| KSR-5 | |
|---|---|
 Tu-16 with KSR-5 under wing | |
| Type | Air-to-surface missile |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1969−1994 |
| Used by | Seeoperators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Tupolev andMikoyan Missile Design Bureau |
| No. built | 300[1] |
| Variants | Seevariants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) |
| Length | 10.56 m (34.6 ft) |
| Diameter | 920 mm (36 in) |
| Wingspan | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Maximum firing range | 400 km (250 mi) |
| Warhead | High-explosive, HEsemi-armour-piercing,nuclear |
| Warhead weight | 930–1,000 kg (2,050–2,200 lb) |
| Blast yield | 350 kT (Nuclear) |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Maximum speed | Mach 2 or Mach 3 |
Guidance system | Inertial with active or passive radar |
Launch platform | Tu-16,Tu-22M,Tu-95M |
| References | [2] |
TheKSR-5, also designated as theKh-26 (NATO reporting nameAS-6 Kingfish) was a long-range,air-launched cruise missile andanti-ship missile developed by theSoviet Union. It was essentially a scaled down version of theKh-22 'Kitchen', primarily carried by theTupolev Tu-16 bomber.
In the early 1960s the development of new nuclear-capablestrategic bombers came into a virtual halt in the Soviet Union, with the focus being shifted on nuclearballistic missiles and developing cruise missiles for existing aircraft. Developments in jet fighters andsurface-to-air missiles during the 1950s made the use of nuclearfree-fall bombs impractical against densely protected targets while missiles gave bombers the possibility of striking targets beyond the range of enemy anti-aircraft weapons.[3]
Developed in the late 1960s, theKRS-5 (also designated as theKh-26) is an improved version of the Kh-22 missile, designed to be smaller, lighter and with a smaller radar signature. According toJanes, it was designed jointly by the Tupolev and Mikoyan Design Bureaus.[2] It was developed as a conventional anti-ship missile and a nuclear cruise missile capable of striking ground targets. Originally designed to be carried on theTu-22 "Blinder", it was primarily mounted on the Tu-16 "Badger",[4] but it could also be mounted on Tu-22M "Backfire" and Tu-95M "Bear" aircraft as well.[2]
The missile had a maximum range of 400 km (250 mi) and cruise speed ofMach 3 when released from high altitude and 250 km (160 mi) range and cruise speed of Mach 2 when launched at low altitude.[2]
The KSR-5 entered service in 1969, with later versions designed to be carried in the Tu-95 and Tu-95M being introduced in 1973 and 1976 respectively.[2] In June 1991, it was estimated that the Soviet Union had 300 missiles carried on Badger-G bombers.[1]
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the remaining missiles were used by Russia and possibly Ukraine until 1994.[2] With the retirement of the Tu-16, the nuclear versions of theKSR-2 and KSR-5 missiles were retired by 1993.[6] In 1991, it was estimated Russia had about 100 missiles in its inventory, but most were converted into supersonic targets.[5]
Russia − Most were converted for missile target practice[5]
Soviet Union − Passed on to successor states[5]
Ukraine[2]