Air-to-ground guided missiles of the X-29 family (USSR)

8
The first Soviet short-range air-to-ground guided missiles made it possible to significantly increase the front-line strike capabilities aviation. However, their use was associated with certain difficulties. In particular, the X-66 and X-23 missiles required the pilot to control the flight of the rocket until it hit the target. In addition, they carried a relatively light warhead, because of which they could not hit enemy fortifications, etc. objects. In 1970, the USSR Ministry of Defense initiated the development of a new aviation guided munition, which could effectively solve the tasks, but would not inherit the shortcomings of its predecessors.



The project of the new guided missile received the designation X-29. The development of this product was entrusted to the Molniya design bureau (now NPO Molniya), the chief designer was MR. Bisnovat. Specialists of "Lightning" performed most of the work, but in the mid-seventies were forced to stop their participation in the project. Because of the mass of orders for the Buran program, CB Molniya transferred the documentation for the X-29 project to the Vympel ICD (now GosMC Vimpel). This organization has already had extensive experience in creating guided weapons, including aviation systems. Vympel employees under the leadership of A.L. Lyapina completed the development of the project and set up mass production of new ammunition. Currently, the production and maintenance of the X-29 missiles is carried out by Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation (KTRV), which includes the Vympel GosKMB and other specialized organizations.

Existing guided missiles were aimed at the target with the direct participation of the pilot or the aircraft automatics. To simplify the combat work required to abandon the radio command, etc. systems, creating a new homing head operating in the mode of "launched-forgotten." It was decided to equip the new product X-29 with a promising seeker that ensures such an application. Due to the launch range requirements (up to 10-12 km), it became possible to equip the missile with an optical targeting system. As a result, we decided to make two modifications of the munition with the maximum degree of unification, equipped with different homing systems - television and laser.

Unified units

For some reason, the X-29 rocket received the same aerodynamic configuration as the previous guided weapons of this class, the “duck”. The rocket has a cylindrical body with a length of 3875 mm and a diameter of 400 mm. In the forward part of the hull there is a set of X-shaped destabilizers, behind which are located steering wheels of a similar construction with a span of 750 mm. X-shaped wings with aileron span 1,1 m are fixed on the tail part of the body. Structurally, the body is divided into five compartments containing one or another equipment. In the head there is a homing head, because of which missiles of various modifications differ in the shape of the head fairing. Behind the head compartment is the volume with the control system. The middle part of the body is occupied by a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, behind which is placed a solid propellant rocket engine. In the tail section there is an engine nozzle around which there are aileron drives.

In the second compartment of the X-29 family of missiles, there is a unified autopilot, which holds the missile on a given course and controls the rudders. He receives data from the used GOS and on their basis produces commands for the steering machines. Ailerons on the wings are used for roll control. Two pairs of rudders are responsible for controlling the pitch and yaw channels. The handlebars are connected in pairs (through the control channels) and are driven by two steering machines (one for each channel). When launched, the rudders are shifted to a position that ensures the missile’s separation from the aircraft carrier. The rocket’s electrical equipment includes an ampoule direct-current battery with forced heating. To start and ensure the operation of the battery uses a separate pyroblock that produces hot gas. The battery lasts enough for all systems to operate for 40 s, which significantly exceeds the maximum possible flight duration.

The X-29 rockets are equipped with a PRD-280 solid-fuel engine with a thrust of up to 225-230 kN. Unlike the X-66, X-23 and X-25 missiles, the X-29 product has one engine nozzle located on the tail end of the body. These design differences are due to the lack of a full-fledged instrument compartment in the tail of the body of a newer rocket. The engine is started with a slight delay after uncoupling from the aircraft carrier, due to which the hot gases of the engine do not damage the design of the latter. The engine charge is burned in 3-6 with, accelerating the rocket to speeds of the order of 600 m / s. At the same time, the average flight speed, taking into account planning for uncoupling and planning after burning a charge of solid fuel, is at the level of 300-350 m / s.

