The winged missile developed for K-22 system
This missile was destined for destruction of radar sea targets (ships) or ground targets (bridges, dams, and power stations). Its development began in 1958; tests were started in 1962. The missile was introduced into inventory by the late sixties. Tu-22K, Tu-22M2/M3 and Tu-95K-22 aircraft carriers were armed with Kh-22 missile.
The missile was powered by R-201-300 liquid-propellant engine. Missile length was 11,3 m, the wingspan – 3 m. The launch weight of missile was 5900 kg. Weight of warhead was 1000 kg. The firing range was 400 km. Missile speed was 2700-3000 km/hour.
The Kh-22 missile comes in three variants:
- Kh-22N with a nuclear warhead and inertial guidance
- Kh-22M with a conventional load for use against ships and with an active-radar operating during the final flight stage
- Kh-22MP for breaking through enemy air defenses (overcoming enemy radars).
During experimental tests conducted from 95-96 years the Raduga-D2 (Kh-22B version) had reached a speed of Mach 6 and an altitude of about 70 km.
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Design | OKB A.I.Mikoyan / MKB “Raduga” |
| Type | Kh-22 |
| NATO code name | AS-4 Kitchen |
| First launch | 1962 |
| Guidance | active radar or passive infra-red homing |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Lenght, m | 11,3 |
| Wing Span, m | 3 |
| Diameter, m | 0,92 |
| Launch weight, kg | 5900 |
| Warhead | high-explosive, 1000 kg, or nuclear, 350 kT yield |
| Warhead weight, kg | 1000 |
| Power-plant | |
| Engines | liquid-propellant R-201-300 |
| Flight data | |
| Speed, km/h | 2700-3000 |
| Firing range | 400 |
| Ceiling, m | 24000 |
References and Credits:
- History and aircraft of Mikoyan design bureau / «Wings of Russia», 1999, CD-ROM /
- «Marine aircraft missile carriers» / «Aviatsia i Kosmonavtika», N11-12, 1997 /
- AS-4 Kitchen / FAS – Russian and Soviet Nuclear Forces
/