Pictured above is Russian air-to-surface missile specialist Raduga's large ramjet-powered missile testbed, thought to be intended for developing a next-generation air-launched hypersonic anti-ship missile. The missile, understood to be called the GELA (Hypersonic Experimental Flying Testbed), has already been test-flown and prototypes have been built. The programme may be associated with a modified Tupolev Tu-95 Bear, which was also at the Zhukovsky research centre. The aircraft sports a pair of unusual inboard pylons with a raked fore section, which would match the contour of the GELA. Testing of the ramjet missile off such a platform also suggests that the programme may have been aimed at developing a hypersonic anti-ship missile. The status of this missile project remains uncertain.
Source: Flight International