The X-29 guided missiles are equipped with an 9B63MN armor-piercing warhead weighing 317 kg, which is about half of the launch weight of the product. The warhead is made in the form of a steel body weighing 201 kg, having a conical head with thickened walls. Inside the case are 116 kg of explosive. The design of the warhead is designed taking into account the need to defeat both manpower or unprotected equipment, and fortifications, buildings or ships. According to some reports, the design of the warhead allows you to punch up to 3 m of soil and 1 m of concrete. In order to avoid a rebound when hit at acute angles to the target surface, the warhead is equipped with an anti-skidding device. Fuse warhead KVU-63 can operate in contact mode or produce undermining with deceleration. Contact sensors are available at the head of the rocket, near the rudders, as well as at the leading edges of the wings. The mode of operation of the fuse is selected by the pilot before starting. Contact blasting is designed to destroy equipment and manpower, and deceleration is used to attack bunkers, concrete structures, etc. objects.

The X-29 project initially envisaged a modular design with the ability to install the homing head of the desired model. By the order of the Ministry of Defense, the employees of the design bureau “Molniya”, and then the Vympel ICD, first developed two versions of the GOS: laser and television. The rocket variant with the guidance of the reflected light of the laser received the designation X-29L or "Item 63", with a television head - X-29Т or "Item 64". Externally, the missiles of these two types differ only in the shape of the head fairing, inside which are placed the aggregates of the homing head. There is a slight difference in the starting weight of the products. The X-29L rocket, ready for use, weighs 660 kg, X-29Т weighs more 20 kg.

The X-29 missiles of both types were supplied in transport containers of sizes 4,5x0,9x0,86 m (X-29L) and 4,35x0,9x0,86 m (X-29Т). A rocket with a laser homing in a container weighs 1000 kg, with a television - 1030 kg. For aircraft suspension and launch, AKU-58 ejection devices and their modifications can be used.

Air-to-ground guided missiles of the X-29 family (USSR)


Homing heads

The head part of the X-29L rocket has a shape formed by two conical surfaces, on which there are trapezoidal aerodynamic destabilizers, which improve handling and maneuverability in flight. A transparent section is provided in the head end of the fairing, through which the seeker monitors the spot of the laser illumination. In order to simplify the design and reduce the cost of production, X-29L received a semi-active laser seeker of the 24Н1 type, developed by the Geofizika CDB under the direction of D.M. Khorola for the X-25 rocket. To carry out the attack, the carrier aircraft or ground gunner had to highlight the selected target with a laser beam. The homing head in such a case should detect the light reflected by the target and direct the missile using the proportional approach method.

The method of application of the rocket with a laser seeker depended on the type of onboard equipment of the aircraft carrier. So, in the case of the “Searchlight-1” outboard container, which provided for the laser beam to move only in the vertical plane, the rocket's automation had to work immediately in the guidance mode with control through two channels. In the case of the use of more advanced Kaira or Klen systems with two-plane beam guidance, it was possible to rise to a certain height relative to the aircraft carrier and then perform a slide, which increased the effectiveness of the attack when launched from low altitudes.

Depending on the type of lighting equipment used, the aircraft after the missile discharge could perform maneuvering within certain limits. When using ground-based targeting equipment, the pilot, after launching, could leave the target area without risking to get under the fire of the enemy’s anti-aircraft weapons. The X-29L rocket could be launched at altitudes from 200 m to 5 km with carrier speeds from 600 to 1250 km / h. In this case, the minimum firing range was equal to 2 km, the maximum - up to 10 km. It should be noted, in view of the use of laser hsn, the actual firing range depended on meteorological conditions and other factors hindering the capture of a laser tag.


Homing head 24H1 rocket X-29L


Using the new autopilot in conjunction with the existing laser homing head 24H1 gave a very interesting result. The circular deviation of the X-25 rocket, for which this seeker was created, reached 10 m. The new instruments were able to bring the QUO X-29L to 3,5-4 m, which made it possible to hit laser-marked targets with high probability. Nevertheless, the actual characteristics in combat conditions could seriously differ from those indicated due to various technical and tactical reasons.

The X-29T air-to-ground guided missile received a more complex and expensive television homing head, Tubus-2, created at the Impulse research and production association. Losing the 24H1 product in cost and simplicity, the Tube-2 system simplified the attack of targets due to the full implementation of the “launched-forgotten” principle. When assembling the rocket, the television homing is mounted on the same mounts as the X-29L laser head.


Homing head "Tube-2" missiles X-29T


GOS "Tubus-2" has a cylindrical body with a hemispherical head fairing made of transparent material. The head includes an optical-electronic part and a target coordinator mounted on a moving gimbal. In addition, equipment is provided for processing the video signal and transmitting data to the rocket autopilot. The video system of the Tubus-2 product in the target search mode provides an overview of the zone with dimensions 12 ° x16 °. In the automatic tracking mode, the field of view is limited to the angles 2,1 ° x2,9 °. The coordinator is capable of tracking targets moving at an angular velocity of no more than 10 degrees / s. The camcorder produces an image with 625 quality lines, 550 lines, 50 Hz.

