Kh-29 (NATO reporting name: AS-14 'Kedge')
Side-view of Kh-29T.
Type	air-to-surface missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1980s-current
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
Production history
Designer	Matus Bisnovat Georgiy I. Khokhlov
Designed	1975
Manufacturer	Vympel / Tactical Missiles Corporation^[1]
Produced	1980-current^[2]
Specifications
Mass	Kh-29L :660 kg (1,460 lb) ^[3] Kh-29T :685 kg (1,510 lb) ^[3] Kh-29TE :690 kg (1,520 lb) ^[3]
Length	Kh-29L/T :390 cm (12 ft 10 in)^[3] Kh-29TE :387.5 cm (12 ft 9 in)^[3]
Diameter	38.0 cm (15.0 in) ^[3]
Wingspan	110 cm (43 in) ^[3]
Warhead	HE armour-piercing^[1]
Warhead weight	320 kg (705 lb)^[1]
Detonation mechanism	Impact ^[1]

Engine	Fixed thrust solid fuel rocket^[1]
Operational range	Kh-29L :10 km (5.4 nmi)^[3] Kh-29T :12 km (6.5 nmi) ^[3] Kh-29TE :30 km (16 nmi) ^[3]
Maximum speed	2,200 km/h (1,400 mph)^[4] Kh-29ML: 900–1,260 km/h (560–780 mph)^[5]
Guidance system	Kh-29L: semi-active laser guidance Kh-29T/TE : passive homing TV guidance Kh-29D : infrared homing guidance (IIR)^[6]^[7] Kh-29MP : active radar homing^[8]
Launch platform	Kh-29L&T: MiG-27K,^[3] MiG-29,^[3] Su-22^[3],Su-27UB,^[3] Su-30MK,^[3] Su-39^[3] , Kh-29L only: Su-25^[3] Kh-29T only: Su-35^[3] Also: Mirage F1E,^[9] Su-17/22,^[9] Su-24,^[9] Su-33, Su-34, Su-37

The Kh-29 (Russian: 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,^[10] but can also be used against ships up to 10,000 tonnes, hardened aircraft shelters and concrete runways.^[1]

Development

[edit]

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.^[10] The first firing of the missile took place in 1976 and after extensive trials the Kh-29 was accepted into service in 1980.^[4]

Design

[edit]

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.^[10] 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.^[9]

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.^[10]

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).^{[citation needed]}

Operational history

[edit]

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.^[11]

2014 Libyan conflict

[edit]

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).^[12]

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

[edit]

The Kh-29 missile has possibly seen limited use in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, being fired from Su-34 aircraft.^[13]^[14]

Variants

[edit]

Kh-29L (Izdeliye 63, 'Kedge-A')^[10] uses a semi-active laser seeker and has a range of 8–10 km.^[3]
Kh-29ML is an upgraded version of the Kh-29L.^[10]
Kh-29T (Izdeliye 64, 'Kedge-B')^[10] is the TV-guided version, which is fitted with automatic optical homing to a distinguishable object indicated by the pilot.
Kh-29TE^[15] is a long-range (30 km) development of the Kh-29T.^[3] The minimum range is 3 km; launch altitude is 200–10,000 m.^[3]
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.^[6]^[8]
Kh-29D is the fourth variant of the Kh-29TE which uses imaging infrared guidance.^[6]^[7]

Operators

[edit]

Current operators

[edit]

Algeria: Algerian Air Force^[16]
Belarus: Belarusian Air Force on its modernized MiG-29BMs.^[4]
Bulgaria: Bulgarian Air Force on its Su-22M4s,^[4] which were withdrawn from service in 2004.^{[citation needed]} Also used on Su-25s.
China: People's Liberation Army Air Force – received 2,000 Kh-29Ts in 2002^[17] for use on their Su-27SKs, Su-27UBKs, Su-30MKKs, Shenyang J-11s and possibly their JH-7s and Q-5s.^[18]
Ethiopia: Ethiopian Air Force, Kh-29T on its Su-25TKs^[19]
Georgia: Georgian Air Force on its Su-25KM Scorpions^[20]
India: Indian Air Force on its Su-30MKIs^[4] and Indian Navy on its MiG-29Ks.^[21]
Indonesia: the Indonesian Air Force uses the Kh-29TE on its Su-30MK2s^[22]^[23]
Iran: Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force on its Su-24s
Kazakhstan^[24]
North Korea^[25]
Libya: National Salvation Government^[12]
Malaysia: Royal Malaysian Air Force used on its Su-30MKMs^[26]
Peru: Peruvian Air Force^[27]
Poland: Polish Air Force on its Su-22M4s.^[4]
Russia: Russian Aerospace Forces^[4]
Serbia: Serbian Air Force on the MiG-29SM^[28]
Syria: Syrian Air Force^[29]
Ukraine: Ukrainian Air Force^[4]
Venezuela: Venezuelan Air Force on its Su-30s
Vietnam: Vietnam People's Air Force on its Su-30MK2Vs
Yemen: Yemeni Air Force on its MiG-29s^[30]

