A video that has been posted on Ukrainian Telegram channel, shows that Ukrainian tactical aviation is allegedly still using rare Soviet Kh-25 air-to-ground missiles. They are carried by Su-24M tactical bomber.
In this footage, Ukrainian Su-24M bomber launches two Kh-25 missiles from a pitch-up, apparently to increase the range of these weapons, because it involves short-range cruise missiles for tactical aviation.
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It is known that this was only secondly recorded case when Ukrainian tactical aviation had used the Kh-25 missiles since russian full-scale invasion.
Earlier Ukrainian Su-24M aircraft with cruise missiles of this type were spotted only in August 2022. It is also worth mentioning that for the first time, Ukrainian aviators demonstrated launch of the Kh-25 missiles from Su-24M bombers only in fall of 2021.
There is also an assumption that the Ukrainian Air Force may use two modifications of these missiles: Kh-25MR with radio-command guidance or Kh-25ML with semi-active laser guidance.
The Kh-25MR and the Kh-25ML variants of this missile have generally similar characteristics, but differ in the way they are guided.
Minimum launch range for both variants is 3 kilometers, maximum range is 10 kilometers, while the warhead weighs 140 kilograms. The differences are in the length of fuselage which is 3,75 meters for the Kh-25MR and 3,83 meters for the Kh-25ML. In addition, the Kh-25ML is claimed to be able to pierce concrete up to 1 meter thick.
Earlier Defense Express reported that russia’s Ministry of Defense had ordered Il-100 Slon heavy airlifter and wanted to have as many as 25 An-124 by 2026.
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