For the first time outside Russia, the Tactical Missile Corporation (TMC) presented its latest developments in air-launched missiles, the Kh-69 air-to-surface stealth cruise missile and the RVV-BD (long-range) and RVV-MD2 (short-range) air-to-air missiles.
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Kh-69 stealth cruise missile
The Kh-69 missile (Russian designation X-69) is designed to destroy a wide range of fixed ground targets of previously known coordinates. These can be communications facilities, railway stations and junctions, ground warehouses, command posts and communications nodes, naval targets at their bases, etc.
The missile can be used as part of the weapon systems of Russian fifth-generation fighters such as the Su-57 and Su-75 Checkmate, as well as from fourth-generation aircraft of the Sukhoi, Mikoyan-Gurevich family and others.
The square-section design of the X-69 ensures its stowage in both the internal armament compartments of stealth fighters, as well as in the external hardpoints of other aircrafts. As reported by the Russian publication RAMG, the Kh-69 is much cheaper than its foreign counterparts, while it is nearly invulnerable along the flight path, thanks to its low radar signature. The launch range is up to 290 km.
RVV-BD Long Range Air-to-Air Missile
The RVV-BD long-range air-to-air guided missile is unique in its class, given its combination of range and power. It is designed to destroy almost all types of air targets in all kinds of weather conditions, from all angles, in airspaces heavily disturbed by electronic jamming, even against targets flying close to the ground or sea surface. Its active radar data link and guidance system allows it to be a “fire and forget” or “fire, update and forget” missile.
The launch range is up to 200 km (probably more in the Russian version), the warhead weight is 60 kg. The RVV-BD is capable of hitting an aircraft traveling at a speed of up to 2.5 thousand km/h at an altitude of 15 m to 25 km. According to RAMG, its probability of destroying an enemy fighter is 80%. Several reports from pilots from both sides in the Ukrainian war showed that the combination of the Su-35S with the RVV-BD missile is quite effective, having achieved several kills and forcing Ukrainian pilots to develop new tactics to carry out their missions.
RVV-MD2 Short Range Air-to-Air Missile
The RVV-MD2 air-to-air missile is a later version of the RVV-MD, which in turn was the modernized variant of the well-known R-73 (A-11 “Archer” in NATO code) and is designed for short-range or high maneuverability “dog-fight” combat.
It reaches targets at any time of the day/night, from any direction and has a high resistance to countermeasures. The launch range was increased by a quarter: up to 50 km. The new version is slightly longer, increasing by 18 cm (from 292 to 310 cm) and became heavier by 11 kg (117 vs. 106 kg).
However, these dimensions still allow the RVV-MD2 to be launched from the side weapons bays of the Su-57 fighter, for which it was designed. For more information on this new generation missile, please click HERE.
