Kh-90
Encyclopedia
The Kh-90 was Soviet cruise missile
which was supposed to replace subsonic intermediate range missiles
in Soviet inventory. The missile was an ambitious project since the target was to ultimately develop it into hypersonic
missile. However the entire program was canceled as a result of the INF treaty
with the United States.
According to astronautix.com (link below ) the development of three variants of this cruise missile was authorized on 9 December 1976. The Meteorit-M strategic version would be deployed from 667M submarines with 12 launchers per boat. The air-launched Meteorit-A would be launched from Tu-95 bombers. The land-based version was designated Meteorit-N. The missile was also sometimes referred to by the code-name Grom. The first test launch, on 20 May 1980, was unsuccessful, as were the next three attempts. The first successful flight did not come until 16 December 1981. The first launch from a 667M submarine took place on 26 December 1983 from the Barents Sea. However all variants were canceled in 1988 as a result of the INF Treaty.
The missile was designed by Chelomei at NPO Mashinostrenniye and designated the SSC-X-5 GLCM by the US Department of Defense. The turbojet-powered missile would cruise at Mach 2.5 to 3.0 at 20 km altitude over its 3000 km range. It was equipped with a 1 MT thermonuclear warhead and used inertial navigation with data link updates.
Manufacturer: Chelomei. Maximum range: 3,000 km (1,800 mi).
Cruise missile
A cruise missile is a guided missile that carries an explosive payload and is propelled, usually by a jet engine, towards a land-based or sea-based target. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large warhead over long distances with high accuracy...
which was supposed to replace subsonic intermediate range missiles
Intermediate-range ballistic missile
An intermediate-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km , between a medium-range ballistic missile and an intercontinental ballistic missile...
in Soviet inventory. The missile was an ambitious project since the target was to ultimately develop it into hypersonic
Hypersonic
In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that is highly supersonic. Since the 1970s, the term has generally been assumed to refer to speeds of Mach 5 and above...
missile. However the entire program was canceled as a result of the INF treaty
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. Signed in Washington, D.C. by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev on December 8, 1987, it was ratified by the United States Senate on May 27, 1988 and...
with the United States.
According to astronautix.com (link below ) the development of three variants of this cruise missile was authorized on 9 December 1976. The Meteorit-M strategic version would be deployed from 667M submarines with 12 launchers per boat. The air-launched Meteorit-A would be launched from Tu-95 bombers. The land-based version was designated Meteorit-N. The missile was also sometimes referred to by the code-name Grom. The first test launch, on 20 May 1980, was unsuccessful, as were the next three attempts. The first successful flight did not come until 16 December 1981. The first launch from a 667M submarine took place on 26 December 1983 from the Barents Sea. However all variants were canceled in 1988 as a result of the INF Treaty.
The missile was designed by Chelomei at NPO Mashinostrenniye and designated the SSC-X-5 GLCM by the US Department of Defense. The turbojet-powered missile would cruise at Mach 2.5 to 3.0 at 20 km altitude over its 3000 km range. It was equipped with a 1 MT thermonuclear warhead and used inertial navigation with data link updates.
Manufacturer: Chelomei. Maximum range: 3,000 km (1,800 mi).