Douglas Barrie/LONDON
Russia and China are collaborating to develop the KR-1 anti-radiation missile, a variant of the Zvezda Strela Kh-31P(AS-17 Krypton) for the Chinese air force.
The Russian tactical-missile design house has already delivered a small number of the KR-1 missiles, which may also correspond to the internal Chinese YJ-91 designation, to China.
Large numbers of senior design staff from Zvezda and other design bureaux involved in the rocket/ ramjet-powered Kh-31P have repeatedly visited China, according to Moscow sources, leading to speculation that China's aim is production of the KR-1 itself. Zvezda, however, is keen to sell an initial production batch of the KR-1.
Zvezda sources confirm that it is working with China on the KR-1, adding that a small number of missiles have been delivered, but that "-production has yet to begin".
The acquisition and production of a Kh-31 variant would mark a step change in China's missile-manufacturing capabilities. Its previous ventures into ramjet-missile propulsion, with weapons such as the C101, have not been particularly successful.
The Kh-31P anti-radiation missile has three passive-seeker variants covering different radar wavebands. Whether all three are being made available for the KR-1 is not known. One area of potential modification on the KR-1 would be to provide a passive-seeker variant optimised against Taiwan's Tien Kung family of surface-to-air missile systems.
The KR-1, as with the Kh-31P, will require an emitter-locater pod to provide accurate targeting data for the anti-radiation missile before launch.
The two most likely aircraft to be fitted with the KR-1 in Chinese air force service are the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, and the Chengdu F-8IIM.
Should China go ahead with production of the KR-1, then Beijing will probably not waste any time in offering the missile for export to traditional Chinese client states, such as Iran.
Source: Flight International
