View source for Kh-28

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox weapon
|is_missile=yes
|name=Kh-28<br /><small>([[NATO reporting name]]: AS-9 'Kyle')</small>
| image= Dissembling_Kh-28_AS-9_Kyle.png
| image_size = 236
|caption=USAF [[Explosive Ordnance Disposal|EOD]] specialist disassembles presumed Kh-28 – Iraq 1991
|origin=[[Soviet Union]]
|type=air-launched [[anti-radiation missile]]
|used_by=FSU,<ref name="IECH" /> Warsaw Pact,<ref name="IECH" /> India,<ref name="IECH" /> Iraq,<ref name="IECH" /> Vietnam<ref name="IECH" />
|wars=
|designer=[[Alexander Yakovlevich Bereznyak]]
|design_date=
|manufacturer=[[MKB Raduga]]
|unit_cost=
|propellant=
|production_date=
|service=1973–current
|engine=Two-stage liquid-fuel rocket<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
|engine_power=
|weight={{convert|720|kg|lb|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
|length={{convert|597|cm|ftin|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
|height=
|diameter={{convert|43|cm|in|abbr=on|1}}<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
|wingspan={{convert|193|cm|ftin|abbr=on|1}}<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
|speed=Mach 3.0<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
|vehicle_range={{convert|110|km|nmi|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} <ref name="Crimson" />
|ceiling=
|altitude=
|filling=Blast fragmentation<ref name="IECH" />
|filling_weight={{convert |160|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
|detonation=
|accuracy  =
|yield=
|guidance=[[Inertial guidance]] with [[passive radar]] seeker<ref name="IECH" />
|launch_platform=Su-17M/Su-20/Su-22M, Su-24M, Tu-16, MiG-25BM, MiG-27, Tu-22M<ref name="JALW" />
}}
[[File:Fuming Kh-28 AS-9 Kyle.gif|thumb|Presumed Kh-28 emitting IRFNA (Inhibited [[Red fuming nitric acid]]) fumes – Iraq, April 1991]]
The '''Kh-28''' ({{langx|ru|[[Kha (Cyrillic)|Х]]-28}}; '''Nisan-28'''; [[NATO reporting name|NATO]]: '''AS-9 'Kyle'''') was the first [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[anti-radiation missile]] (ARM) for tactical aircraft.<ref name="IECH" /> It entered production in 1973 and is still carried on some [[Sukhoi Su-22]]s in developing countries but is no longer in Russian service.<ref name="IECH" /> Use of the Kh-28 was restricted by its weight, limited seeker head, bulk and fuelling requirements, and it was superseded by the smaller, solid-fuel [[Kh-58]] (AS-11 'Kilter') in the early 1980s.
==Development==
Soviet offensive doctrine in the early 1960s assumed that widespread use of nuclear weapons would disable Western radar-based air defence systems through [[electromagnetic pulse]]s (EMP) effects.<ref name="Crimson">{{citation | last1=Fiszer | first1=Michal | last2=Gruszczynski | first2=Jerzy  | title=Crimson SEAD: An insider's view of suppression-of-enemy-air-defense weapons and doctrine, soviet-style. | journal=[[Journal of Electronic Defense]] | url=http://www.jedonline.com | date=January 2003}} Also available from [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-22257108_ITM AccessMyLibrary]</ref> Consequently, they paid little attention to the development of ARMs.<ref name="Crimson" /> However, in January 1963 the Berezniak design bureau (which became [[MKB Raduga]] in 1967) was tasked with developing such a missile as part of the K-28P weapon complex based around a "[[Wild Weasel]]" version of the [[Yak-28]] 'Brewer' bomber (hence -28; the 'K' stands for kompleks, P stands for protivradiolokatsyonny 'anti-radar').<ref name="Crimson" />
The main difficulty came in the design of the APR-28 guidance system undertaken by CKB-111 (later NPO Avtomatika).<ref name="Crimson" /> This meant that the Kh-28 missile was not ready until the 1970s.<ref name="Crimson" /> Flight trials were carried out on a Yak-28N, but by then the Yak-28 had ceased production and was perceived as obsolete, and the K-28P system was cancelled.<ref name="Crimson" /> Instead the Kh-28 was adapted for use by standard attack aircraft, in particular the [[Su-24]] 'Fencer-A' and Su-17M 'Fitter-C'.<ref name="Crimson" />
==Design==
The Kh-28 was the first liquid-fuel Soviet ARM and was quickly replaced by the solid-fuel Kh-58 missile, according to research from Dr. Carlo Kopp, the editor in chief of Air Power Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2017/08/25/kurdish-fighters-capture-russian-anti-radiation-missiles-from-isis/|title=Kurdish fighters capture Russian anti-radiation missiles from ISIS|last=Snow|first=Shawn|date=August 25, 2017|website=Military Times|language=en-US|access-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref>
The design of the Kh-28 was similar to – but smaller than – Raduga's [[Kh-22]] (AS-4 'Kitchen')<ref name="JALW">{{citation | url=http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2916.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127010627/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2916.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 27, 2013 | title=Kh-28 (AS-9 'Kyle') | journal=Jane's Air-Launched Weapons | date=August 1, 2008 }} </ref> and [[KSR-5]] (AS-6 'Kingfish') anti-shipping missiles.<ref name="NIGWNWS">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l-DzknmTgDUC&pg=PA235 | title=The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapons systems, 1997-1998 | first=Norman | last=Friedman | publisher=Naval Institute Press | year=1997 | isbn=978-1-55750-268-1}}</ref> The Su-24 could carry one under each wing, and used the onboard ''Filin'' ('Eagle Owl') targeting system.<ref name="Crimson" /> The Su-17M could only carry one Kh-28 on the centreline, and used the ''Myetyel''/''Metel'' ('Blizzard') system in a pod under the right wing, later replaced by the ''Vyuga'' ('Snowstorm') pod.<ref name="Crimson" />