Former operators

[edit]

Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovak Air Force – passed onto successor states^[4]
East Germany: East German Air Force^[4]
Germany: Phased out after German reunification
Hungary: Hungarian Air Force on Su-22M3s
Iraq: Iraqi Air Force^[31]
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: 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.^[12]
Slovakia: Slovak Air Force – Su-22M4s^[4]
Soviet Union: Soviet Air Force – passed on to successor states

Notes

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vympel Kh-29.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f X-29TE / X-29L, Tactical Missiles Corporation, archived from the original on 28 September 2007, retrieved 6 February 2009
^ "ОАО "Корпорация Тактическое Ракетное Вооружение"". Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u Rosoboronexport Air Force Department and Media & PR Service, AEROSPACE SYSTEMS export catalogue (PDF), Rosoboronexport State Corporation, p. 122, archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2007
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Fiszer, Michal A. "25 years of service of Russian Kh-29 missile". Situational Awareness. Retrieved 7 September 2008. Written by Polish former Su-22 pilot
^ "KH-29". The Probert Encyclopaedia. Archived from the original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c Friedman, Norman (1997). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997–1998. ISBN 9781557502681. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Kh-29D". deagel.com.
^ ^a ^b "Russian Air Force 3.8". Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Vympel Kh-29 (AS-14 'Kedge')", Jane's Electro-Optic Systems, 4 September 2008, archived from the original on 26 January 2013, retrieved 6 February 2009
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Kh-29 (AS-14 'Kedge')", Jane's Air-Launched Weapons, 6 August 2008 ^{[dead link]}
^ Polina Devitt (4 October 2015). "Russian air force using laser-guided KH-29L missiles in Syria – RIA". Reuters. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (18 August 2014). "Kh-29 Air-To-Surface Missiles Used As Unguided Rockets In Libya". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
^ @RALee85 (25 April 2022). "Video of a Russian Su-34 bomber reportedly launching a Kh-29 air-to-ground missile while popping flares.…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ 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.
^ "Kh-29TE". Rosoboronexport.
^ "Вооруженные силы Алжира". Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
^ Gertz, Bill (1 July 2002), "China test-fires new air-to-air missile; Taiwan likely to get upgraded arms", The Washington Times, p. A1
^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr. (January 2004), The Impact Of Foreign Weapons And Technology On The Modernization Of China's People's Liberation Army, US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, pp. 4–2C, archived from the original on 29 April 2007
^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (26 August 2021). "Tankovy Busters: Su-25TK Attack Aircraft In Ethiopian Service". Oryx.
^ "Fighter SU-25KM (Scorpion)". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
^ John Pike. "MiG-29K FULCRUM". GlobalSecurity. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
^ 2011 Annual Report of Tactical Missile Corporation, "BMPD - Портфель экспортных заказов КТРВ". Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
^ Irawan, Gita. "KSAU Apresiasi Keberhasilan Tes Rudal KH-29TE dari Pesawat Sukhoi TNI AU". Tribunnews. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
^ Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Dmitriy (2019). Mikoyan MiG-23 & MiG-27. Manchester: Crécy Publishing. p. 403. ISBN 978-1-91080-931-0.
^ "Rare photo of North Korean fighter jet firing air-to-air missile emerges after Kim Jong Un visits air base". Business Insider.
^ "Trade Registers". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
^ Tincopa, Amaru (November–December 2021). "MiG-29 over the skies of the condor". Revista Pucará. No. 10. p. 26.
^ Banković, Živojin (3 May 2022). "Kako je lovac postao višenamenski borbeni avion: Detalji novog naoružanja na premijeri modernizovanih MiG-ova 29SM". tangosix.rs.
^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (15 January 2015). "The Syrian Arab Air Force - Beware of its Wings". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
^ Cooper, Tom (2018). Hot Skies Over Yemen, Volume 2. Warwick: Helion & Company Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-911628-18-7.
^ Cooper, Tom; Sipos, Milos (2019). Iraqi Mirages. The Dassault Mirage Family in Service with the Iraqi Air Force, 1981-1988. Helion & Company Publishing. p. 75. ISBN 978-1-912-390311.

