Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
October 8, 2008
IWG Report 2007
Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
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AS-17
| Country: | Russian Federation |
|---|---|
| Alternate Name: | Krypton, Kh-31A/P |
| Class: | ALCM |
| Target: | Ship |
| Length: | 4.70 m |
| Diameter: | 0.36 m |
| Wingspan: | 0.80 m |
| Launch Weight: | 610.00 kg |
| Payload: | 110 kg HE, SAP (Kh-31A); 95 kg HE, SAP (Kh-31P) |
| Propulsion: | Solid |
| Range: | 70.00 km |
| Guidance: | INS, active radar (Kh-31A); INS, Passive radar (Kh-31P) |
| Status: | Operational |
| In Service: | 1989-Present |
Details
The AS-17 “Krypton” (Kh-31A/P) is a short-range, air-launched, ramjet-propelled, single warhead, air-to-surface cruise missile developed and manufactured by Russia.
Development of the AS-17 began in the late 1970s as a follow-on to the AS-12 “Kegler.” Aimed at countering the U.S. Patriot and Standard Missile air defense systems, the AS-17 was a new concept missile, unlike any that the Russians had previously designed. Similar in some way to the U.S. LTV designed ramjet-powered research missile, which flew in 1974, the AS-17 features four ramjet intake ducts developed by the Soyuz Turaevo Machine Design Bureau.
The AS-17 was first revealed in 1991, and reports soon after indicated that the Russians had developed two interchangeable homing heads for the missile: an active radar seeker for use in the terminal phase against ship targets, and a passive anti-radar seeker. The active radar anti-ship missile was designated Kh-31A, and the passive radar version was designated Kh-31P. Two different lengths exist for both the Kh-31A and Kh-31P.
The Kh-31A Mod 1 is 4.7 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.36, and has a weight of 610 kg, while the Kh-31A Mod 2 is 5.23 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.36, and has a weight of 700 kg. It is guided by an inertial navigation system (INS) in the midcourse phase, with an active radar seeker for the terminal phase. The Mod 1 carries a 95 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing warhead, while the Mod 2 carries a 110 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing warhead. The minimum range for both versions in 5 km, while the Mod 1 has a maximum range of 70 km and the Mod 2 has a maximum range of 100 km. The Kh-31A is believed to have an accuracy of 8 m circular area probability (CEP).
The Kh-31P Mod 1 is 4.7 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.36, and has a weight of 599 kg, while the Kh-31P Mod 2 is 5.23 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.36, and has a weight of 625 kg. Guidance is passive radar homing. Both versions carry an 87 kg high explosive blast/fragmentation warhead. The Kh-31 has a minimum range in 15 km, while the Mod 1 has a maximum range of 110 km, and the Mod 2 has a maximum range of 200 km. The missile is believed to have an accuracy of 8 m CEP. Both the Kh-31A and Kh-31P have a cruise speed of Mach 2.5 at low level, or Mach 3.0 at high level.
The Kh-31P entered service in Russia in 1988, followed by the Kh-31A in 1989. The missiles are deployed on Su-17 “Fitter,” Su-24 “Fencer,” Su-25 “Frogfoot,” Su-27, Su-30, Su-32, Su-33, and Su-35 “Flanker,” MiG-21 “Fishbed,” MiG-27 “Flogger,” MiG-31 “Foxhound,” and MiG-29 “Fulcrum” aircraft. Most of the missiles currently in service in Russia are believed to be Mod 1, with the Mod 2 being offered for export under the designation X-31.
Russia has also developed the MA-31 variant while is used as a supersonic target for ship defense training. In 1994, the MA-31 was selected for evaluation by the U.S. Navy, and a joint trails and evaluation program was set up between Zvezda-Strela (now Tactical Missile Corporation) and McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). Flight trials took place in 1996, and the MA-31 was launched from U.S. Navy QF-4 Phantom aircraft against ship targets. The MA-31 is believed to have similar range capabilities as the Kh-31A missile.
In 1998, reports emerged of a joint Russian/Chinese program to develop a modified Kh-31P anti-radar missile to increase the range to around 300 km. The missile was designated KR-1 in Russia and YJ-91 in China. It is believed that China will develop further YJ-91 missiles under license, to be deployed on its Su-30MKK2 aircraft. The following year, an improved seeker for the Kh-31A anti-ship version was reported to have been in development with a range of 60 km. In 2003, it was reported that the Russians had developed a new passive radar seeker for an upgraded version known as Kh-31PM.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 45 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, July 2006), pp. 117-119; GlobalSecurity.org, “Zvezda Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton),” available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/as-17.htm, accessed on August 1, 2006.
