Raduga Kh-55
The Raduga Kh-55 (NATO reporting name AS-15 'Kent') is a Soviet/CIS long-range cruise missile with a nuclear warhead. It is loosely similar to the American Tomahawk missile.
The Kh-55, also known by the design bureau designation RKV-500, first flew in 1978, entering production in 1981, with service entry of the original model (NATO 'Kent-A') in 1983. It is powered by a single R95-300 turbofan engine, with pop-out wings for cruising efficiency. It flies at subsonic speeds at low levels (under 110 m/300 ft altitude). Guidance is by inertial navigation.
An upgrade version, Kh-55SM (NATO 'Kent-B'), entered production in 1986. It has TERCOM (Terrain Comparison) navigation, with periodic position updates by comparing terrain images taken by onboard Doppler radar against maps stored in the onboard computer. The Kh-55Sm has additional fuel tanks, extending range from 2,500 km to 3,000 km.
A naval version of the Kh-55, 3K-10 Granat, was developed in parallel, apparently for submarine use.
The Kh-55 is carried by the Tupolev Tu-95 and Tupolev Tu-160
Specifications (Kh-55SM)
- Length: 6.0 m (19 ft 7 in)
- Diameter: 514 mm (20.24 in)
- Wingspan: 3.10 m (10 ft 1 in)
- Launch weight: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
- Warhead: 200 kT nuclear
- Guidance: inertial with Doppler radar/terrain map updates
- Maximum speed: approximately Mach 0.77
- Range: 3,000 km (1,860 mi)
- Accuracy (CEP): unknown
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