Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
October 7, 2008
IWG Report 2007
Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
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AS-4A
| Country: | Russian Federation |
|---|---|
| Alternate Name: | Kitchen, Kh-22NA, Burya |
| Class: | ALCM |
| Target: | Land |
| Length: | 11.60 m |
| Diameter: | 0.92 m |
| Wingspan: | 2.99 m |
| Launch Weight: | 6000.00 kg |
| Payload: | 200 kT nuclear |
| Propulsion: | Liquid |
| Range: | 310.00 km |
| Guidance: | INS |
| Status: | Operational |
| In Service: | 1965-Present |
Details
The AS-4A “Kitchen” (Kh-22NA Burya) is a short-range, air-launched, liquid-propellant, single warhead, air-to-surface cruise missile developed and manufactured by Russia. It was intended to replace the air-launched AS-3 “Kangaroo” for use against U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and carrier battle groups. The AS-4A carries a 1,000 kg nuclear warhead with a 200 kiloton yield. Two other versions have been developed, the conventionally armed AS-4B (Kh-22MP) and AS-4C (Kh-22N).
The AS-4A is 11.67 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.92 m, and has a launch weight of 6,000 kg. It has two delta-shaped wings at mid-body and delta-shaped tails and fin at the rear. It is guided by an inertial navigation system (INS) in the midcourse phase, and did not include a separate terminal guidance system. Powered by a liquid-propellant motor, the AS-4A is designed for high altitude release up to 22 km. Its cruising altitude is normally between 10 and 14 km, with a cruising speed of Mach 3.5 to 4.5. The midcourse phase is followed by a steep dive down onto the target in the terminal phase. The missile can also be released from a low level, and can be programmed to cruise at altitudes as low as 1,000 m.
The AS-4A entered service in 1965 and is deployed on Tu-16 “Badger” aircraft. In 1995, a major upgrade program began, aimed at extending the life of existing missiles as well as developing a further improved version. It is expected that the new Kh-32 missile will eventually replace all AS-4 missiles.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 45 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, July 2006), pp. 112-113; GlobalSecurity.org, “Raduga Kh-22 (AS-4 Kitchen),” available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/as-4.htm, accessed on August 1, 2006.
