Kh-29 Explained

Is Missile:	yes
Kh-29 (NATO reporting name: AS-14 'Kedge')
Origin:	Soviet Union
Type:	air-to-surface missile
Used By:	Warsaw Pact, China, India, Iraq
Wars:	Iran–Iraq War Second Libyan Civil War Russian-led military intervention in Syria Syrian Civil War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
Designer:	Matus Bisnovat Georgiy I. Khokhlov
Design Date:	1975
Manufacturer:	Vympel / Tactical Missiles Corporation
Production Date:	1980-current^[1]
Service:	1980s-current
Engine:	Fixed thrust solid fuel rocket
Weight:	Kh-29L :660abbr=onNaNabbr=on Kh-29T :685abbr=onNaNabbr=on Kh-29TE :690abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Length:	Kh-29L/T :390cm (150inches) Kh-29TE :387.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Diameter:	38cm (15inches)
Wingspan:	110cm (40inches)
Speed:	2200km/h Kh-29ML: 900–1,260 km/h (560–780 mph)^[2]
Vehicle Range:	Kh-29L :10abbr=onNaNabbr=on Kh-29T :12abbr=onNaNabbr=on Kh-29TE :30abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Filling:	HE armour-piercing
Filling Weight:	3200NaN0
Detonation:	Impact
Guidance:	Kh-29L: semi-active laser guidance Kh-29T/TE : passive homing TV guidance Kh-29D : infrared homing guidance (IIR)^[3] ^[4] Kh-29MP : active radar homing^[5]
Launch Platform:	Kh-29L&T: MiG-27K, MiG-29, Su-22,Su-27UB, Su-30MK, Su-39 , Kh-29L only: Su-25 Kh-29T only: Su-35 Also: Mirage F1E, Su-17/22, Su-24, Su-33, Su-34, Su-37

The Kh-29 (Russian: [[Kha (Cyrillic)|Х]]-29; NATO: AS-14 'Kedge; GRAU: 9M721) is a Soviet air-to-surface missile with a range of 10–30 km. It has a large warhead of 320 kg, has a choice of laser, infrared, active radar or TV guidance, and is typically carried by tactical aircraft such as the Su-24, Su-30, MiG-29K as well as the Su-25, giving these aircraft an expanded standoff capability.

The Kh-29 is intended for primary use against larger battlefield targets and infrastructure such as industrial buildings, depots and bridges, but can also be used against ships up to 10,000 tonnes, hardened aircraft shelters and concrete runways.

Development

Design started in the late 1970s at the Molniya design bureau in Ukraine on what would be their only air-to-ground munition, but when they moved exclusively to space work Vympel took over development of the Kh-29. The first firing of the missile took place in 1976 and after extensive trials the Kh-29 was accepted into service in 1980.

Design

The basic aerodynamic layout of the Kh-29 is similar to the Molniya R-60 (AA-8 'Aphid'), reflecting Molniya's heritage in air-to-air missiles. The laser guidance head came from the Kh-25 (AS-10 'Karen') and the TV guidance from the Kh-59 (AS-13 'Kingbolt'), mated to a large warhead.

It has been compared to the United States' AGM-65 Maverick, but the AGM-65 is a much smaller missile than the Kh-29, and weighs less than half as much.

Compared to the AGM-65 Maverick, the Kh-29 has a 20% higher top speed (1,150 km/h vs 1,470 km/h) and a much bigger warhead (320 kg vs 136 kg).

Operational history

The Kh-29 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1980, and has been widely exported since.

The Kh-29L was used by Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24 aircraft in the 2015 Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War.^[6]

2014 Libyan conflict

Kh-29 missiles were supplied to Libya in the 1980s for use on the Libyan Air Force's Su-24s. These aircraft have all been destroyed during the 2011 NATO-led intervention, and no other aircraft in the Libyan arsenal could use these missiles. Hence, they have been transformed into unguided surface-to-surface rockets, launched from modified trucks and with their fins and ailerons at the front and back removed for a somewhat more stable flight path. They were used by National Salvation Government forces around Tripoli in 2014, during the Second Libyan Civil War (they were seized from Ghardabiya Air Base depots).^[7]

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Kh-29 missile has possibly seen limited use in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, being fired from Su-34 aircraft.^{[8] [9]}

Variants

• Kh-29L (Izdeliye 63, 'Kedge-A') uses a semi-active laser seeker and has a range of 8–10 km.
• Kh-29ML is an upgraded version of the Kh-29L.
• Kh-29T (Izdeliye 64, 'Kedge-B') is the TV-guided version, which is fitted with automatic optical homing to a distinguishable object indicated by the pilot.
• Kh-29TE^[10] is a long-range (30 km) development of the Kh-29T. The minimum range is 3 km; launch altitude is 200–10,000 m.
• Kh-29MP is a variant that uses active radar homing, making it a fire-and-forget weapon. It has a 250 kg warhead and a 12 km range.
• Kh-29D is the fourth variant of the Kh-29TE which uses imaging infrared guidance.

