Missile AS-11 Kilter / Kh-58
Summary
| Category | Air-to-Surface Missile |
| Sub-type | Anti-radar missile |
| Origin country | 🇷🇺 Russia 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
Technical specifications
| AS-11 Kilter / Kh-58 | |
|---|---|
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead Weight | 150 kg |
| Diameter | 380 mm (15.0 in) |
| Span | 1170 mm (46.1 in) |
| Length | 4800 mm (189.0 in) |
| Weight | 640 kg (1411 lb) |
| Range | 120 km (75 mi) |
Description
The AS-11 Kilter, known by its Russian designation Kh-58, is a Soviet-made, air-launched anti-radiation missile primarily intended for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). Introduced in the 1970s, the missile is used to target enemy radar systems and is commonly carried by aircraft such as the Su-24, Su-25, and Su-30.
The Kh-58 uses passive radar homing to find its target. It's equipped with a seeker that can be programmed to detect specific radar frequencies. Once the radar is detected, the missile homes in on the emitted signals to disable or destroy the radar station. This makes it effective against ground-based radar systems and surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites that are emitting radar signals.
The missile is powered by a solid-fuel rocket motor, giving it a high speed and a range typically up to around 120 kilometers, depending on the variant and launch altitude. The Kh-58 carries a high-explosive warhead designed to maximize damage to radar installations and associated equipment.
However, the missile is only effective against radars that are actively emitting; if the enemy radar shuts down, the missile loses its target. Secondly, advances in radar technology and electronic warfare may reduce its effectiveness. Modern systems often have agile frequencies and other countermeasure capabilities that can make targeting more challenging. Finally, it's a specialized weapon, typically used in the opening stages of an air campaign to suppress enemy air defenses, rather than a general-purpose air-to-ground weapon.