Kh-58

The Kh-58 (Russian: Х-58; NATO:AS-11 'Kilter') is a Soviet anti-radiation missile with a range of 120 km. As of 2004 the Kh-58U variant was still the primary anti-radiation missile of Russia and its allies.[1] It is being superseded by the Kh-31. The NATO reporting name is "Kilter".

Kh-58
(NATO reporting name: AS-11 'Kilter')
Kh-58U in the Ukrainian Air Force Museum
Typeair-launched anti-radiation missile
Place of originSoviet Union/Russia
Service history
In service1982–present[1]
Used byRussia, India, Algeria, Iran[1]
WarsRusso-Georgian War
Iran–Iraq War
Production history
Designed1970s
ManufacturerRaduga NPO
Specifications
Mass650 kg (1,430 lb)[2]
Length480 cm (15 ft 9 in)[2]
Diameter38 cm (15.0 in)[2]
WarheadHigh Explosive[1]
Warhead weight149 kg (328 lb)[2]
EngineSolid rocket[1]
Wingspan117 cm (46.1 in)[2]
Operational
range
Kh-58: up to 120 km (65 nmi)
Kh-58U :250 km (130 nmi)[1]
Kh-58E: 46–200 km (25–110 nmi)[2]
Maximum speed Mach 3.6
Guidance
system
Inertial with passive radar seeker[1]
Launch
platform
Su-24M,[1] Mig-25BM,[1] Su-22M4,[2] Su-25TK,[2] Su-30MK[3]

Development

The Bereznyak design bureau had developed the liquid-fuelled Kh-28 (AS-9 ‘Kyle’) and the KSR-5P (AS-6) anti-radiation missiles.[3] They merged with Raduga in 1967, so Raduga was given the contract in the early 1970s to develop a solid-fuel successor to the Kh-28 to equip the new Su-24M 'Fencer-D' attack aircraft.[3] Consequently, the project was initially designated the Kh-24, before becoming the Kh-58.

During the 1980s a longer-range variant was developed, the Kh-58U, with lock-on-after-launch capability. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Raduga have offered several versions for export.[3]

Design

It was designed to be used in conjunction with the Su-24's L-086A "Fantasmagoria A" or L-086B "Fantasmagoria B" target acquisition system.[1] The range achieved depends heavily on the launch altitude, thus the original Kh-58 has a range of 36 km from low level, 120 km from 10,000 m (32,800 ft), and 160 km from 15,000 m (49,200 ft).[1]

Like other Soviet missiles of the time, the Kh-58 could be fitted with a range of seeker heads designed to target specific air defence radars such as MIM-14 Nike-Hercules or MIM-104 Patriot.[3]

Operational history

The Kh-58 was deployed in 1982 on the Su-24M 'Fencer D' in Soviet service.[1] The Kh-58U entered service in 1991 on the Su-24M and Mig-25BM 'Foxbat-F'.[1] The Kh-58E version can be carried on the Su-22M4 and Su-25TK as well,[2] while the Kh-58UshE appears to be intended for Chinese Su-30MKK's.[3]

Variants
Kh-58UShKE
  • Kh-58 (Izdeliye 112) - original version for the Su-24M.
  • Kh-58U - improved version with longer range and lock-on-after-launch.
  • Kh-58E - export version of Kh-58U[1], first offered in 1991.[3]
  • Kh-58EM - another version offered for export in the 1990s.[3]
  • Kh-58UShE (Uluchshennaya Shirokopolosnaya Exportnaya meaning 'Improved, Wideband, Export') - new wideband seeker in new radome, intended for Su-30MK.[3]
  • Kh-58UShKE - version with folding fins for internal carriage in the Sukhoi Su-57, first unveiled at MAKS 2007.[4][5]
  • Kh-58UShKE(TP) - version with added imaging infrared UV seeker, first unveiled at MAKS 2015.[6]

Some Western sources have referred to a Kh-58A that is either optimised for naval radars or has an active seeker head for use as an anti-shipping missile - it probably represents another name for the Kh-58U.

Operators
Map with Kh-58 operators in blue and former operators in red

Current operators
 Algeria
 India
 Iran
  • Iranian Air Force
 Malaysia
  • Malaysian Air Force
 Peru
 Russia

Former operators
 Iraq
 Soviet Union
 Ukraine
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See also
  • Martel missile - Anglo-French collaboration with 60 km range
  • AGM-88 HARM - Current US Air Force anti-radar weapon, range of 150 km

References
  1. Staff of Journal of Electronic Defense (2004), International Electronic Countermeasures Handbook, Artech House, pp. 149–150, ISBN 9781580538985
  2. X-58E, Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC, 2004, archived from the original on 28 September 2007, retrieved 10 February 2009
  3. "Kh-58 (AS-11 'Kilter')", Jane's Air-Launched Weapons, 24 October 2007
  4. "Airshow China 2014: PAK-FA's new anti-radiation missile set for 2015 series production", Jane's Defence Weekly, 13 November 2014
  5. "Kh-58UShKE Anti-Radiation Missile". Rosoboronexport.
  6. MAKS 2015: KRTV adds IR seeker to Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missile
  7. "Ukraine - Air Force Equipment". GlobalSecurity.org. 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2014.

Further reading
  • Gordon, Yefim (2004), Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two, Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing, ISBN 1-85780-188-1

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