- Novator KS-172 AAM-L
The Novator KS-172 AAM-L (also known as R-172 or 172S-1) is an extremely long-range
air-to-air missile developed inRussia . It was designed to arm the RussianSukhoi Su-27 andSukhoi Su-35 aircraft.The KS-172 was first shown as a mock-up at an
air show inAbu Dhabi in 1993, but the poor financial situation of the post-Soviet CIS meant that it was not funded, although flight testing was reportedly done. Revival of development has been broached at several points, in 1997 as a purely Russian project, and more recently with discussions taking place in 2004 withIndia to launch an Indo-Russian co-venture to produce the missile, which would then arm Indian Su-30MKI aircraft.The KS-172 may have been based on the airframe of the 9K37M1 Buk-M
surface-to-air missile . It used a two-stage rocket engine with a flight speed of about Mach 4 and a claimed maximum range of 400 km (250 mi). The AAM-L flies to the vicinity of the target byinertial navigation , then activates its own activeradar for terminal homing.The AAM-L missile is intended for use against
Airborne Early Warning , tanker, and maritime patrol aircraft, giving an air force the ability to attack these vital assets without having to engage their fighter escorts. Enhanced-range versions have also been suggested as possibleanti-satellite weapon s.The weapon is planned for carriage by Su-27/Su-30, Su-35, and
Mikoyan MiG-31 aircraft.pecifications (estimated)
* Length: 7,400 mm (24 ft 3.5 in)
* Wingspan: 750 mm (2 ft 5.5 in)
* Diameter: 510 mm (20 in)
* Launch weight: 750 kg (1,650 lb)
* Speed: Mach 4
* Range: 400 km (250 mi)
* Guidance:inertial navigation with active radar for terminal homing
* Warhead: 50 kg (110 lb)External links
* [http://www.ldomino.ru/russia/novator/ks/172/ks172.htm Description]
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