Kh-15
|  Raduga Kh-15  (NATO reporting name: AS-16 'Kickback')  | |
|---|---|
| 
 
 Raduga Kh-15  | |
| Type | 
air-to-surface missile antitank missile  | 
| Place of origin | Soviet Union | 
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980 | 
| Used by | Russia | 
| Production history | |
| Designer | Raduga | 
| Designed | 1974-1980 | 
| Manufacturer | Dubna Machine-building Plant | 
| Produced | 1980 | 
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,200 kg (2,650 lb) | 
| Length | 478 cm (15 ft 8 in) | 
| Diameter | 45.5 cm (17.9 in) | 
| Warhead | conventional or nuclear | 
| Warhead weight | 150 kg (331 lb) | 
| Blast yield | 300 kt | 
| 
 | |
| Engine | solid-fuel RDTT-160 | 
| Wingspan | 92 cm (36.2 in) maximum | 
Operational range  | 300 km (160 nmi) | 
| Flight ceiling | 40,000 m (130,000 ft) | 
| Speed | Up to Mach 5[1] | 
Guidance system  | inertial guidance, active radar homing, or anti-radiation missile | 
Launch platform  | Su-33, Su-34, 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 U.S. Air Force's AGM-69 SRAM, versions with conventional warheads have been developed.
Development
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]
Design
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]
Operational history
It entered service in 1980. It can be carried by the Su-33, Su-34, Tu-95MS-6 'Bear-H', Tu-22M3 'Backfire C', and Tu-160 'Blackjack'.[3]
Variants
- Kh-15 (RKV-15) - the original version with nuclear warhead and inertial guidance
 - Kh-15P - passive seeker for anti-radar use
 - Kh-15S - active radar seeker for anti-shipping use[1]
 
Operators
Current
Former
 Soviet Union- Passed onto successor states
Similar weapons
- Raduga KSR-5 (AS-6 'Kingfish') - heavy anti-surface missile carried under the wings of Tu-22M
 - Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt') - ASM for tactical aircraft, up to 285 km range
 - Kh-37 (updated version of AS-20 'Kayak') - land attack version of subsonic Kh-35 Anti-Ship missile, 250 km range
 - AGM-69 SRAM - 1000 kg US missile with up to 170 km range
 
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kh-15, RKV-15 (AS-16 'Kickback')", Jane's Air-Launched Weapons, 2008-08-01, retrieved 2009-02-03
 - 1 2 "Kh-15 (AS-16 'Kickback'/RKV-15)", Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, 2008-09-02, retrieved 2009-02-06
 - ↑ http://www.ktrv.ru/about/structure/458/459/
 
References
- Gordon, Yefim (2004). Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-188-1.
 
