Missile AS-12 Kegler / Kh-25MP & Kh-27PS
Summary
| Category | Air-to-Surface Missile |
| Sub-type | Anti-radar missile |
| Origin country | 🇷🇺 Russia 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
Technical specifications
| AS-12 Kegler / Kh-25MP & Kh-27PS | |
|---|---|
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead Weight | 110 kg |
| Diameter | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Span | 820 mm (32.3 in) |
| Length | 4200 mm (165.4 in) |
| Weight | 330 kg (728 lb) |
| Range | 35 km (22 mi) |
Description
The AS-12 Kegler is the NATO reporting name for a family of Soviet-Russian air-to-surface missiles that includes the Kh-25MP and the Kh-27PS. These missiles are primarily designed for suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and electronic warfare.
The Kh-25MP is an anti-radiation variant designed to home in on enemy radar signals. It's used to target ground-based radar installations and surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems. The Kh-25MP is equipped with a passive radar seeker that can be programmed to look for specific radar frequencies, and once it detects these signals, the missile locks onto the source to engage it.
The Kh-27PS is another variant in the same family, which is specifically geared toward electronic warfare. Unlike the Kh-25MP, which focuses on disabling or destroying radar systems, the Kh-27PS is designed to jam them. It carries electronic countermeasures to disrupt enemy radar operations, hindering their tracking and targeting capabilities.
Both the Kh-25MP and Kh-27PS are rocket-powered, using solid-propellant engines. They have a shorter range compared to some other anti-radiation missiles, typically up to 40 kilometers, depending on launch conditions. Their warheads are high-explosive and designed to cause significant damage to radar installations and other electronic systems.
These missiles are most effective against radars that are actively emitting. If the enemy radar turns off or changes frequencies, the missile can lose its target. Additionally, the shorter range means the launching aircraft may need to enter enemy airspace, potentially exposing it to threats.