Will Break Away from F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: Missile for Su-30SM2 Will Intercept Target Beyond the Horizon

The appearance of AIM-174B missiles on American F/A-18E/F Super Hornet interceptors and their declared range of 450 km forces us to look towards the revival of the KS-172 missile project, according to the Telegram channel "Military Chronicle."

The authors recalled that the development by the Novator bureau was frozen after the success of the R-37 missile, although its combat potential even exceeds the capabilities of standard long-range ammunition.

The KS-172 was originally created as a two-stage bicaliber missile, and the combat stage was based on the 9M83 product from the S-300V anti-aircraft complex.

The main trump card is the new active-passive homing head (GOS). It will allow intercepting targets, including long-range radar reconnaissance aircraft, beyond the detection range of the fighter's radars themselves.

But most importantly, the KS-172 can be integrated into the Su-30SM2 combat kits without a radical restructuring of the platform.

If the project is revived, the Russian Su-30SM2 will receive weapons capable of intercepting the enemy before they even realize they have been detected. In this scenario, even the American Super Hornets with AIM-174B will be in the role of catch-up. In addition, the ammunition is also suitable for Indian Su-30MKI.

It also became known that Russia and India are exploring the possibility of jointly developing anew air-to-air missile with a range of about 500 kilometers for the modernized Su-30MKI.

Read more materials on the topic:

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• Su-30SM2 bombers proposed to be transferred to naval aviation

• The equipment of export Su-30SM2 fighters became known: Russia is sending them abroad