The method of combat use of the X-29T rocket is as follows. The pilot, visually or using airborne surveillance, must detect the target and place it in the surveillance sector of the television seeker. Then, using the video system of the rocket, including using the magnification, he must choose a target and aim a target mark at it. To capture the goal, the GOS “remembers” its features, such as a combination of contrasting light and dark areas. After reaching the permitted launch range, the pilot can release the missile. Further flight of the rocket is carried out automatically. The rocket independently monitors the target and guides it. Before the defeat, a “slide” is performed so that the rocket can hit the target, for example, a reinforced structure, from above, with the greatest efficiency.

Due to the maximum possible unification of the X-29 family rocket, they have similar characteristics. X-29T from a television homing station can be launched from a height from 200 m to 10 km with the speed of the aircraft carrier within 600-1250 km / h. This ensures shooting at a distance from 3 to 12 km. The circular deviation does not exceed 2-2,5 m. At the same time, the real characteristics of the X-29T rocket directly depend on various conditions and can vary within wide limits.


X-29T rocket device: I - homing head: 1 - Granit-7Т-М1 lens; 2 - TV camera with Vidicon; 3 - gyrostabilizer; 4 - Tube-2 passive television coordinator units; 5 - destabilizer; 6 - power supply; II - control section: 7 - reactive contact sensors of the SKD-63 system; 8 - gas rudder drives; 9 - steering surfaces; 10 - ampoule electric battery 8M-BA; 11 - electric converter; 12 - control unit (equipment and filters); 13 - tear-off plug connector; III - combat part: 14 - aluminum shell; 15 - steel body warhead 9B63МН; 16 - explosive warhead 9B63MN; 17 - front mount; 18 - detonators with safety-remote devices 3B45.01; IV - engine: 19 - switching unit of the contact fuse KVU-63; 20 - UPD2-3 squibs engine ignition; 21 - engine start checks and KVU-63; 22 - igniter; 23 - solid propellant rocket engine PRD-280; 24 - reaction cable contacts of the contact explosive device KVU-63; 25 - wing; 26 - rear mount; 27 - gas supply unit gas generator; V - nozzle and tail unit: 28 - filters and gas supply unit pressure regulators; 29 - aileron; 30 - aileron drive; 31 - engine nozzle.

New Modifications

The development of the project X-29, begun in the CB "Lightning", was completed by the staff of the ICM "Vympel". The same organization was engaged in testing. In the late seventies, both proposed types of missiles passed the full range of tests and the necessary refinement. In 1980, the X-29L and X-29T products were adopted by the air forces of the Soviet Union.

In the course of the further development of the project in the Vympel ICD, several new missiles were developed, differing from the base X-29L and X-29T with some parameters used by the equipment and designation. At the moment, we know about the following modifications:
- YX-29. Training version of the missiles, designed to train pilots. It is a common serial product with a bright color. Instead of standard white, they are painted in red (completely) or in red with a white central section. When testing X-29 missiles, the Su-24М bomber armament complex used a missile with a red head and tail and a “chess” red and white color of the central compartment;
- X-29ML. Rocket with an updated laser guidance system, providing greater accuracy of impact;
- X-29TM. An upgraded version of the rocket with the new television GOS;
- X-29TE. Upgraded export version of the X-29T. According to some reports, the firing range increased to 30 km;
- X-29TD. Modification with the updated guidance system. According to some data, it is equipped with a television seeker with a thermal imaging channel, providing use at night;
- X-29MP. Missile with a passive radar homing head.

In the arsenals

The X-29 missiles were put into service in the 1980 year, after the start of the war in Afghanistan. The first combat use of new ammunition took place only in 1987 year. Since April, the 87 th Soviet pilots regularly used this weapon against various challenging targets. The use of optical guidance systems has affected the effectiveness of missiles. So, in April 1987 of the Su-25 378 th attack aircraft, armed with the X-25 and X-29L missiles, for the first time received an order to destroy the warehouses cut in the rocks. For target illumination, Klen-PS aircraft systems were used. Due to the smoke generated during the attack, two of the four launched X-29L were unable to aim at the target. In addition, a certain difficulty was the highlighting of the target in combat conditions.

