Sentinel Chicken

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Interesting. I seem to recall there was a proposed Russian cruise missile design that also used a propfan. The ol' memory is a bit fuzzy on the details, but I seem to recall some sort of mid-fuselage mounted prop.........
 
Kh-101 was thought to use a propfan originally, though later on a turbofan was substituted.
 
Kh-101 drawings (c) Piotr Butowski, International Air Power Review
and Kh-101 R128-300 proposed propfan from Paralay site.
 

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The turbofan greatly resmebles the one used by TSSAM. If you're not especially worried about RCS, the propfan works well for extending range.
 
elmayerle said:
The turbofan greatly resmebles the one used by TSSAM. If you're not especially worried about RCS, the propfan works well for extending range.
This might sound simplistic, but couldn't you just use propfan blades made of composites and no metal components?
 
You'll still get some glinting. Composite blades would be a bit of a challenge if they were carried stowed and had to deploy on launch; carried deployed would work but would also add to the drag of the carrying platform.
 
In the latest issue of „Combat Aircraft“ (Vol. 8 No. 5, page 29) is a single picture showing that Tu-95MS + 16 missiles said to be the Ch-101.

Does anyone have some more information ?


Deino
 

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overscan said:
Merged with older discussion

Sorry that I started a new tread but after using the search function with Kh-101 as a key-word I got nothing ! :(
 
Hi folks,

For a look at a US equivalent have a look at http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1883.0.html

Regards,

Greg
 
Not easy to see any details. Seems to have a triangular fuselage section, engine is probably a turbofan, mounted in the rear with a low profile intake underneath (as opposed to the pop out engine from Kh-55). Folded fins look odd...
 

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Jane's short note on the Kh-101:

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/systems/jdw/jdw071022_1_n.shtml

And there's another picture available, but sadly only very small ... Anyone with a larger version of that ???? PLEASE !!!

Deino ???
 

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Full article from JDW.

Jane's Defence Weekly - October 24, 2007

Details emerge of Russia's latest cruise missiles

Robert Hewson Jane's Air-Launched Weapons Editor
London


Exclusive images of Russia's two most advanced long-range airborne weapons - the Kh-101 and Kh-555 conventionally armed cruise missiles - have recently been acquired by Jane's .

Russia has been modernising its cruise missile inventory over the past few years and has recently increased the operational tempo of the strategic bomber fleet that would deploy such weapons.

Developed by the Raduga Design Bureau (now part of the unified Tactical Missiles Corporation), the Kh-555 is a modified version of the original nuclear-tipped Kh-55 strategic stand-off weapon (AS-15 'Kent'). It is thought to have entered service in 2004, but details are scant. The Kh-101 is a stealth-optimised design, conceived as a Kh-55 replacement. No images of this missile have previously been shown in public.

In the imagery acquired by Jane's , the Kh-101 is seen carried in pairs on four pylons under an upgraded Tu-95MS16 'Bear-H' (Tu-95MSM) bomber. The Tu-95MS16 variant can carry a theoretical load of 16 cruise missiles (Kh-55s): 10 on underwing pylons and six on its MKU-6-5 internal rotary launcher. This 'overload', which requires two pylons each to carry three missiles, proved to be impractical and is not used operationally. Typically, the combat load for a 'Bear' would be carried on the internal launcher only to maximise aircraft range.

The Tu-95MS16 variant maintains the ability to carry underwing missiles as seen in the image (unlike the Tu-95MS6). The eight Kh-101 configuration may be the (maximum) standard load for this new weapon. The aircraft is adorned with photo calibration markings and so the red-painted missiles are likely to be a trial fit.

The Kh-101 appears to be longer than the Kh-55/555 series (approximately 7 m in length) with a more slender and angular design. The missile has a chiselled nose section and a flat-sided triangular main body, all calculated to reduce radar cross-section. Three folding tail fins are mounted at the end of a tapered rear section. A pop-out wing is mounted under the missile, which is thought to be powered by an NPO Saturn TRDD-50 turbojet. The podded engine is housed inside the rear of the missile and drops down on a pylon when the missile is released from its launch aircraft.

The operational status of the Kh-101 is still not clear, although it is obviously in an advanced test and development stage and is probably available for use. Russian sources note that flights with the missile and the Tu-95MSM have been ongoing for over a year.

