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Hey guys,

I have a question: does anyone know if the Su-24 / 34 or other tactical aircraft can carry the nuclear variant of the AS-15? In the Command database, the Su-34 is listed as carrying the "conventional" variant of the AS-15 which has a 600 nm range, whereas only the Bear and Blackjack carry the nuclear variants. The the conventional variant carries a 450kg warhead, which is about the same as other weapons which are supposed to be dual capable, such as the SSC-8. The diameter of the conventional AS-15 is 0.5m, which is the same as the nuclear version, and the same as the SSC-8. So, if the diameter of all these weapons is the same, and they all carry a ~ 500 kg warhead, I would think it stands to reason that the short ranged "conventional" variant could carry the nuclear warhead, especially since a 600nm ALCM with a HE - only warhead would seem to be of questionable utility.

To clarify: the database says that the nuclear AS-15 variants can only be carried by the strategic bombers, whereas the conventional variant of the AS-15 - the KH-65 SE - is carried by the SU-34. However, the database is the only source I've found which says the KH-65 is actually operated by Russia. The Military Balance doesn't list it, and CSIS Missile Threat says that it was designed for export but no exports have been documented. So, does anyone know whether Russia actually operates this missile and if so, what are the numbers?

Don't know if this helps but generally the letters after the bureau designator mean specific things.

In the case in point KH-65SE is a Series modified Export variant of the KH-55.

So to all intents and purposes a different missile (or at least a different purpose).

As to your original point about 'what's the point' of a HE variant, I think that the Ukraine utilities companies (power and water) might have an opinion on those conventionally armed KH-55's that do get past the air defences... Even seen photos of a KH-55 with a dummy physics package being utilised.

You also need to keep designations clear in your head. The Kh-65 is just a shortened range Kh-55. But I think they both retain the AS-15 NATO designation.

thewood1 wrote: Tue Mar 28, 2023 3:19 pm You also need to keep designations clear in your head. The Kh-65 is just a shortened range Kh-55. But I think they both retain the AS-15 NATO designation.

Thinking the range was shortened to keep it inside the range of exportable systems, in the same way Kalibr/Club and many other systems they actively export. Got a feeling this is why the Indians developed BrahMos, to get round the restrictions whilst still accessing Russian technology.

It was to keep it under the SALT restrictions on strategic bombers. If the missile had a range greater than 700, it was counted as strategic.

Anyway, what I'm really looking for is a breakdown of missile inventories by type. The best I've found so far is this post:

https://twitter.com/ukraine_map/status/ ... 8829266944

but it lumps a bunch of different things together, and I don't know whether for instance the "KH-101" includes both the 101 and the 102, since "101" seems to sometimes be a generic name referring to both.