Kh-38

(Redirected from Kh-38M) Tactical air-to-surface missile

Kh-38
Kh-38ME
Type	Tactical air-to-surface missile
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
In service	2012 (Kh-38ME) 2019 (Kh-36)
Used by	Russia
Wars	Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designer	Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC
Designed	2007 (Kh-38ME) - 2015 (Kh-36)
Manufacturer	Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC
Produced	2015 (Kh-38M) - 2019 (Kh-36)
Specifications
Mass	520 kg (1,150 lb)
Length	4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
Diameter	0.31 m (12.2 in)
Wingspan	1.14 m (44.9 in)
Warhead	HE fragmentation, cluster warhead, armor-piercing
Warhead weight	up to 250 kg (551 lb)
Detonation mechanism	Contact fuse

Engine	Two-stage solid rocket motor
Operational range	up to 70km (Kh-38ML), up to 120km (Kh-36 Grom-E1)
Flight altitude	200-12000 m
Maximum speed	Mach 2.2
Guidance system	Laser, active radar, IR, satellite, depending on variant
Launch platform	Kh-38: Su-34, Su-25SM3, Su-57, Ka-52K Kh-36: Su-57, MiG-35

The Kh-38/Kh-38M (Russian: Х-38) is a family of standoff air-to-surface missiles meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families. The Kh-38 also serves as the basis for the Kh-36 unpowered and powered glide-bombs.

Design and development

The basic configuration of the Kh-38M was revealed at the 2007 Moscow Air Show (MAKS). The first prototypes of the missile had initially folding wings and tail fins for internal carriage, and would have a variety of seeker heads for different variants. Different warheads (fragmentation, cluster munitions, penetrating) can also be fitted. The Kh-38M is meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families. It can be used by combat aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi Su-57, and it is planned to be integrated on the Kamov Ka-52K helicopter. The first test firing took place in 2010 from a Su-34, and production was ordered to start in 2015.

In a successive version, unveiled at MAKS 2017, both control surfaces were replaced by longer and narrower fixed ones, a solution similar to the one used in the Selenia Aspide missile.

Operational history

The Kh-38M was first used in combat during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war. It was also used during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Variants

Kh-38MA - inertial, active radar homing
Kh-38MK - inertial, satellite guidance
Kh-38ML - inertial, semi-active laser guidance
Kh-38MT - inertial, imaging infrared guidance

Kh-36

Kh-36 Grom-E1 - Rocket assisted version of the Grom-E2. Sometimes referred as a hybrid missile glide bomb. AS-23 tactical cruise missile derivative/AGM with 120 km range
Kh-36 Grom-E2 - AS-23B/KAB-type guided glide bomb with 50 km range.

Both versions of the Grom are of 600 kg weight, with various guidance mechanisms, and both are created on the basis of the Kh-38M short-range tactical missile and also have modular structures, warheads and seekers. This weapon was first seen at MAKS 2015, and intended to equip all types of fighters, including the MiG-35 and Su-57.

References

"Russia to test new missiles in Syria later this year". 14 September 2016.
"Russian MiG-29Ks will employ Kh-38 in Syria – Alert 5". 15 September 2016.
^ "[Actu] La bombe guidée 9A-7759 Grom". Red Samovar. 26 June 2018.
https://x.com/GuyPlopsky/status/1795718984215777551
^ "Airborne guided missile "GROM-E1"". Archived from the original on 26 July 2022.
Newdick, Thomas (14 May 2024). "Our Best Look At Russia's Kh-38 Missile Now Being Used In Ukraine". The War Zone.
Butowski, Piotr (19 July 2023). "The Truth About Russia's Mysterious Winged Glide Bombs". The War Zone.
Barrie, Douglas and Komarov, Alexey. "War on Two Fronts for Russia's Missile Builders ". Aviation Week, 10 September 2007. Retrieved: 25 May 2014.
"MAKS: Tactical Missiles Corporation shows Kh-38 changes - Russian aviation news". 20 July 2017.
Newdick, Thomas (14 May 2024). "Our Best Look At Russia's Kh-38 Missile Now Being Used In Ukraine". The War Zone. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
Syngaivska, Sofiia (22 March 2023). "New Russian Grom-E1 Missile: On What Is It Really Based". Defense UA.
"Airborne guided gliding bomb "GROM-E2"". 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021.
"Производитель раскрыл характеристики новейших авиационных средств поражения "Гром"". 6 August 2019.

