Tu-22M3 and Kh-22: A Deadly Combination!
Introduction to the Kh-22/Kh-32 Missile System
The Kh-22/Kh-32 is an interesting piece of hardware that was designed specifically to target Aegis Combat System equipped vessels. The Kh-32 is an evolution of the older Soviet Kh-22. The Kh-22 was specifically designed to take on US aircraft carriers and was capable of punching a 22 square meter hole in a hull and penetrate a ship’s various bulkheads and compartments to a depth of 12 meters!
Technical Specifications and Capabilities
The Kh-32 has a range of 1000 km and can travel at Mach 4.5! This enormous missile (almost 7 tons, 12 meters long with a wingspan of about 3 meters) relies on sheer speed and brute force to punch through a fleet’s defense. The Kh-32 has two flight modes: Sea Skimming or high-altitude flight (40 km / 130,000 feet) with a terminal top attack where the missile dives almost vertically onto its target. Both modes are designed to maximize the chance of a successful hit on target (reduced chances of interception). The Kh-32 has a terminal velocity of 800 meters per second, too fast, in theory, to be intercepted by the SM-6 missile.
Operational Range and Tactical Advantage
The missile’s maximum range of 1000 kilometers means it can be launched from outside the maximum range of US Navy F/A-18, affording the Tu-22M3 pilots some survivability thanks to this stand-off capability.
-RBM
