Ch-55

Ch-55
Ch-55
General Information
Type	Cruise missiles
Local name	Ch-55, RKW-500
NATO designation	AS-15 Kent
Country of origin	Soviet Union → Russia
Manufacturer	Raduga design office
development	1973
Commissioning	1984
Working time	in service
Technical specifications
length	Ch-55 : 5.88 m. Ch-55SM : 6.04 m
diameter	Ch-55 : 514 mm, Ch-55SM : 770 mm
Combat weight	Ch-55 : 1,250 kg Ch-55SM : 1,520 kg
span	3,100 mm
drive	R95-300 turbofan
speed	Mach 0.7
Range	Ch-55 : 2,500 km Ch-55SM : 3,000 km
Furnishing
steering	INS
Target location	TERCOM
Warhead	Nuclear warhead 200 kt
Detonator	Programmed detonator
Weapon platforms	bomber
Lists on the subject

Ch-55 ( Russian Х-55 , NATO code name AS-15 Kent ), is a Soviet airborne cruise missile produced by the Soviet / Russian company MKB Raduga .

development

The Ch-55 was developed as a counterpart to the US-American BGM-109 Tomahawk . Work in the Raduga design office began in 1973 under the direction of I. S. Seleznyov. In 1984 the first systems were introduced to the Soviet Air Force . Around 620 guided missiles were produced until the collapse of the Soviet Union .

technology

Before starting, the coordinates of the target must be entered in the missile's navigation system . This can be done on the ground or, for later versions, on board the carrier aircraft. After being dropped from the aircraft, there is initially a short period of non-propulsion. During this, the wings unfold and the turbofan engine is extended and started. The missiles can be launched individually or in series. The Ch-55 can be started at an altitude range of 200 to 12,000 m, at speeds of 540 to 1050 km / h. The cruise flight takes place at a speed of 720 to 830 km / h. The cruise flight takes place autonomously in contour flight, at an altitude of 40 to 150 m. The navigation during the cruise is carried out by means of an inertial navigation platform . A terrain contour comparison (TERCOM) is used for the target approach , which compares the terrain overflown with stored data. A CEP of 10 to 45 m is achieved. The thermonuclear warhead can detonate in the air by means of a proximity fuse or triggered by the impact fuse on contact with the ground.

variants

Nuclear

• Ch-55 / RKW-500A (AS-15A Kent-A) 1st series version with 200 kT nuclear warhead. Range 2,500 km. Hit accuracy CEP 45 m.
• Ch-55K / KR (AS-15A Kent-A) 2nd series version with modified hull shape and new materials.
• Ch-55M (AS-15A Kent-A) 3rd series version with improved precision. Range 2,500 km. Hit accuracy CEP 10–20 m.
• Ch-55OM / OK (AS-15A Kent-A) prototype with DSMAC seeker head.
• Ch-55SM / RKV-500B (AS-15B Kent-B) Version of the Ch-55 with conformal fuel tanks . Range 3,000 km. Hit accuracy CEP 45 m.

Conventional

• Ch-555SE (AS-22 Kluge) version with a 350-410 kg fragment warhead. Range 2,000 km. Hit accuracy CEP 10

–20 m.

• Ch-555Sh (AS-22 Kluge) version with 200-410 kg heavy penetration warhead. Range 2,000 km. Hit accuracy CEP 10–20 m.
• Ch-555SD (AS-22 Kluge) version with 200-410 kg cluster munitions . Range 2,000 km. Hit accuracy CEP 10–20 m.

export

• Ch-65SE: Version for ship combat with active radar seeker head. With 410 kg penetration warhead. Range over 580 km.
• Ch-65DE: Tactical cruise missile with 410 kg fragment warhead or cluster munitions . Range 280 km. Hit accuracy CEP 18–26 m.

Carrier aircraft

• Tupolew Tu-95 MS-6 with max. 12 guided missiles
• Tupolew Tu-95 MS-16 with max. 16 guided missiles
• Tupolev Tu-160 with max. 12 guided missiles

commitment

Cruise missile engine

The Ch-555 was first used as part of the Russian military operation in the civil war in Syria in November 2015. Tu-95MS and Tu-160 bombers were used as the launch platform.

literature

• Ducan Lennox: Jane's Air-Launched Weapon Systems. Edition 2002, Jane's Information Group, London 2002.
• Thomas Newdick: Postwar Air Weapons 1945 - Present . Amber, London 2011. ISBN 978-1-907446-59-7 .
• The AS-15 Kent air-to-ground guided missile system. DTIG - Defense Threat Information Group, Nov 1998.
• RUSSIA'S ARMS 2004 CATALOG. Military Parade Publishing House.

Web links

• www.fas.org
• www.missilethreat.com
• www.warfare.ru

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Article at globalsecurity.org about the AS-15
2. ↑ Dr. Carlo Kopp: Bypassing the NMD. China and the Cruise Missile Proliferation Problem. In: International Assessment and Strategy Center. June 22, 2006, accessed on August 22, 2009 ( Memento of the original from July 14, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
3. ↑ Thomas Newdick: Postwar Air Weapons 1945 - Present . 2011. p. 72.
4. ↑ International Institute for Strategic Studies: Bonus Military Balance 2019 content
5. ↑ Nicholas de Larrinaga: Russia launches long-range air sorties into Syria. In: janes.com. November 17, 2015, accessed November 19, 2015 .