NPO Saturn has received military certification for its 36MT turbofan developed for the Raduga Kh-59MK (AS-18 Kazoo) tactical cruise missile, a derivative of the Kh-59 (AS-13 Kingbolt).
NPO Saturn started work on the powerplant in May 2000. The decision to establish production of a compact indigenous engine was made to keep Russia's technological independence, and guarantee deliveries and after-sales support of the missiles. Soviet-era Kh-59 powerplant production was in now-independent Ukraine. The 36MT was displayed for the first time at last year's MAKS 2001 Moscow air show as part of the Kh-59MK, which also made its public debut.
The 1,000lb-thrust (4.4kN) 36MT weighs 71kg (160lb) dry and 100kg packaged. It has a two-shaft configuration and is claimed to offer better fuel consumption than the Ukrainian engine, giving the 930kg, 5.69m (18.7ft)-long Kh-59MK a reported 285km (155nm) range.
The missile is carried by Sukhoi Su-30/35 fighters and upgraded Sukhoi Su-24M tactical bombers. Sukhoi says: "The missile employs a television homing system to engage ground targets under simple weather conditions."
The target's co-ordinates are loaded into the missile before launch. Inertial guidance is used during the cruise, and TV homing for terminal guidance, with the aircraft (carrying the APK-9 Ovod targeting pod) and the missile using a bi-directional datalink for TV-command guidance.
Source: Flight International