The APR-28 seeker on the original Kh-28 could only target the [[MIM-14 Nike-Hercules]] and [[English Electric Thunderbird]] SAM systems, although the ''Filin'' could recognise other frequencies.<ref name="Crimson" /> The Kh-28M had an updated X-band seeker that could recognise the [[MIM-23 Hawk]]'s AN/MPQ-33 and subsequent AN/MPQ-39 [[fire-control radar|target-illumination radar]]s, and the AN/MPQ-34 low-level [[Target acquisition|target-acquisition]] radar.<ref name="IECH">{{citation | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8kePYFK1L8C&pg=PA149 | title=International Electronic Countermeasures Handbook | last=Staff of [[Journal of Electronic Defense]] | publisher=Artech House | year=2004 | isbn=978-1-58053-898-5}}</ref> Other seekers may have been produced.<ref name="IECH" />
The propulsion system consists of a fuel tank and a separate tank for the [[red fuming nitric acid]] (RFNA) oxidiser. One problem was that the missile required fuelling just before flight, and not many airfields had the appropriate facilities.<ref name="NIGWNWS" /> Range is given variously as 80–95&nbsp;km or 120&nbsp;km.<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
==Operational history==
The Kh-28 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1973, and has been widely exported. It was cleared for use on the Su-17M/Su-20/Su-22M, Su-24M, Tupolev Tu-16, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25BM, MiG-27 and Tupolev Tu-22M aircraft.<ref name="JALW" /> It was also tested on an [[Antonov An-12]]BL [[SEAD]] variant of the transport that could carry four of the missiles.<ref name="JALW" />
A missile believed to be a Kh-28 was captured in Iraq by US forces during the first Gulf War in April 1991. One man was burnt by RFNA  from the oxidiser tank while he was making it safe.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/irfna/irfna_sec04.htm#3.%20Air%20Force%20EOD%20Specialist's%20IRFNA%20Burn |title=Information Paper - Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid |first=Bernard |last=Rostker |publisher=Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses |date=August 3, 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718051852/http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/irfna/irfna_sec04.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2008 }}</ref>
== Operators ==
* {{RUS}}
* {{SYR}}
* {{VIE}}
; others
* {{LBY}} from {{flagcountry|Libyan Arab Jamahiriya}} aviation arsenals
* {{AZE}}
* {{GEO}} unknown, active or depot in stockage or not operational
* {{KAZ}} unknown, maybe active or on depot stockage
* {{UKR}} unknown status or not operational
* {{BLR}} unknown, probably active or stockage in depot
=== Former operators ===
* {{USSR}} passed on to successor states
* {{AFG}}
* {{HUN}}
* {{flag|Iraq|1963}}<ref>{{harvnb|Cooper|Sipos|2019|p=19}}</ref>
* {{PER}}<ref>{{harvnb|Tincopa|2018|page=29}}</ref>
* {{POL}}
* {{flag|South Yemen}}<ref>{{harvnb|Cooper|2017|p=40}}</ref>
==Variants==
* '''Kh-28''' (''Izdeliye'' 93, D-8) - original version targeting [[Nike-Hercules]] and [[English Electric Thunderbird|Thunderbird]] SAMs
* '''Kh-28M''' - improved version capable against [[MIM-23 Hawk|Hawk]] and possibly other radars
* '''Kh-28E''' - export version
* '''Nisan-28''' or '''Nissan-28''' - Iraqi version of Kh-28E displayed in Baghdad in 1989 that was reported to have three seeker heads for different frequency bands.<ref name="NIGWNWS" />
==Similar weapons==
* [[AGM-78 Standard ARM]] – US anti-radar missile with similar range but only Mach 2.0
* [[Martel missile]] AS37 – Anglo-French first-generation anti-radar missile, subsonic with 60&nbsp;km range
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
* {{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |title=Hot Skies Over Yemen, Volume 1: Aerial Warfare Over the South Arabian Peninsula, 1962-1994 |date=2017 |publisher=Helion & Company Publishing |location=Solihull, UK |isbn=978-1-912174-23-2}}
* {{cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Tom |last2=Sipos |first2=Milos |title=Iraqi Mirages. The Dassault Mirage Family in Service with the Iraqi Air Force, 1981-1988 |publisher=Helion & Company Publishing |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-912390-31-1}}
* {{Citation|last=Gordon|first=Yefim|title=Soviet/Russian Aircraft Weapons Since World War Two|year=2004|location=Hinckley, England|publisher=Midland Publishing|isbn=1-85780-188-1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Tincopa |first1=Amaru |title=Su-22 Fitter |date=2018 |publisher=Australis |isbn=978-987-1682-60-7}}
{{Russian and Soviet Aircraft Ordnance}}
{{Russian and Soviet missiles|ASM}}
{{Russian and Soviet military designation sequences}}
[[Category:Anti-radiation missiles of the Soviet Union|Kh-028]]
[[Category:Cold War air-to-surface missiles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Air-to-surface missiles of the Soviet Union|Kh-028]]
[[Category:MKB Raduga products]]
[[Category:Anti-radiation missiles of the Cold War]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1970s]]