External links

NATO designation for Russian and former Soviet Union missiles

Air-to-air
(full list)

Air-
to-surface
(full list)

Anti-tank
guided
(full list)

Surface-
to-air
(full list)

Ground- based	SA-1 Guild SA-2 Guideline SA-3 Goa SA-4 Ganef SA-5 Gammon SA-6 Gainful SA-7 Grail SA-8 Gecko SA-9 Gaskin SA-10 Grumble SA-11 Gadfly SA-12 Gladiator/Giant SA-13 Gopher SA-14 Gremlin SA-15 Gauntlet SA-16 Gimlet SA-17 Grizzly SA-18 Grouse SA-19 Grison SA-20 Gargoyle SA-21 Growler SA-22 Greyhound SA-23 Gladiator/Giant SA-24 Grinch SA-27 Gullum SA-29 Gizmo Morfey S-350 Sosna-R/RA
Naval- based	SA-N-1 Goa SA-N-2 Guideline SA-NX-2C M-3 SA-N-3 Goblet SA-N-4 Gecko SA-N-5 Grail SA-N-6 Grumble SA-N-7 Gadfly SA-N-8 Gremlin SA-N-9 Gauntlet SA-N-10 Grouse SA-N-11 Grison SA-N-12 Grizzly SA-N-14 Grouse SA-N-20 Gargoyle SA-N-21 Greyhound 9K 96 Redut Palash/Palma
Anti- ballistic	ABM-1 Galosh ABM-3/53T6 Gazelle S-500 A-235

Surface-
to-surface
(full list)

Ground- based	SS-1 Scunner/SS-1 Scud (Scud-A/-B/-C/-D) SS-2 Sibling SS-3 Shyster SS-4 Sandal SS-5 Skean SS-6 Sapwood SS-7 Saddler SS-8 Sasin SS-8B Sasin 2 SS-9 Scarp SS-10 Scrag SS-11 Sego SS-12 Scaleboard SS-X-13 Savage SS-13 Savage SS-14 Scamp/Scapegoat SS-15 Scrooge SS-16 Sinner SS-17 Spanker SS-18 Satan SS-19 Stiletto SS-20 Saber SS-21 Scarab SS-22 Scaleboard SS-23 Spider SS-24 Scalpel SS-25 Sickle SS-26 Stone SS-27 Sickle B SS-28 Saber 2 SS-29 Sickle C SS-X-30 Satan 2 SS-X-31 Sickle D SS-X-32Zh Scalpel B Avangard / HGV Yu-7# SS-X-33 Stone AN
Naval- based	14KhK1 15Kh 17Kh KS-1 Komet P-20 Sokol P-40 P-47 SS-N-1 Scrubber SS-N-2 Styx SS-N-3c Shaddock SS-N-3a Shaddock 3b Sepal SS-N-4 Sark SS-N-5 Sark/Serb D-6 D-6M D-7 R-15M SS-N-6 Serb SS-N-7 Starbright SS-N-8 Sawfly SS-N-9 Siren SS-N-12 Sandbox SS-NX-13 Serb SS-N-14 Silex SS-N-15 Starfish SS-N-16 Stallion SS-N-17 Snipe SS-N-18 Stingray SS-N-19 Shipwreck SS-N-20 Sturgeon SS-N-21 Sampson SS-N-22 Sunburn SS-N-23 Skif R29RM SS-N-23A Skif SS-N-23B Skif SS-NX-24 Scorpion SS-N-25 Switchblade SS-N-26 Strobile SS-N-27 Sizzler SS-N-30A 3M-14 SS-NX-28 SS-N-29 SS-N-32 SS-NX-33 SS-NX-34 Skif SS-N-35 SS-N-36 SS-NX-37 SS-NX-38 Canyon
Ship- to-ship	10KhN SSC-1B Sepal Redut SSC-2 Salish/Samlet AS/KS-1 P-20 Sokol SSC-K P-1 Schuka KSShch SSC-3 Styx Rubezh SSC-4 Slingshot SSC-X-5 Scorpion SSC-6 Sennight SSC-7 Stone KS 9M728 SSC-8 Stone KB 9M729 SSC-14 Klub N/M 3M14/54 SSC-13 BrahMos SSC-10/SSC-5 Stooge Bastion P/S SSC-7/12 3M-80MV SSC-X-11 "GZUR" SSC-X-15 Skif SSC-X-9 Stone AN Hermes M ATS Hermes K ATS

