Kh-38

A Russian modular, supersonic air-to-surface missile family designed to replace the Kh-25 and Kh-29 and attack battlefield, coastal and surface targets.

Overview

The Kh-38 is a family of Russian short-range air-to-surface missiles developed by Tactical Missiles Corporation, commonly abbreviated KTRV. The domestic service family is designated Kh-38M, while Kh-38ME identifies the export family. Its defining feature is a common missile airframe that can accept different terminal seekers and warheads for attacks on armoured vehicles, fortified positions, infrastructure and surface targets.

The missile combines inertial and satellite-aided midcourse navigation with terminal guidance selected for the mission. Publicly described variants use semi-active laser, imaging-infrared, active-radar or satellite guidance. Russia has employed the laser-guided Kh-38ML from Su-34 strike aircraft in Ukraine, where drone-based target designation can separate the launching aircraft from the platform maintaining the laser spot.

The Kh-38 is substantially heavier than helicopter-launched weapons such as the Izdeliye 305, carrying a warhead of up to 250 kg at a maximum launch weight of 520 kg. Published range figures conflict: several open sources give a 3–40 km envelope, while KTRV's archived export material lists 3–70 km. Its short reach relative to longer-range stand-off weapons requires the launch aircraft to operate comparatively close to defended areas.

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