Zvezda Kh-25MP / Kh-27PS (AS-12 Kegler)
One of the most important tasks of a tactical air-to-ground missile
is breaking through the enemy air defense system by destroying its radar
stations. No wonder then that in 1972, immediately after completing both
Kh-23 and Kh-25 missiles, the "Zvezda" OKB began working on the Kh-27PS
(Article 72) missile of the same family with a passive-radar head. An antiradar
missile must have a long range so as to be able to reach radar stations
from beyond the range of the air defense artillery. The Kh-27PS was therefore
equipped with a two-range engine so its range could be extended to 60
km by reducing its speed during the initial flight stage.
The passive-radar head of this missile was equipped with two antennas
tuned to the radar frequencies of two most popular Western air defense
systems: Hawk and Nike Hercules respectively. The missile was also equipped
with an autopilot enabling it to perform the "hump" maneuver during the
final flight stage so as to hit the target at a 20-30[DEG] angle and
thus improve the effectiveness of warhead. The Kh-27PS missile worked
with the airborne "Vyyuga" [Snowstorm] set programming the warhead prior
to the launch. The missile was arming Su-17 and MiG-27 aircraft. Government
Qualification tests on an MiG-27 aircraft were conducted during the 1975-77
period.
Sources and Methods
- "Survey of Russian Guided Air-to-Ground and Anti-Ship Missiles" by Piotr Butowski,
NOWA TEKHNIKA WOJSKOWA March 1995 No 3, pp 15-19 [JPRS-UMA-95-023: 7 June 1995]
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/as-12.htm
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