| Raduga Kh-15 (NATO reporting name: AS-16 'Kickback') |
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Raduga Kh-15 |
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| Type | air-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Russia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Raduga |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,200 kg (2,650 lb) |
| Length | 478 cm (15 ft 8 in) |
| Diameter | 45.5 cm (17.9 in) |
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| Warhead weight | 150 kg (331 lb) |
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| Wingspan | 92 cm (36.2 in) |
| Operational range |
300 km (160 nmi) |
| Speed | Up to Mach 5[1] |
| Guidance system |
inertial, active radar, or anti-radiation |
| Launch platform |
Tu-95MS-6, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 [1] |
The Raduga Kh-15 or RKV-15 (Russian: Х-15; NATO:AS-16 'Kickback';GRAU:) is a Russian air-to-surface missile carried by the Tupolev Tu-22M and other bombers. Originally a standoff nuclear weapon similar to the US Air Force's AGM-69 SRAM, versions with conventional warheads have been developed.
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In 1967, MKB Raduga started developing the Kh-2000 as a replacement for the Kh-22 AS-4 'Kitchen' heavy anti-shipping missile.[1] Development of the Kh-15 started some time in the early 1970s.[2] The sophistication of the design made it suitable for other roles, and a nuclear-tipped version was developed in tandem with the conventionally-armed variant.[1] An upgrade under development was cancelled in 1991, but reports in 1998 suggested an upgraded Kh-15 might be fitted to Su-35 tactical aircraft.[2]
The Kh-15 climbs to an altitude of about 40,000 m (130,000 ft) and then dives in on the target, accelerating to a speed of about Mach 5, which makes it the fastest aircraft-launched missile to date.[1]
It entered service in the early 1980s. It can be carried by the Tu-95MS-6 'Bear-H', Tu-22M3 'Backfire C', and Tu-160 'Blackjack'.[1] The Tu-22M3 can carry six missiles on a MKU-6-1 rotary launcher in its bomb bay, plus four missiles on two underwing pylons for a total of ten missiles per aircraft.[2] It is reported that the Tu-160 can carry two MKU-6-1's for a total of twelve missiles internally.[2]