References

[edit]

Gordon, Yefim (2004), Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two, Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing, ISBN 1-85780-188-1

Russian and former Soviet aircraft ordnance

Missiles

Air-to-air	K-5 R-3 R-8 R-38 R-4 R-40 R-23 R-60 R-33 R-27 R-73 R-77 R-37
Air-to-surface	Kh-23 Kh-25 Kh-28 Kh-29 Kh-45 Kh-58 Kh-59 LMUR
Anti-ship, cruise	KS-1 K-10S Kh-20 Kh-22 KSR-2 KSR-5 Kh-55 Kh-15 Kh-31 Kh-35 Kh-45 Kh-90
Anti-tank	3M6 Shmel 9M17 Fleyta 9M14 Malyutka 9K114 Shturm 9M120 Ataka 9K121 Vikhr

Rockets

Aerial bombs

Autocannons,
machine guns

7.62 mm	SIBEMAS PV-1 DA ShKAS Savin–Norov GShG-7.62
12.7 mm	ShVAK 12.7 mm Berezin UB Afanasev A-12.7 YakB-12.7
20 mm	Sh-3 ShVAK 20 mm Berezin B-20
23 mm	VYa-23 NS-23 NR-23 AM-23 R-23 GSh-23 GSh-6-23
30 mm	NR-30 GSh-30-1 GSh-30-2 GSh-6-30 2A42
37 mm	Sh-37 NS-37 N-37
45 mm	NS-45
57 mm	N-57/OKB-16-57 RShR-57/OKB-15-57

Russian and former Soviet military designation sequences for radar, missile and rocket systems

Radar
systems

Land-based	A-100 P-3 P-8 P-10 P-12 P-14 P-15 P-18 P-19 P-20 P-30 P-35 P-37 P-40 P-50 P-70 P-80 P-100 Kabina 66 Kasta 2E RSN-225 Azov SNR-75 1S91 30N6 36D6 64N6 76N6 96L6E 9S15 9S19 9S32 Duga Dnestr Dnepr Daryal Dunay Volga Don-2N Voronezh Container
Ship-borne
Airborne	N001 N002 N005 N006 N007 N008 N010 N011 N012 N014 N019 N025 N035 N036

Missiles

ICBM	BZhRK GR-1 R-7 R-9 R-16 R-26 R-36 R-36M R-46 RS-24 RS-26 RT-2 RT-2PM RT-2PM2 RT-20 RT-21 RT-23 RS-28 Sarmat UR-100 UR-100MR UR-100N UR-200
IRBM	R-14 RSD-10
MRBM	R-5 R-12 RT-15
SRBM	2K1 2K6 9K52 9K720 R-1 R-2 R-11 R-11A R-17 OTR-21 OTR-23 TR-1
SLBM	R-13 R-15 R-21 R-27 R-29 R-39 RSM-45 RSM-56
Surface-to-surface (cruise)	Burya RSS-40 3M-51 Alfa 3M-54 Kalibr 9M730 Burevestnik
Surface-to-surface (naval)	P-1 P-5 P-15 P-70 P-120 P-270 P-500 P-700 P-750 P-800 P-900 P-900A P-1000 RKV-500A RPK-2 RPK-6 RPK-7 URPK-3 URPK-4 URPK-5
Surface-to-air	2K11 Krug 2K12 Kub 2K22 Tunguska Kashtan CIWS 9K31 Strela-1 9K32 Strela-2 9K33 Osa 9K34 Strela-3 9K38 Igla/9K338 Igla-S 9K333 Verba 9K35 Strela-10 9K37 Buk 9K330 Tor Pantsir-S1 42S6 Morfey S-25 Berkut S-75 Dvina S-125 Neva/Pechora S-200 Angara/Vega/Dubna S-300 S-350 (50R6) Vityaz S-400 Triumf S-500/55R6M Triumfator-M M-11 Shtorm Sosna-R
Air-to-surface	KSR-2 KSR-5 KS-1 K-10S Kh-11 Kh-15 Kh-20 Kh-22 Kh-23 Kh-25 Kh-26 Kh-28 Kh-29 Kh-31 Kh-35 Kh-38 Kh-41 Kh-55 Kh-58 Kh-59 Kh-80 Kh-90 Kh-101 9M114V Shturm-V Hermes-A Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
Air-to-air	K-5 R-3 R-4 R-8 R-23 R-27 R-33 R-37 R-38 R-40 R-60 R-73 R-77 R-172
Anti-tank	3M6 9K111 9K112 9K114 9K115 9K115-2 9K121 9M14 9M15 9M17 9M113 9M117 9M119 9M120 9M123 9M133 9M133M Kornet-M Kornet-D Hermes

Unguided
rockets

Air-launched	RP-1 RP-5 RP-6 RP-9 RP-15 RP-21 RS-82 RS-132
Rocket artillery	BM-14 BM-21 BM-24 BM-25 BM-27 BM-30 TOS-1