Russian and former Soviet military designation sequences for radar, missile and rocket systems

Radar
systems

Land-based	A-100 P-3 P-8 P-10 P-12 P-14 P-15 P-18 P-19 P-20 P-30 P-35 P-37 P-40 P-50 P-70 P-80 P-100 Kabina 66 Kasta 2E RSN-225 Azov SNR-75 1S91 30N6 36D6 64N6 76N6 96L6E 9S15 9S19 9S32 Duga Dnestr Dnepr Daryal Dunay Volga Don-2N Voronezh Container
Ship-borne
Airborne	N001 N002 N005 N006 N007 N008 N010 N011 N012 N014 N019 N025 N035 N036

Missiles

ICBM	BZhRK GR-1 R-7 R-9 R-16 R-26 R-36 R-36M R-46 RS-24 RS-26 RT-2 RT-2PM RT-2PM2 RT-20 RT-21 RT-23 RS-28 Sarmat UR-100 UR-100MR UR-100N UR-200
IRBM	R-14 RSD-10 Oreshnik
MRBM	R-5 R-12 RT-15
SRBM	2K1 2K6 9K52 9K720 R-1 R-2 R-11 R-11A R-17 OTR-21 OTR-23 TR-1
SLBM	R-13 R-15 R-21 R-27 R-29 R-31 R-39 R-30
Surface-to-surface (cruise)	Burya RSS-40 3M-51 Alfa 3M-54 Kalibr 9M730 Burevestnik
Surface-to-surface (naval)	P-1 P-5 P-15 P-70 P-120 P-270 P-500 P-700 P-750 P-800 P-900 P-900A P-1000 RKV-500A RPK-2 RPK-6 RPK-7 URPK-3 URPK-4 URPK-5
Surface-to-air	2K11 Krug 2K12 Kub 2K22 Tunguska Kashtan CIWS 9K31 Strela-1 9K32 Strela-2 9K33 Osa 9K34 Strela-3 9K38 Igla/9K338 Igla-S 9K333 Verba 9K35 Strela-10 9K37 Buk 9K330 Tor Pantsir-S1 42S6 Morfey S-25 Berkut S-75 Dvina S-125 Neva/Pechora S-200 Angara/Vega/Dubna S-300 S-350 (50R6) Vityaz S-400 Triumf S-500/55R6M Triumfator-M M-11 Shtorm Sosna-R
Air-to-surface	KSR-2 KSR-5 KS-1 K-10S Kh-11 Kh-15 Kh-20 Kh-22 Kh-23 Kh-25 Kh-26 Kh-28 Kh-29 Kh-31 Kh-35 Kh-38 Kh-41 Kh-55 Kh-58 Kh-59 Kh-80 Kh-90 Kh-101 9M114V Shturm-V Hermes-A Kh-47M2 Kinzhal
Air-to-air	K-5 R-3 R-4 R-8 R-23 R-27 R-33 R-37 R-38 R-40 R-60 R-73 R-77 R-172
Anti-tank	3M6 9K111 9K112 9K114 9K115 9K115-2 9K121 9M14 9M15 9M17 9M113 9M117 9M119 9M120 9M123 9M133 9M133M Kornet-M Kornet-D Hermes

Unguided
rockets

Air-launched	RP-1 RP-5 RP-6 RP-9 RP-15 RP-21 RS-82 RS-132
Rocket artillery	BM-14 BM-21 BM-24 BM-25 BM-27 BM-30 TOS-1 TOS-2

Engines

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