To increase the effectiveness of the use of guided missiles in the 378, a separate assault air regiment with the assistance of specialists who came from the USSR built a so-called. BOMAN - "Aviation Gunner Fighting Vehicle". On the BTR-80 behind the turrets they installed the Klen-PS rangefinder-range-finder, shot from a decommissioned Su-25 attack plane. Later, the BOMAN “modification” appeared, in which the range finder-target designator could get inside the armored hull. To search for a target on such machines, an optical sight from the NSV-12,7 machine gun was used.

The emergence of aircraft carrier aircraft soon affected the effectiveness of the use of guided aircraft weapons. When using such equipment, the ground attack pilots only had to reach the launch line, capture the target and launch missiles. Search and target illumination were assigned to the BOMAN crew, and the machine could do its work while being at a safe distance from the target. In addition, during the combat work, the machine stood in one place and did not move, thanks to which the gunner had the opportunity to clearly and precisely highlight the chosen target. When illuminated from an airplane, the laser spot could have shifted significantly from the intended aiming point.

In the remaining years of the war in Afghanistan, Soviet pilots spent several types of 140 guided missiles. This weapon was mainly used to destroy protected complex targets, such as warehouses, etc. objects in mountain caves. The characteristics of the laser seeker 24H1 allowed a rocket to get directly into the cave entrance. If there was an ammunition depot inside, the 317-kilogram warhead of the X-29L rocket did not leave any chances for supplies and manpower of the enemy. In addition, practicing shooting at the arch of the cave above the entrance when installing the fuse to explode with a delay. Due to the high speed and robust hull, the missile warhead was buried in stone and brought down the arch, locking the enemies and their property inside.

During the two wars in Chechnya, the Russian Air Force also used the X-29L and X-29T missiles to a limited extent. A relatively small number of missiles used was caused by difficult meteorological conditions. Bad weather simply did not allow the full use of all the possibilities of guided weapons.

In the eighties, X-29 rockets began to be delivered to foreign countries. Such weapons were bought at various times by Algeria, Bulgaria, Venezuela, the GDR, Iraq, Iran and other countries that acquired Soviet aircraft. In total, taking into account the former republics of the Soviet Union, the X-29 family of missiles were used and remain in service in 26 countries.

Some foreign countries had experience in using Soviet air-to-surface missiles. The first foreign countries missiles X-29 in combat used Iraq during the war with Iran. Due to the fact that the enemy had a sufficiently developed air defense system, the Iranian air force was forced to actively use high-precision guided weapons, suitable for striking without entering the enemy’s missile strike zone. The carriers of the X-29L missiles were Soviet-made MiG-23BN and French Mirage F1 aircraft. The composition of the aircraft’s armament was also mixed, since they used both Soviet and French missiles. In addition, French laser equipment was used with laser-guided missiles.

In the second half of 2000, during the Ethiopo-Eritrean conflict, the Ethiopian Air Force used the X-29MP and X-29T missiles to suppress enemy air defenses. The Su-25 airplanes, each carrying two missiles with radar and television ghosts, with fighter escort, were able to break into the launch line and destroy the Kvadrat radar station of the Eritrean SAMs using X-29MP. Further, the X-29T missiles were "finished off" the remaining anti-aircraft complex. A little later, Ethiopia attempted a similar strike, but this time the enemy managed to detect the attack in time and launch anti-aircraft missiles that damaged one of the enemy’s Su-25. Nevertheless, the ground attack aircraft were able to destroy the radar of the air defense system, after which the "blind" complexes were hit by free-fall bombs of fighter-bombers.




***

The X-29 family of missiles can be considered a successful representative of domestic air-to-ground guided weapons. They have high precision guidance and great power of the warhead, allowing to destroy various targets, including fortified buildings and underground structures. However, this weapon was not without flaws. Laser and television guidance could be carried out only in good weather conditions, in the absence of artificial interference, like smoke or various aerosols. In addition, over time, the short launch range, which was laid down in the requirements for the products, was not enough to protect the aircraft from the later appeared short-range air defense weapons.

Although the X-29 family of missiles have both positive and negative features, they can be considered at least one of the most successful developments of its class, created in our country. Moreover, at the time of their appearance and for some time thereafter, they were the most perfect domestic air-to-ground guided missiles.


