1] Kh-25MP :1,080–1,620 km/h (670–1,000 mph)[2] |
| Guidance system |
Laser, passive radar, TV, IIR, satnav, active radar depending on variant |
| Launch platform |
MiG-21,[6] MiG-23/27,[6] MiG-29,[6] Su-17/20/22,[6] Su-24,[6] Su-25,[6] Su-27[6] Kh-25MP : MiG-23/27,[7] Su-17/22,[7] Su-24,[7] Su-25[7] |
The Kh-25/Kh-25M (Russian: Х-25; NATO:AS-10 'Karen') is a family of Soviet lightweight air-to-ground missiles with a modular range of guidance systems and a range of 10 km.[1] The anti-radar variant (Kh-25MP) is known to NATO as the AS-12 'Kegler' and has a range up to 40 km.[2] Designed by Zvezda-Strela, the Kh-25 is derived from the laser-guided version of their Kh-23 (AS-7 'Kerry'). It has now been succeeded by the Kh-38 family, but the Kh-25 remains in widespread use.
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Based on an air-to-air missile, the beam-riding Kh-66 had been the Soviet Union's first air-to-ground missile for tactical aircraft, entering service in 1968.[9] However it proved difficult to use in practice as the launch aircraft had to dive towards the target. A version with radio-command guidance, the Kh-23, was first tested in 1968 but problems with the guidance system meant that it would not enter service for another five years.[10] So in 1971 work began on a version with a semi-active laser seeker, which became the Kh-25.[9] This was initially known in the West as the Kh-23L.[11] State testing began on 24 November 1974, and the Kh-25 entered production in 1975.[9]
Work began on an anti-radar missile derived from the Kh-66[7] in 1972, using a passive radar seeker and SUR-73 autopilot.[9] The long-range Kh-31 anti-radar missile came out of the same project.[9] The Kh-27 began state testing on a Mig-27 on 8 August 1975[9] but did not enter service until 2 September 1980.[9] It was assigned the NATO reporting name AS-12 'Kegler' and in effect it replaced the much heavier Kh-28 (AS-9 'Kyle').[7]
In 1973 Victor Bugaiskii was appointed head engineer of the bureau and he started work on combining the Kh-23M, Kh-25 and Kh-27 into a single modular system to reduce costs and improve tactical flexibility.[9] This was completed by the end of 1978,[9] resulting in the Kh-25MP (anti-radar), Kh-25ML (laser-guided) and Kh-25MR (radio-guided) family. NATO continued to refer to these as the AS-12 and AS-10 respectively, even though they could now be switched by a simple change of seeker head.
The Kh-25 is very similar to the later version of the Kh-23, with cruciform canards and fins.
The Kh-25MP has two versions of its homing head, 1VP and 2VP, sensitive to different frequencies.[2]
The original Kh-25 entered service with the Soviet Air Force between 1973-5, equipping the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, MiG-27 and Sukhoi Su-17M.[6] Since then it has been cleared for use on the MiG-21, MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-17/20/22 family, Sukhoi Su-24, Su-25 and Su-27.[6] It can also be carried by attack helicopters such as the Kamov Ka-50.
The Kh-25MP can be fitted to the MiG-23/27, Su-17/22, Su-24 and Su-25.[7]
NATO refers to all of the Kh-25 family as AS-10 'Karen' apart from the anti-radar variants. An "M" designation stands for "Modulnaya" - modular (seeker head).
Training rounds have "U" designations, so e.g. for the Kh-25ML there is :
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