Operators

Current operators

• : Algerian Air Force^[11]
• : Belarusian Air Force on its modernized MiG-29BMs.^[12]
• : Bulgarian Air Force on its Su-22M4s, which were withdrawn from service in 2004. Also used on Su-25s.
• : People's Liberation Army Air Force – received 2,000 Kh-29Ts in 2002 for use on their Su-27SKs, Su-27UBKs, Su-30MKKs, Shenyang J-11s and possibly their JH-7s and Q-5s.
• : Ethiopian Air Force, Kh-29T on its Su-25TKs^[13]
• : Georgian Air Force on its Su-25KM Scorpions^[14]
• : Indian Air Force on its Su-30MKIs^[12] and Indian Navy on its MiG-29Ks.^[15]
• : the Indonesian Air Force uses the Kh-29TE on its Su-30MK2s^{[16] [17]}
• : Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force on its Su-24s
• Kazakhstan^[18]
• ^[19]
• Libya: National Salvation Government^[7]
• : Royal Malaysian Air Force used on its Su-30MKMs^[20]
• : Peruvian Air Force^[21]
• : Polish Air Force on its Su-22M4s.
• : Russian Aerospace Forces^[12]
• : Serbian Air Force on the MiG-29SM^[22]
• : Syrian Air Force^[23]
• : Ukrainian Air Force
• : Venezuelan Air Force on its Su-30s
• : Vietnam People's Air Force on its Su-30MK2Vs
• : Yemeni Air Force on its MiG-29s^[24]

Former operators

• : Czechoslovak Air Force – passed onto successor states
• : East German Air Force
• : Phased out after German reunification
• : Hungarian Air Force on Su-22M3s
• Iraq: Iraqi Air Force^[25]
• : Libyan Air Force – Left without launch platforms after all Su-24s were destroyed in the civil war and subsequent NATO bombings. Subsequently used in a surface-to-surface role.^[7]
• : Slovak Air Force – Su-22M4s
• : Soviet Air Force – passed on to successor states

See also

• Kh-25 (AS-10/12 'Karen/Kegler') – 320 kg missile with 90 kg warhead and 10–25 km range
• AGM-65 Maverick – 200–300 kg missile with 57–135 kg warhead and 27 km range
• AGM-62 Walleye I – 1967 US glide bomb delivering 385 kg warhead over 30 km.

Notes and References

1. Web site: ОАО "Корпорация Тактическое Ракетное Вооружение". 23 December 2014. 26 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180526180640/http://www.eng.ktrv.ru/production/68/675/676/?PHPSESSID=b55062d53f861256438076e6c6d01f44. dead.
2. Encyclopedia: KH-29 . 2008-09-05 . The Probert Encyclopaedia . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080602012818/http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/I_KH-29.HTM . 2008-06-02 .
3. Book: The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997–1998. 9781557502681. 23 December 2014. Friedman. Norman. 1997.
4. Web site: Kh-29D. deagel.com.
5. Web site: Russian Air Force 3.8 . 23 December 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120614055914/http://www.sci.fi/~fta/ruaf-3-8.htm . 14 June 2012 .
6. News: Russian air force using laser-guided KH-29L missiles in Syria – RIA . Polina Devitt . Reuters . 4 October 2015 . 7 October 2015.
7. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Kh-29 Air-To-Surface Missiles Used As Unguided Rockets In Libya . Oryx Blog . 17 February 2022 . 18 August 2014.
8. 1518719872133472257. RALee85. Video of a Russian Su-34 bomber reportedly launching a Kh-29 air-to-ground missile while popping flares.…. 25 April 2022.
9. Bronk, J. (2023, April). Russian combat air strengths and Limitations. CNA. Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.cna.org/reports/2023/04/russian-combat-air-strengths-and-limitations p.10.
10. Web site: Kh-29TE. Rosoboronexport.
11. Web site: Вооруженные силы Алжира . 2013-10-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131018040128/http://www.waronline.org/mideast/algir.htm . 2013-10-18 .
12. Web site: Michal A. . Fiszer . 25 years of service of Russian Kh-29 missile . Situational Awareness . 2008-09-07. Written by Polish former Su-22 pilot
13. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . Tankovy Busters: Su-25TK Attack Aircraft In Ethiopian Service . Oryx . 26 August 2021.
14. Web site: Fighter SU-25KM (Scorpion). 23 December 2014.
15. Web site: MiG-29K FULCRUM. John Pike. GlobalSecurity. 23 December 2014.
16. 2011 Annual Report of Tactical Missile Corporation, Web site: BMPD - Портфель экспортных заказов КТРВ . 2013-07-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120821071032/http://bmpd.livejournal.com/290141.html . 2012-08-21 .
17. Web site: Gita . Irawan . KSAU Apresiasi Keberhasilan Tes Rudal KH-29TE dari Pesawat Sukhoi TNI AU . Tribunnews . 2021-04-21.
18. Book: Gordon . Yefim . Komissarov . Dmitriy . Mikoyan MiG-23 & MiG-27 . 2019 . Crécy Publishing . Manchester . 978-1-91080-931-0 . 403.
19. Web site: Rare photo of North Korean fighter jet firing air-to-air missile emerges after Kim Jong Un visits air base. Business Insider.
20. Web site: Trade Registers . Stockholm International Peace Research Institute . 1 June 2023.
21. News: Tincopa . Amaru . MiG-29 over the skies of the condor . Revista Pucará . 10 . November-December 2021 . 26.
22. Web site: Banković . Živojin . Kako je lovac postao višenamenski borbeni avion: Detalji novog naoružanja na premijeri modernizovanih MiG-ova 29SM . tangosix.rs . 3 May 2022.
23. Web site: Mitzer . Stijn . Oliemans . Joost . The Syrian Arab Air Force - Beware of its Wings . Oryx Blog . 17 February 2022 . 15 January 2015.
24. Book: Cooper . Tom . Hot Skies Over Yemen, Volume 2 . 2018 . Helion & Company Publishing . Warwick . 978-1-911628-18-7 . 14.
25. Book: Cooper . Tom . Sipos . Milos . Iraqi Mirages. The Dassault Mirage Family in Service with the Iraqi Air Force, 1981-1988 . Helion & Company Publishing . 2019 . 978-1-912-390311 . 75.