Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
August 30, 2008
IWG Report 2007
Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
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AS-16
| Country: | Russian Federation |
|---|---|
| Alternate Name: | Kickback, Kh-15, RVK-15 |
| Class: | ALCM |
| Target: | Land/Ship |
| Length: | 4.78 m |
| Diameter: | 0.46 m |
| Wingspan: | 0.92 m |
| Launch Weight: | 1100.00 kg |
| Payload: | 350 kT nuclear |
| Propulsion: | Solid |
| Range: | 150.00 km |
| Guidance: | INS |
| Status: | Operational |
| In Service: | 1980-Present |
Details
The AS-16 “Kickback” (Kh-15/RKV-15) is a short-range, air-launched, solid propellant, single warhead, air-to-surface cruise missile developed and manufactured by Russia.
Development of the AS-16 “Kickback” began in the early 1970s, although not much was known about this missile until 1988. The Russians describe the missile as the equivalent to the U.S. AGM-69 Short-Range Attack Missile (SRAM), which entered service in the U.S in 1972. The missile was intended to provide a means to attack and destroy heavily defended enemy targets without subjecting Soviet bombers to heavy losses, as well as to attack and destroy portions of the enemy’s air defense system. Three versions were developed: the Kk-15 or RKV-15 which carried a 350 kiloton nuclear warhead for use against area or ship group targets; the Kh-15S anti-ship version which carried a 150 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing warhead, and the Kh-15P anti-radar version used for breaking through air defenses.
The AS-16 is similar in shape to the AGM-69, but longer and heavier with a folding vertical fin and two tailplanes at the rear. It is 4.78 m long, with a body diameter of 0.46 m and a tailspan of 0.92 m. It is guided by an inertial navigation system (INS) in the midcourse phase, and by an active radar seeker in the terminal phase for the nuclear and conventional warhead versions, or a passive radar seeker for the anti-radar version. The nuclear Kh-15 and anti-radar Kh-15P missiles have a launch weight of 1,100 kg, while the anti-ship Kh-15S has a launch weight of 1,200 kg.
The missile is powered by a solid propellant motor. Reports indicate that it could have a ballistic trajectory, reaching a maximum altitude of 40 km. The AS-16 has a range of 150 km when released from medium altitude against a large ship target, and about 100 km when released from low level. It cruises at around Mach 5.0 at high altitude, and at up to Mach 2.0 at low level.
The Kh-15 nuclear entered service in 1980, and the Kh-15P and Kh-15S in 1988. Russia is believed to have around 240 missiles in service, which it deploys on Tu-95MS “Bear H,” Tu-22M3 “Backfire,” and Tu-160 “Blackjack” aircraft. The Tu-22M3 carries six AS-16 missiles in an internal rotary launcher, and four missiles beneath its wings for a total of 10 missiles per aircraft.
In 1992, Russia offered the AS-16 for export. It is believed that Ukraine had a number of Kh-15S missiles in service, but has since destroyed them. In 1998, it was reported that an AS-16 missile might be fitted to the Su-27M (Su-35) fighter bomber aircraft.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 45 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, July 2006), pp. 116-117; GlobalSecurity.org, “Raduga Kh-15 (AS-16 Kickback),” available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/as-16.htm, accessed on August 1, 2006.
