KSR-5

Lore & Background

Developed in the late 1960s, the KSR-5 was an improved version of the Kh-22 missile, designed to be smaller, lighter, and with a smaller radar signature. According to Janes, it was designed jointly by the Tupolev and Mikoyan Design Bureaus. Originally designed to be carried on the Tu-22 'Blinder', it was primarily mounted on the Tu-16 'Badger', but could also be mounted on Tu-22M 'Backfire' and Tu-95M 'Bear' aircraft. The missile entered service in 1969, with later versions for the Tu-95 and Tu-95M introduced in 1973 and 1976 respectively.

Reader's Guide

The KSR-5 represented a significant evolution in Soviet cruise missile design, offering a more compact and stealthier alternative to the Kh-22 while retaining high supersonic performance. Its development reflected the Soviet shift in the early 1960s away from nuclear free-fall bombs toward standoff missiles, driven by advances in jet fighters and surface-to-air missiles. The missile's variants included nuclear, anti-ship, and anti-radiation versions, giving it flexibility against both naval and ground targets. By June 1991, an estimated 300 missiles were carried on Badger-G bombers. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, remaining missiles were used by Russia and possibly Ukraine until 1994. With the retirement of the Tu-16, nuclear versions of the KSR-2 and KSR-5 were retired by 1993. Most of the remaining Russian inventory was converted into supersonic target drones, with target variants such as the KSR-5NM and KSR-5MV offered for export in 1993. This conversion extended the missile's service life and provided a cost-effective supersonic target for training and testing.

Did You Know?

• It could carry a 350 kiloton nuclear warhead or a 930 kg conventional HE SAP warhead.
• The missile had a maximum range of 400 km when launched from high altitude.
• Target variants KSR-5NM and KSR-5MV were offered for export in 1993.