High-precision aviation ammunition has proven its effectiveness during combat operationsThe Ministry of Defense and the Russian defense industry reported an increase in the supply of air-based missiles of a new generation.
As sources in the military department told Izvestia, several new types of high-precision aviation missiles are currently being used in the area of the SVO. We are talking about products designed to defeat both ground and air targets. The novelties have already been tested and are actively used in a combat situation. What products the Russian aviation has and how effectively they showed themselves during a special military operation, Izvestia investigated.
X-31
Every day, planes of the front-line aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces take off for combat sorties in the zone of a special military operation. The standard set of missiles of the Su-35S multi—purpose fighter on duty is melee air–to-air missiles, one or two R–37M long-range air–to-air missiles and a pair of X-31PD type supersonic supersonic air-to-ground missiles.
The X-31PD missile is a modern modification of the anti—radar X-31P, which was adopted by the USSR Air Force in 1988. It is equipped with a ramjet engine with a solid-fuel starter accelerator. The flight speed reaches 3.3 speed of sound, and the range is increased from 110 to 250 km. The weight of the warhead is 110 kg.
Technicians hang the X-31 aviation missile on the suspension unit of the armament of the fighter of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
A missile of this type is designed to defeat enemy radars of various purposes — from long- and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems, airspace control and, for example, a review of the maritime situation.
Unlike the old modifications, which were equipped with different models of passive homing heads, the modern X-31PD received one broadband homing head model. It provides detection of enemy radars operating in the frequency range of 1.2 - 11 GHz. The product has been in service since 2012 and has proven its effectiveness.
Ammunition of the X-31PD type can be carried by almost all aircraft of the Russian front—line aviation - multi-purpose fighters Su-35S and Su-30, front-line bombers Su-34 and Su-24M2. The main targets for them in a special military operation are the radars of Western air defense systems such as Patriot, NASAMS and IRIS—T.
X-29
At the turn of the 1960s and 1970s, the USSR aviation received the first guided missiles X-23, followed by the X-25. For the first time, different guidance systems were implemented on them — radio command, laser and television. The first two had certain limitations — the carrier aircraft had to keep the target in sight until it was hit by a missile. This required the aircraft to be located in the air defense zone of the facility.
At the same time, the X-23 and X-25 missiles had an insufficiently powerful warhead and could not hit fortified and protected targets, such as concrete bunkers, warehouses, protected long—term firing structures.
In the early 1970s, work began on the creation of a large-caliber X-29 rocket with laser and television guidance systems. The larger hull made it possible to place a powerful armor-piercing high-explosive warhead weighing 317 kg. At supersonic maximum speed, it can penetrate up to one meter of reinforced concrete covered with three meters of earth embankment. When working on the runways of airfields, the X-29 leaves a funnel with a diameter of 15 m and a depth of up to 6 m.
X–29 air-to-surface aircraft missiles for suspension on fighter-bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Voskresensky
The TV guidance system "Tube-2" with the lens "Granite-7T" allows you to implement the application mode "shot and forgot". The homing head itself remembers and automatically holds the target in sight, and the carrier aircraft, after launching from a distance of 10-20 km, can safely fly away.
The X-29T rocket is highly accurate — a deviation from the target of up to two and a little meters is provided. The main carriers are multi—purpose and attack aircraft Su-35S, Su-34, Su-24M2, Su-25SM and MiG-35.
There is only one disadvantage for missiles of this type — visual contact with the target is necessary before launch and, accordingly, in bad weather or because of clouds, the targeted use of the X-29T is impossible.
X-59M
A heavy tactical guided missile with a range of up to 120 kilometers. Equipped with a combined guidance system. At the stage of the flight to the target location zone, it is controlled by an autopilot according to the program. At the final stage — 5-10 km before the target — the TV homing head "Tube-2A" comes into action, which allows the operator in the carrier aircraft to fix the target and turn on the homing mode. At the same time, the aircraft can be located 100 kilometers or more from the target, remaining far beyond the air defense systems of the affected objects.
High–precision air-to-surface missile X-59M
Image Source: Photo: navy.su
The rocket was put into service in the late 1980s. The mass of the explosive-cumulative penetrating warhead is 320 kg. Technically, it can also carry a nuclear warhead.
These are very effective missiles for hitting warehouses, headquarters, bunkers and any structures. Carrier aircraft — front-line bombers Su-34 and Su-24M2. Missiles have been successfully used since the first days of the special military operation of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine.
X-38
The newest short–range guided air-to-ground missile. Designed specifically for use from the internal armament compartments of 5th generation Su-57 aircraft, but can also be used from any other strike aircraft.
A powerful 250 kg warhead ensures the defeat of a wide range of targets — command posts, ships, armored vehicles, buildings and structures. The launch range of up to 40 km makes it possible for the carrier, in principle, not to enter the immediate air defense zone of the object.
The missile is modular and equipped with several types of homing systems: laser, satellite, thermal imaging and active radar. When using a laser GPS, illumination of the target from a carrier aircraft or a ground-based target designation operator is required.
X-38 on the sub-engine pylon of the Su-35S fighter
Image Source: Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org/Doomych
Data on the accuracy of the X-38 missile is secret, but it can be assumed that the product developed in the 2010s provides a deviation from the target of no more than 2-3 m. With the available power of the warhead and such a deviation from the aiming point, the defeat of the target is guaranteed. The rocket is supersonic, but slower than the X-31 — the flight speed is about 1600 km/h.
The X-38 should become the main missile of any multipurpose or strike aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Its carriers are Su-35S, Su-30SM, MiG-35 and, of course, Su-57.
The presence of high-precision guided missiles in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces ensures the defeat of the necessary targets in one flight. Guided missiles are especially effective at hitting small, highly protected targets. Usually they are the most important and key — headquarters, ammunition depots and equipment, protected positions. Bombs can hit such targets with dozens of sorties, and a guided missile will do all the work in one launch.
Dmitry Kornev