One of the superiorities of Russia's air defense equipment is represented by the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon stealth fighter jet. And enlivening the Dubai Airshow 2023 air exhibition in the United Arab Emirates, Russia through Rosoboronexport displayed a trio of the latest deadly missiles which are the ultimate weapon for the Su-57 fighter jet.
The three missiles in question are the Kh-69 long-range cruise missile, the RVV-BD long-range air-to-air missile and the RVV-MD2 short-range air-to-air missile.
The combination of three of Russia's latest generation missiles for the Su-57 will undoubtedly become a weapons package that Russia relies on in the perspective of complex warfare in the future. Being exhibited by Rosoboronexport implies that these three advanced missiles will also be offered by Russia for the export market.
Kh-69 “The Russian Storm Shadow”
Before being coded Kh-69, this missile was coded X-69. Behind its unusual design compared to most Russian cruise missiles, it is known that the Kh-69 was deliberately adapted to be suitable for carrying and launching from the internal weapons bay of the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon stealth fighter jet.
Raduga State Machine Building Design Bureau as the designer of the Kh-69 said that this missile has stealth capabilities from the shape of the missile body and a special coating on the material. The Kh-69 has the ability to destroy special targets on the surface, including targets that do not have radar, infrared signature and optical background contrast.
Equipped with folding wings, the profile of the Kh-69 is identical to the Storm Shadow and Taurus cruise missiles, this missile can fly low following the contours of the earth's surface. Multiple targets can be programmed before launch, giving the option to divert or prioritize targets while the missile is in action.
Technically, the Kh-69 can fly from an altitude of 200 meters to 11,000 meters. Even in flight altitude over ground surface mode, the Kh-69's flight height can only be 50 meters above the surface. Meanwhile, the target distance is up to 290 km. With a turbojet engine, the Kh-69 is capable of reaching 750 – 1,000 km per hour.
RVV-BD “The AWACS Killer”
RVV-BD (Raketa Vozduh-Vozduh Bolshoy Dalnosti) or long range air-to-air rocket, also known as Vympel R-37M. The BVV-BD weighs 510 kg with a shooting range of up to 398 km and a launch speed of Mach 6.
With a shooting distance beyond visual range, as well as super speed, of course the targets of this missile are very selected and strategic, one of which is the AWACS (Airborne Warning And Control System) reconnaissance aircraft and the C4ISTAR capable aircraft, which is why several foreign sites refer to RVV-BD as “AWACS Killer.”
Because its performance is classified as super, the dimensions of this missile are also unusual, the length of the missile reaches 4.06 meters, the diameter of the missile is 0.38 meters. Although initially prepared for the MiG-31BM, now the RVV-BD is also predicted to be released from the Sukhoi Su-30, Su-35s and Sukhoi Su-57.
RVV-MD2
If the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets rely on the AIM-9X as a short-range air-to-air missile, then the Kremlin's stealth champion, the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon also has its rival, namely the Vympel RVV-MD, an air-to-air missile. short-range infrared guidance (two band infrared seeker) placed in the weapons bay.
The RVV-MD2 is the world's first short-range missile to incorporate an inertial control system. This system is designed to control and stabilize the missile during autonomous flight. The inertial system operates on the principle of a missile that independently determines its coordinates in space without relying on markings (targeting) or external signals.
The RVV-MD2 now uses multi-band, multi-element infrared seeker guidance with improved jamming immunity. The advanced homing head allows the RVV-MD2 to engage targets effectively from all angles, including targets at the rear of the aircraft.
Of the weight reaching 106 kg, 8 kg of which is the warhead. RVV-MD is capable of traveling at a speed of Mach 2.5, this missile can pursue a target a maximum distance of 40 km, and is minimally effective when fired from a distance of 300 meters.
