AS-17 Krypton / Kh-31 FAMILY

YAK-141 Freestyle V/STOL multirole fighter

SU-35 all-weather counter-air fighter

SU-37 multirole fighter

S32/37 Golden Eagle

SU-24 Fencer battlefield bomber/R/EW

SU-34/32FN Fullback Long range fighter-bomber

New air defense weapon systems of the American Patriot kind have raised the requirements which antiradar missiles must meet. These include first of all higher speed and longer range, then also high interference immunity and radar turn-off when attacked.

For the special purpose of meeting these requirements, the "Zvezda" group under the direction of V. Bugayskiy began in 1977 working on the Kh-31 missile (Article) 77P). The first launchings of this missile took place in 1982.

The most interesting component of the Kh-31P is its dual propulsion system designed by the "Soyuz" Design Bureau in Turayevo near Moscow (note: there are several "Soyuz" engineering groups in Russia). First the missile is accelerated by its solid-fuel rocket engine to a speed of Mach 1.8, then the engine is discarded and the interior of the missile is converted into the combustion chamber of the missile's jet engine.The latter accelerates the missile to a speed of almost Mach 4.5, while four air intake holes on the sides of the missile body open up. On the basis of the Kh-31P antiradar missile were developed the Kh-31A missile (Article 77A) with an active-radar guidance head and also an M-31 flying target for air defense training exercises. The Kh-31 was for the first time publicly displayed in November 1991, in Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

The State Scientific Production Center Zvezda-Strela has upgraded the air-to-surface supersonic ASM Kh-31A NATO: AS-17 Krypton). Recently a variant of the air-to-air class based on the Kh-31 was made available, equipped with a hybrid active-passive guidance head for use against nonmaneuvering airborne targets such as AWACS (passive guidance) from far distances. The range of this missile is 200 km. The unofficial designation of this missile is 'mini-Moskit'. The Kh-31A missile has been developed from the technologies of the 1970-80s.

purpose: Kh-31A mod 1: antiship missile
with active radar seeker
Kh-31A mod 2: extended
range version of mod 1
Kh-31P mod 1:
antiradiation missile with passive radar seeker
Kh-31P mod 2: extended
range variant of mod 1
guidance: Kh-31A mod 1: inertial point with
active radar terminal seeker
Kh-31A mod 2: inertial
point with active radar terminal seeker
Kh-31P mod 1: inertial
point with passive radar seeker
Kh-31P mod 2: inertial
point with passive radar seeker
designer: ZVEZDA Missile Industry of
Spetztekhnika Group
manufacture: STRELA

Kh-31A mod 1 AS-17a "KRYPTON A"
Kh-31A mod 2 AS-17b "KRYPTON B"
Kh-31P mod 1 AS-17c "KRYPTON C"
Kh-31P mod 2 AS-17d "KRYPTON D"
Kh-31X AA- "KRYPTON E"

Kh-31A SUPERSONIC
TACTICAL ANTISHIP
MISSILE
The missile is designed to engage surface combatants
and transport vessels.
It features a normal aerodynamic configuration with
cruciform wings and ruddervators. Four round supersonic
air intakes are located on the sides of the body
in the plane of the airfoils.
The Kh-31A can be used against targets whose coordinates
are known in advance and those detected by the
aircraft radar in flight (main method), if the carrier is
within the zone of potential missile launches.
The Kh-31A can be launched from a carrier aircraft at
a target located within relative bearings of ±8 degrees.
After target detection, missile launch preparation and
input of target designation data and carrier flight parameters
into the missile control unit the missile is fired
in response to the launch signal.
After liftoff, the missile flies independently in compliance
with the program to an area of target search by
the active homing head. The estimated point of missile
arrival to the target lockon area is located at a range of
7.5 km and an altitude of 100 m. After target lockon for
automatic tracking, the missile zooms to exclude
its splashdown during approach to the target at
extremely small angles.
The target is defeated by
explosion of the missile
warhead after penetrating
the ship in the event
of a direct hit or by highexplosive
and fragmentation
effect in case of a
near miss.
A sealed container is
used to transport and
store the missile.
Carriers: Su-32, Su-35,
MiG-29SM, MiG-21-93,
MiG-31BM, Su-24M.

KH-31AD

Air-launched tactical high-speed anti-ship missile Kh-31AD is intended for engaging combat (assault landing) ships and transport vessels, navigating either individually or as part of naval strength groups (convoys).

BASIC PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Maximum range of fire, km - 120…160
Launch altitudes, m - 100…15 000
Launch speeds, M - 0.65…1.5
Warhead type - multipurpose
Average number of hits to destroy:
a boat type target - 1.0
a destroyer type target - 2.0
Warhead weight, kg - 110
Missile launch weight (not exceeding), kg - 715
Length x diameter x wing span, m - 5.34 õ 0.36 õ 0.954

Kh-31PD air-launched high-speed anti-radar missile is intended for engaging radar stations of air defense missile systems (ADMS).
Ground maintenance of the missiles is performed at Oka-E-1 aircraft weapons preparation system.

Basic Performance Characteristics
Max launch range (carrier flying at: Í=15 km, Ì=1.5), km - 180-250
Launch altitudes envelope, km - 0.1-15
Launch speeds envelope (Mach number) - 0.65-1.5
Guidance system inertial + broad-band passive radar seeker
Target locating angle at launch, degrees:
target lock-on during captive flight - ±15°
target lock-on after launch - ±30°
Type of warhead - multiple charge, multi-purpose
Warhead weight, kg - 110
Fuel - kerosene
Missile launch weight (not more than), kg - 715
Length õ diameter, m: 5.340 õ 0.360
Weather conditions - all-weather application
Carriers aircraft - Su-30ÌÊ (ÌÊI, ÌÊÌ, ÌÊ2), Su-35, MiG-29Ê, MiG-29KUB, MiG-35, etc.