- Yes
- No
Kh-28: The First Soviet ARM
Background
During the early 1960s Soviet battle doctrine assumed that western radar systems would be disabled by electromagnetic pulses (emps) due to the widespread use of nuclear weapons. This in turn meant that they didn’t invest any time into the research and development into anti-radiation missiles during this time period. However, in 1963 the development of the first Soviet anti-radiation missile was initiated as there was still the possibility of a war that didn’t go nuclear and in that case a missile would be needed to counter western SAM systems. The design of the missile was based off of the Kh-22 and KSR-5 missiles however, this lead to the design of the missile being densely packed and complex.
The missile was originally designed for the Yak-28 hence the name Kh-28 but due to the aircraft being underpowered and out of production by the time the missile was ready for mass production in 1971 it was decided to use newer aircraft such as the Su-17/22 as launch platforms. Even with a capable launch platforms the missile still had a few issues such as the need for the fuel and oxidizer to be mixed right before takeoff as the missile used fuming nitric acid which is corrosive and would damage the missile if stored long term. Due to these complications the missile was inevitably superseded by the Kh-58 but not before it was exported to other nations such as Syria, Iraq, and Vietnam.
Launch Platforms
- Su-17/22
- Su-24
- Tu-16
- Tu-22
Technical Data
- Length: 5.97m
- Caliber: 430mm
- Wingspan: 1.93m
- Total Weight: 690kg
- Warhead Weight: 140kg
- Launch Range: 110km
- Flight Speed: 800m/s (mach 2.33)