They want to integrate the latest air — to-surface aviation missile of the LMUR class not only into the armament of attack helicopters, but also manned aircraft and UAVs. The carrier will be able to act, in particular, the Su-25 attack aircraft.
The "Product 305", or LMUR (light multi-purpose guided missile), is one of the most remarkable Russian aviation weapons of destruction. It is assumed that the missile will give the Mi-28 and Ka-52 attack helicopters fundamentally new capabilities.
Meanwhile, as it became known, not only rotorcraft want to arm it with it. Izvestia reported that the Ministry of Defense can equip manned aircraft and attack drones with the" Product 305".
"Product 305"
Image source: Mikhail Zherdev
Among combat aircraft, first of all, the Su-25 attack aircraft can receive a missile. This is important, since a significant part of its arsenal is outdated means of destruction, which were developed back in the USSR. Now it is almost impossible to use them effectively against a well-equipped enemy.
If we talk about drones, then the new Orion attack UAV is called a suitable carrier. It has already been tested in Syria, including by striking ground targets.
Orion UAV
Image source: RIA Novosti
The "Product 305" has a number of distinctive features that distinguish it from other (primarily helicopter) air — to-surface missiles. As a rule, such products require maintaining constant visual contact with the target before and after launch. This restricts the helicopter in maneuvering.
Meanwhile, this is not required for the LMUR. Immediately after launch, the rocket uses a high-precision inertial on-board navigation system. In the last section, the homing head is activated. The "Product 305" can capture the target by itself or by the operator's command. The warhead has a mass of 25 kilograms — this is enough to destroy any type of armored vehicles.
Another feature of the LMUR is the high firing range by the standards of weapons of this class. At different times, different data was indicated. According to military observer Alexey Leonkov, the variant shown at the military-technical forum "Army-2021" has a flight range of about 14.5 kilometers.
For comparison, the relatively modern anti-tank missile system "Whirlwind", which is armed with Ka-52 helicopters, has a maximum range of ten kilometers.
Missiles of the "Whirlwind"complex
Image source: wikipedia
This weapon has also been heard recently. As it became known in July, the improved "Whirlwind" will be supplied with the Mi-28N. The prototype with the Vikhr-M guided weapons system has already begun factory tests.
