X-58U Antiradar Missile

The X-58U missile is designed to engage radar stations (radars) without the aircraft carrier entering the affected areas of anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMs) such as Hawk, Nike Hercules, Patriot. The missile's combat application is ensured under any weather conditions (rain, snow, fog), at any time of the year without restrictions on the geographical latitude of the launch site.

X-58 missile was created in the ICB "Rainbow" under the guidance of chief designer - I.S.Seleznev. The main carrier of missiles was a specialized aircraft MiG-25BM, which hangs up to four missiles Kh-58. Installation of Kh-58 missiles on the aircraft type MiG-25 was set by the decision of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR CM in 1972. The task was to defeat the tune-up, short-term shutdown for camouflage radars with a wide range of radiation. In addition, it required the ability to select the most dangerous objects and redirect them.

The development of the PRGS-58 homing head and the Jaguar aircraft system providing radar target detection was entrusted to the Omsk Central Design Bureau of Automation. Together with the base aircraft MiG-25 and needed to refine the rocket for installation on this aircraft. The prototype of MiG-25BM was created in 1976.

In 1974, began flight tests PRGS-58 on the flying laboratory of the AN-12, flight and design tests of the Jaguar complex deployed in 1977, and in 1980 a new missile was adopted for service. Joint tests of the armament complex by industry and the customer proved to be long lasting and were completed by 1982. In addition to X-58, which provided the fight against enemy complexes operating in the frequency bands A, B and C, was created an improved X-58U with an extended range of A, A, B and C. Under the name X-58U (U - unified) the missile also became part of the Su-24 and Su-24M armament. Kh-58U has an extended flight range and differs from Kh-58 in its new engine and improved aerodynamic plumage.

The Su-17MZ and M4 were equipped with "Vyuga-17" (item L-086) suspended control and target designation equipment in a suspended container, developed by the Central Design Bureau under the leadership of V. Slavin, which also provided for the use of X-27PS anti-radar missiles. The Su-24M uses "Phantasmagoria" equipment in two sets of replaceable containers "A", "B" and "C" (products L-080 and L-081), depending on the type and litres of the intended radar target. It is an improved version of the previous on-board system "Filin-N" used on the Su-24, and features an extended range and improved performance. The equipment was mass-produced at the Barnaul plant. The CKBA also developed a unified PA-UR "Progress" target designation system for the Su-17, MiG-27 and MiG-23, which served for the use of existing (Kh-58, Kh-27PS, Kh-25MP) and advanced missiles, but work on this system was curtailed due to the removal of these vehicles from service.

Kh-58E is used in the armament of Su-24MK, Su-22M4, Su-25TK and MiG-25BM type aircraft. At present, the Rainbow Design Bureau is proposing a project to use the Kh-58E missile system with foreign fighter aircraft of the Mirage-111E, F-15, F-16 types.

The last version of the Kh-58 family missile was designated Kh-58USHKE (see photo). Kh-58USHKE is much shorter than Kh-58, is equipped with a new homing head and is designed for intra-fuselage placement on the carrier.

According to the advertising information: an improved modification of Kh-58A missile is being created to engage surface ships of small and medium displacement.

In the west, the missile was designated AS-11 "Kilter".