Engines

NATO designation for Russian and former Soviet Union missiles

Air-to-air
(full list)

Air-
to-surface
(full list)

Anti-tank
guided
(full list)

Surface-
to-air
(full list)

Ground- based	SA-1 Guild SA-2 Guideline SA-3 Goa SA-4 Ganef SA-5 Gammon SA-6 Gainful SA-7 Grail SA-8 Gecko SA-9 Gaskin SA-10 Grumble SA-11 Gadfly SA-12 Gladiator/Giant SA-13 Gopher SA-14 Gremlin SA-15 Gauntlet SA-16 Gimlet SA-17 Grizzly SA-18 Grouse SA-19 Grison SA-20 Gargoyle SA-21 Growler SA-22 Greyhound SA-23 Gladiator/Giant SA-24 Grinch SA-29 Gizmo Morfey S-350 Sosna-R/RA
Naval- based	SA-N-1 Goa SA-N-2 Guideline SA-NX-2C M-3 SA-N-3 Goblet SA-N-4 Gecko SA-N-5 Grail SA-N-6 Grumble SA-N-7 Gadfly SA-N-8 Gremlin SA-N-9 Gauntlet SA-N-10 Grouse SA-N-11 Grison SA-N-12 Grizzly SA-N-14 Grouse SA-N-20 Gargoyle SA-N-21 Greyhound 9K 96 Redut Palash/Palma
Anti- ballistic	ABM-1 Galosh ABM-3/53T6 Gazelle S-500 A-235

Surface-
to-surface
(full list)

Ground- based	SS-1 Scunner/SS-1 Scud (Scud-A/-B/-C/-D) SS-2 Sibling SS-3 Shyster SS-4 Sandal SS-5 Skean SS-6 Sapwood SS-7 Saddler SS-8 Sasin SS-8B Sasin 2 SS-9 Scarp SS-10 Scrag SS-11 Sego SS-12 Scaleboard SS-X-13 Savage SS-13 Savage SS-14 Scamp/Scapegoat SS-15 Scrooge SS-16 Sinner SS-17 Spanker SS-18 Satan SS-19 Stiletto SS-20 Saber SS-21 Scarab SS-22 Scaleboard SS-23 Spider SS-24 Scalpel SS-25 Sickle SS-26 Stone SS-27 Sickle B SS-28 Saber 2 SS-29 Sickle C SS-X-30 Satan 2 SS-X-31 Sickle D SS-X-32Zh Scalpel B Avangard / HGV Yu-7# SS-X-33 Stone AN
Naval- based	14KhK1 15Kh 17Kh KS-1 Komet P-20 Sokol P-40 P-47 SS-N-1 Scrubber SS-N-2 Styx SS-N-3c Shaddock SS-N-3a Shaddock 3b Sepal SS-N-4 Sark SS-N-5 Sark/Serb D-6 D-6M D-7 R-15M SS-N-6 Serb SS-N-7 Starbright SS-N-8 Sawfly SS-N-9 Siren SS-N-12 Sandbox SS-NX-13 Serb SS-N-14 Silex SS-N-15 Starfish SS-N-16 Stallion SS-N-17 Snipe SS-N-18 Stingray SS-N-19 Shipwreck SS-N-20 Sturgeon SS-N-21 Sampson SS-N-22 Sunburn SS-N-23 Skif R29RM SS-N-23A Skif SS-N-23B Skif SS-NX-24 Scorpion SS-N-25 Switchblade SS-N-26 Strobile SS-N-27 Sizzler SS-N-30A 3M-14 SS-NX-28 SS-N-29 SS-N-32 SS-NX-33 SS-NX-34 Skif SS-N-35 SS-N-36 SS-NX-37 SS-NX-38 Canyon
Ship- to-ship	10KhN SSC-1B Sepal Redut SSC-2 Salish/Samlet AS/KS-1 P-20 Sokol SSC-K P-1 Schuka KSShch SSC-3 Styx Rubezh SSC-4 Slingshot SSC-X-5 Scorpion SSC-6 Sennight SSC-7 Stone KS 9M728 SSC-8 Stone KB 9M729 SSC-14 Klub N/M 3M14/54 SSC-13 BrahMos SSC-10/SSC-5 Stooge Bastion P/S SSC-7/12 3M-80MV SSC-X-11 "GZUR" SSC-X-15 Skif SSC-X-9 Stone AN Hermes M ATS Hermes K ATS

Development

Design

Operational history

2014 Libyan conflict

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Variants

Operators

Current operators

Former operators

See also

Notes

References