KSR-5

This article is about Soviet missile. For the German prototype circular wing aircraft, see Sack AS-6.

The KSR-5, also designated as the Kh-26 (NATO reporting name AS-6 Kingfish) was a long-range, air-launched cruise missile and anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union. It was essentially a scaled down version of the Kh-22 'Kitchen', built to be carried by the less capable Tu-16.

KSR-5
Tu-16 with KSR-5 under wing
Type	Air-to-surface missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1969−1994
Used by	See operators
Production history
Designer	Tupolev and Mikoyan Missile Design Bureau
No. built	300[1]
Variants	See variants
Specifications
Mass	4,500 kg (9,900 lb)
Length	10.56 m (34.6 ft)
Diameter	920 mm (36 in)
Wingspan	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Maximum firing range	400 km (250 mi)
Warhead	High-explosive, HE semi-armour-piercing, nuclear
Warhead weight	930–1,000 kg (2,050–2,200 lb)
Blast yield	350 kT (Nuclear)
Propellant	Solid
Maximum speed	Mach 2 or Mach 3
Guidance system	Inertial with active or passive radar
Launch platform	Tu-16, Tu-22M, Tu-95M
References	[2]

Tu-16K with a missile under each wing

Tu-16 'Badger-G' with KSR-5 under port wing

Background

In the early 1960s the development of new nuclear-capable strategic bombers came into a virtual halt in the Soviet Union, with the focus being shifted on nuclear ballistic missiles and developing cruise missiles for existing aircraft.^[3]

Description

Developed in the late 1960s, the KRS-5 (also designated as the Kh-26) is an improved version of the Kh-22 missile, designed to be smaller, lighter and with a smaller radar signature. According to Janes, it was designed jointly by the Tupolev and Mikoyan Design Bureaus.^[2] It was developed as a conventional anti-ship missile and a nuclear cruise missile capable of striking ground targets. Originally designed to be carried on the Tu-22 "Blinder", it was primarily mounted on the Tu-16 "Badger",^[3] the Tu-22M "Backfire" and Tu-95M "Bear" aircraft as well.^[2]

The missile had a maximum range of 400 km (250 mi) and cruise speed of Mach 3 when released from high altitude and 250 km (160 mi) range and cruise speed of Mach 2 when launched at low altitude.^[2]

Variants

• Kh-26 − Nuclear variant with inertial guidance. Armed with a 350 kiloton warhead weighing about 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).^[2]
• Kh-26N − Active radar homing anti-ship variant, it could carry either a nuclear warhead or a conventional 930 kg (2,050 lb) HE SAP warhead. The seeker had a lock-on range of 25–30 km (16–19 mi).^[2]
• Kh-26MP − Anti-radiation variant with a passive radar seeker and a HE blast/fragmentation warhead for use against land-based or ship-mounted radars.^[2]
• KSR-5NM and KSR-5MV − Russian air-launched target designed by MKB Raduga. It was offered for export in 1993.^[4]

Operational history

The KSR-5 entered service in 1969, with later versions designed to be carried in the Tu-95 and Tu-95M being introduced in 1973 and 1976 respectively.^[2] In June 1991, it was estimated that the Soviet Union had 300 missiles carried on Badger-G bombers.^[1]

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the remaining missiles were used by Russia and possibly Ukraine until 1994.^[2] With the retirement of the Tu-16, the nuclear versions of the KSR-2 and KSR-5 missiles were retired by 1993.^[5] In 1991, it was estimated Russia had about 100 missiles in its inventory, but most were converted into supersonic targets.^[4]

Operators

•  Belarus^[4]
•  Russia − Most were converted for missile target practice^[4]
•  Soviet Union − Passed on to successor states^[4]
•  Ukraine^[4]

References

1. Taylor 1991, p. 71.
2. Lennox 2003, p. 191.
3. Bukharin et al. 2004, p. 345.
4. Lennox, Duncan, ed. (1997). "AS-6 'Kingfish' (KSR-5/11 and Kh-26)". Jane's Air-Launched Weapons (35th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group.
5. Moore 1993, p. 57.

Bibliography

• Bukharin, Oleg; Kadyshev, Timur; Miasnikov, Eugene; Podig, Pavel; Sutyagin, Igor; Tarasenko, Maxim; Zhelezov, Boris (2004). Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces. London: MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-66181-2.
• Lennox, Duncan, ed. (2003). Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems (38th ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-0880-2.
• Moore, Mike, ed. (July–August 1993). "Nuclear Notebook". Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 49 (6). Chicago, IL: Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science: 56–57. ISSN 0096-3402. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
• Taylor, John W. R. (June 1991). "Gallery of Soviet Missiles". Air Force Magazine. 74 (6). Arlington, VA: Air Force Association.: 70–74. ISSN 0730-6784. Retrieved 8 December 2024.

External links

• Federation of American Scientists page on the KSR-5 missile
• Air Power Australias web page