| Is Missile: | yes |
| Raduga Kh-15 (NATO reporting name: AS-16 'Kickback') | |
| Origin: | Soviet Union |
| Type: | Air-launched ballistic missile Air-to-ground missile Anti-radiation missile (Kh-15P) Anti-ship missile (Kh-15S) |
| Used By: | Russia |
| Designer: | Raduga |
| Design Date: | 1974–1980 |
| Manufacturer: | Dubna Machine-building Plant |
| Production Date: | 1980 |
| Service: | 1980 |
| Engine: | solid-fuel RDTT-160 |
| Weight: | 1200abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Length: | 478cm (188inches) |
| Diameter: | 45.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Wingspan: | 92abbr=onNaNabbr=on maximum |
| Speed: | Up to Mach 5 |
| Vehicle Range: | 300abbr=onNaNabbr=on |
| Ceiling: | 40,000 m (130,000 ft) |
| Filling: | conventional or nuclear |
| Filling Weight: | 1500NaN0 |
| Yield: | 300 kt |
| Guidance: | inertial guidance, active radar homing, or anti-radiation missile |
| Launch Platform: | Tu-22M3, |
The Raduga Kh-15 or RKV-15 (Russian: [[Kha (Cyrillic)|Х]]-15; NATO: AS-16 "Kickback"; GRAU:) is a Russian hypersonic aero-ballistic air-to-ground missile carried by the Tupolev Tu-22M and other bombers. Originally developed as a standoff nuclear air-to-ground missile similar to the U.S. Air Force's AGM-69 SRAM, versions with conventional warheads have been developed.
As of early 2019, it was uncertain whether the Kh-15 was in service, with rumors that it had been retired or placed in storage.[1]
In 1967, MKB Raduga started developing the Kh-2000 as a replacement for the Kh-22 (NATO reporting name AS-4 Kitchen) heavy anti-shipping missile. Development of the Kh-15 started some time in the early 1970s. The sophistication of the design made it suitable for other roles, and a nuclear-tipped version was developed in tandem with the conventionally armed variant. An upgrade under development was cancelled in 1991, but reports in 1998 suggested an upgraded Kh-15 might be fitted to Su-35 (Flanker-E) tactical aircraft.
The Kh-15 climbs to an altitude of about 40000m (130,000feet) and then dives in on the target, accelerating to a speed of about Mach 5.
It entered service in 1980. It can be carried by the Su-33, Su-34, Tu-95MS-6 'Bear-H', Tu-22M3 'Backfire C', and Tu-160 'Blackjack'.[2]