Photographs of the Kh-555 being loaded onto a Tu-95 are significant because this missile had previously been associated only with the Tu-160 'Blackjack' bomber. It was always probable that the Kh-555 would be integrated with the Tu-95 but doing so increases the operational flexibility of Russia's bomber force and provides the Tu-95 with a modern conventional weapon capability for the first time.

Given the increased size of the Kh-101 (about 1 m longer than the Kh-55), it is unlikely that this missile can be carried on the standard MKU-6-5 internal launcher. It is possible that a conventionally armed Tu-95 could operate with a mix of external Kh-101s and internal Kh-555s.

Pics
  • The first pictures of the Kh-101 cruise missile to emerge in public show eight of the stealthy missiles loaded on an upgraded Tu-95MS bomber (Via Robert Hewson)
  • Russian ground crew load a Kh-555 into the internal weapons bay of a Tu-95MS. The missile’s conventional warhead section appears to be shorter than the nuclear Kh-55 (Via Robert Hewson)
 

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Muxel, thanks but please note we do not allow posting of full articles on this forum (see rules).

Closeup examiniation of the new pic shows no sign of intake, so perhaps it retains the pop-out engine design from Kh-55. Indeed, looks an awful lot like the Kh-65 mockup.
 

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Stop non-forum language here please, guys
 
August 2005 Kh-555 launch video (with president Putin on board) from Long-range aviation commemorative DVD
Kh-555 in-flight animation, two of four missiles hits footage.
http://ru.youtube.com/user/74flateric
 

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August 2005 Kh-555 launch video (with president Putin on board)

Cool

were ever a US President on board of US Jet-Bomber ? ;D
 
so the kh-555 is basically the putinastra
I don't know about POTUS but an Indian president has taken a ride in a flanker.


On a more serious note , referring to the video, does the engine actually cut off in the final descent to the target?
 
a new picture ....

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1561116&postcount=849
 

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http://russianplanes.net/ID17520
http://russianplanes.net/ID17519
http://russianplanes.net/ID17518
 
There were also some shots taken in the winter, posted on Strizhi. Flaterics links wont load for me for some reason.
 
Kh-101?

http://aviaforum.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=175395&d=1274520204
 

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flanker said:
Kh-101?

http://aviaforum.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=175395&d=1274520204

Can't see it ... could You please upload it here ? ???

Deino
 
Russian Air Power by Yefim Gordon the following on Kh-101/102

The flight testing of the Kh-101 has already been completed. This missile weighs some 2,200 - 2,400 kg , the weight of warhead is 400 kg. According to press reports, the Kh-101 has a maximum range of 5,000-5,500 Km a variable flight profile at altitudes ranging from 30 - 70m to 6000m , a cruising speed of 190-200 m/s and a maximum speed of 250-270m/s. It can well be classed as a low-observable flying vehicle because the radar cross section of the Kh-101 is 0.01 m2. The missile is equipped with an electro-optical system for correcting the flight trajectory and with a TV guidance system for terminal guidance. This ensures the hitting precision with a deviation of some 12- 20m.

The upgraded Tu-95MS can carry eight Kh-101 missiles on four wing pylons. The same missile will also equip the upgraded Tu-160 which will be able to carry six missiles in each of its two weapons bays total of 12 Kh-101 or 102 missile. The highly accurate guidance system of the Kh-101 and its combined HE/fragmentation/penetrating warhead will enable one modernised Tu-160 to fulfil tasks previously achievable with an entire regiment of bombers. The upgraded version of Tu-22M3 is capable of carrying four Kh-101 missiles or six to eight Kh-SD


This is reference to a new short range KH-SD program , any information on that program ?
 
Kh-SD was a programme in the early 90s for a short ranged conventionally armed Kh-55 variant, probably in the Storm Shadow market segment, I was under the impression that it was cancelled in 2001, otherwise known as Kh-65SE which was an earlier version that was apparently a dedicated AShM. In my opinion it was little more than an effort to leverage existing products and systems to get some export cash.
 
Just found at the Key-Forum ...
 

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It's from TJ's blog. May test flights in LII.
 
TV128-300 of abandoned propfan Kh-101M/Kh-102 version
 

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Interesting propeller shape; looks more like a torpedo propulsion system than an aero propeller. Was this with a reduction gear or were the propellers directly attached to (contra rotating) turbines like the GE UDF?
 
