Originally Posted by
FODPlod
I wondered how long it would take.
I intended posting this yesterday but my better nature made me reconsider:
The Kh-22 uses an Tumanski liquid-fuel
rocket engine, fueled with TG-02 (
Tonka-250) and IRFNA (inhibited
red fuming nitric acid), giving it a maximum speed of
Mach 4.6 and a range of up to 600 km (320 nmi). It can be launched in either high-altitude or low-altitude mode. In high-altitude mode, it climbs to an altitude of 27,000 m (89,000 ft) and makes a high-speed dive into the target, with a terminal speed of about Mach 4.6. In low-altitude mode, it climbs to 12,000 m (39,000 ft) and makes a shallow dive at about Mach 3.5, making the final approach at an altitude under 500 m (1,600 ft). The missile is guided by a
gyroscope-stabilized autopilot in conjunction with a
radio altimeter.
Soviet tests revealed that when a
shaped charge warhead weighing 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) was used in the missile, the
resulting hole measured 5 m (16 ft) in diameter (19.63 m2 (211.3 sq ft)), and was 12 m (40 ft) deep.[3]
"By August 2016, Russia was finalizing the trials of the
Kh-32 cruise missile, a derivative of the Kh-22. Designed for use by the Tu-22M3 bomber, the missile is designed to climb to 40 km (130,000 ft) to the
stratosphere after launch, transition to level flight, then perform a steep dive to the target; its combination of speed and flight path makes it virtually invulnerable to interception by ground-based air defenses and fighters.[[i]
citation needed] The advanced cruise missile is designed to target enemy ships, radars, and "radio-contrast targets" like bridges, military bases, electric power plants, and others. The Kh-32 has an
inertial navigation system and radar homing head, making it independent of
GPS/
GLONASS navigation satellites. Presumably, it has a range of 1,000 km (620 mi; 540 nmi) and a speed of at least 5,000 km/h (3,100 mph; Mach 4.1).
[10] Apparently the missile entered service in the same year.
[11] 32 Kh-22 missiles will be modernized to the Kh-32 level in 2018-2020.
[12]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kh-22