Based on:
http://airwar.ru/
http://rbase.new-factoria.ru/
http://bastion-karpenko.narod.ru/
http://militaryparitet.com/
http://airforce.ru/
http://aviaros.narod.ru/
Markovskiy V.Yu., Prikhodchenko I.V. Su-25 “Rook” attack aircraft. Armored heir IL-2 - M .: Yauza: Eksmo: 2011
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  1. Pervusha Isaev
    +1
    12 February 2015 10: 15
    The task of designers and technologists after creating a successful disposable product is to reduce the cost of this product, because what one rocket cannot do, then they will do two and the combat mission will be completed ...
    1. +3
      12 February 2015 11: 58
      As for the WTO, this is a rather controversial statement. It’s because the controlled weapon is created in order to replace the quantitative indicator with a qualitative one (in this case) by increasing the probability of hitting me. In our second generation (if I may say so) generation I like the idea modularity. For example, this product can be equipped with both various GOS and warhead. Why didn’t the author mention this, or didn’t I read it carefully? In any case, the article is a plus, I look forward to continuing.
  2. +6
    12 February 2015 11: 48
    In field conditions, I had to repeatedly carry out training launches of X-29 missiles on ground targets from Su-25 and Su-17M4 aircraft. In my opinion, the most effective was the use of the X-29L in clear weather with a dive in combination with ground-based laser target designators. Start-up was carried out from a height of about 3,5-5 thousand meters. The maximum firing range in this case exceeded 10 km. Under cloudy conditions or artificial smoke of the target, the accuracy of shooting was significantly reduced, but still it was not zero. With a KVO of 2,6 m with a warhead weighing more than 300 kg, it was possible to destroy or severely damage military equipment in the caponier, ammunition depot, concrete shelter (CP), bridge. It was a bit more difficult to make launches using the Klen, Kayra systems, but the pilots successfully mastered it and many became real masters of their craft. To me, the rocket seemed rather large (almost 4 meters long) and heavy (weight over 600 kg).
    I heard about the modifications of the X-29 rocket, equipped with a television homing head (X-29T and X-29TE). They could be used to defeat surface targets (cruiser, destroyer), but this seems problematic to me in view of their strong protection by air defense systems.
    Generally speaking, the X-29L is more effective than the X-66, X-23 and X-25 missiles, free-falling and adjustable bombs, but also several times more expensive.
    1. 0
      4 March 2015 20: 11
      Do not explain why on the L-version on the fairing of the seeker a metallized grille ("Tic-tac-toe") ??? on T it is not, hence the feature is L. What is it?
  3. +1
    12 February 2015 13: 32
    Interesting article.
    The site, as it were, is interactive. I just draw conclusions, it may be erroneous.
    They began to write about aviation weapons, probably after my posts about possible weapons, the modernization of the Kazakhstan Su-30 SM, the Belarusian-Israeli modernization of the Su-27UBM (BM) 2 was pretty well recommended for us. 4 pieces were ordered, the Su-30. In the future, maybe 36 order airplanes.
    The Su-27BM2 is quite interesting because of its wide range of ammunition used. The Kh-29 is also used.
    Maybe this is "through measured observation?" Tfu, Tfu but she rarely lets me down. smile
    It would be good to compare the performance characteristics with the ammunition of NATO and China. Just wishes.
  4. Talat pasha
    +2
    12 February 2015 14: 39
    And here is our Azerbaijani version. Unfortunately, there is no video in Russian. Video from 3 minutes sad
    1. +2
      12 February 2015 14: 51
      Quote: Talat Pasha
      And here is our Azerbaijani version.

      Well done!
    2. The comment was deleted.
    3. -2
      13 February 2015 01: 19
      Struck by the culture of production in Azerbaijan. Not at all Russian defense industry enterprises you will see this. Well done!
  5. +2
    12 February 2015 19: 47
    As far as I remember from school, the warhead is OFAB-250. On the Su-17m4 it was used with AKU. From a conversation with an engineer, the regiment learned that they were not used with the TGSN until further notice (allegedly due to a breakdown in guidance). On the Su-17m4 to the right of the С-17вг stood IT-23 for the image from the TGSN (this is one of the differences from the export model of the Su-22) and a video recorder was installed for recording. In 93, our 523 apib performed missile launches (although I was in the TEH, in the PrNK group, before the launches, the aircrafts were brought to us and I had the opportunity to prepare for launches, to run control tasks (simulating a launch on the ground)). By the way, if memory serves, the same telehead was on KAB-500T

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