From 0:08 to 0:15

http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12066124%40egNews

Screen%20Shot%202015-11-18%20at%2011.14.06%20AM.png



Video released by Russian state media to publicize Russia’s recent air-launched cruise missile attack on Syria seem to show a new and stealthy weapon. The video shows six stealthy-looking shapes being loaded on a rotary launcher; presumably in the belly of a Tu-160 Blackjack bomber. The weapon has a flattened nose, what appear to be three fold-out tailfins, and an unusual ventral air inlet, covered in some images and open in others. While some Russian military experts say the missile is the KH-101, long in development, others say the images don’t agree with others showing KH-101s loaded on the pylons of a Bear bomber, also appearing in State media. The munitions in the weapons bay don’t appear to be live rounds, and are unlikely to have actually been used in the raids, meaning Russia wanted them seen and to suggest they are operational. Still further clips on the video show what appear to be cellphone footage of a Russian KH-55 flying overhead. The Air Force declined to comment on the video
 
Different video from the same flight, apparently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d48LHI6u3bY

They look like KH-101s to me.

Leaving aside the question if they were launched in operations over Syria or if this is just archive material used by the media, the use of ALCM is clearly an ominous sign though.

Regards.
 
Why is it ominous? Because it is overkill for the air-defences available to opponents? IMHO, NATO isn't immune to using low threat combat environments to gain operational experience with new weapon types, nor is NATO immune to using up outdated weapon stocks against unsuitable targets. So, either explanation would work.

The Kh-55 is also one of the few precision weapons readily available.
 
While some Russian military experts say the missile is the KH-101, long in development, others say the images don’t agree with others showing KH-101s loaded on the pylons of a Bear bomber, also appearing in State media.

1; It is written Kh-101, not KH-101. Kh = "X" in russian.

2; The images show Kh-101, period. You won't find any pictures of Kh-101's fitted on pylons in state media; because there aren't any. All previous pictures were of mock up red Kh-101 fitted to special Tu-95MS pylons but those were not from "state media" and were not operational missiles.
 
This appears to be the original credited article.

—JOHN A. TIRPAK11/19/2015

​A screenshot of a video released by Russian state media appears to show a new, stealthy weapon (shown here) being loaded onto a Russian bomber.
​Video released by Russian state media to publicize Russia’s recent air-launched cruise missile attack on Syria seem to show a new and stealthy weapon. The video shows six stealthy-looking shapes being loaded on a rotary launcher; presumably in the belly of a Tu-160 Blackjack bomber. The weapon has a flattened nose, what appear to be three fold-out tailfins, and an unusual ventral air inlet, covered in some images and open in others. While some Russian military experts say the missile is the KH-101, long in development, others say the images don’t agree with others showing KH-101s loaded on the pylons of a Bear bomber, also appearing in State media. The munitions in the weapons bay don’t appear to be live rounds, and are unlikely to have actually been used in the raids, meaning Russia wanted them seen and to suggest they are operational. Still further clips on the video show what appear to be cellphone footage of a Russian KH-55 flying overhead. The Air Force declined to comment on the video.

http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Pages/2015/November%202015/November%2019%202015/New-Russian-Cruise-Missile.aspx
 
Avimimus said:
Why is it ominous? Because it is overkill for the air-defences available to opponents? IMHO, NATO isn't immune to using low threat combat environments to gain operational experience with new weapon types, nor is NATO immune to using up outdated weapon stocks against unsuitable targets. So, either explanation would work.

The Kh-55 is also one of the few precision weapons readily available.

Its somewhat ominous because at first sight it could appear more to be a demonstration of capacity to the US and NATO/ Europe rather than a particularly cost-effective or effect-justifiable weapon selection.

If I was trying to be generous I could suggest Russia's relative lack of precision weapons (particularly with "bunker-busting" type warheads which one assumes the Kh-55 or KH-101 would be armed with to take out high-value fixed targets, like its US and European equivalents) as a potentially legitimate reason for using these cruise missiles. It was speculated that Russia's stocks of modern precision weapons wouldn't be particularly deep.

To any ones knowledge has Isis taken over and is using many ex-Syrian regime command bunkers etc? (would appear counter intuitive as Isis would appear to be setting themselves up for attacks, particularly at this stage of the various air campaigns against Isis.).

As for your reference to NATO countries weapon selection I can't really think of too many recent examples. The use of cluster bombs in Kosovo is the last I can recall, that conflict being a bit of watershed for NATO countries re: the universal recognition of the need for more advanced targeting pods and tailored precision weapons (for many Syrian civilians it will be a pity Russia didn't learn the same lessons as quickly) .
 
If those are KH-101s in that video, then they have a pop out engine which would defeat the purpose of their "stealth" shaping.
 

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