Kh-55SM (AS-15 Kent/Soumar)
Operator: | Iran |
Status: | Kh-55SM: Possessed (for testing and reverse engineering) |
Soumar: Development/testing | |
Number: | 6 |
Cost: | Unknown |
Acquired: | June 2001 |
General Specs: | |
Country of origin: | Soviet Union |
Manufacturer: | Raduga OKB |
Introduced: | 1984 |
Class: | Kh-55SM: Air-launched land attack cruise missile |
Soumar: Ground-launched land attack cruise missile | |
Range: | 1,550-1864.1 miles (2,500-3,000 km) |
Warhead: | 200-250 kT nuclear warhead |
904 lbs (410 kg) conventional high-explosive warhead | |
Speed: | 365.4-586.1 mph (Mach 0.48-0.77) |
Weight: | 3,747.9 lbs (1,700 kg) |
Length: | 26.5 ft (8.1 m) |
Diameter: | 30.3 in (77 cm) |
Wingspan: | 10.2 ft (3.1 m) |
Power plant: | Omsk AMKB TVD-50 turbofan (Soumar includes rocket booster) |
Guidance system: | Inertial navigation |
Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM) | |
Accuracy: | 82 ft (25 m) circular error probable (CEP) |
Launch platform: | Kh-55SM: Heavy bomber (Tu-95MS or Tu-160) |
Soumar: Ground-based transporter erector launcher (TEL) | |
Notes: | Ukraine allegedly transferred six Kh-55SMs to Iran in 2001. In March 2015, Iran unveiled the Soumar which closely resembled a Kh-55 featuring a booster for ground-launch. |
Sources:
- Pike, John, Charles Vick, Mirko Jacubowski, and Patrick Garrett. “Kh-55 Granat.” Federation of American Scientists. N.p., 8 Aug. 2000. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
- Kopp, Carlo. “Soviet/Russian Cruise Missiles.” Air Power Australia. N.p., Aug. 2009. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
- “Kh-55/-55SM/-555/-65SE.” Missile Threat. George C. Marshall and Claremont Institutes, 13 Apr. 2013. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
- Kerr, Paul. “Ukraine Admits Missile Transfers.” Arms Control Today. Arms Control Association, 1 May 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.
Iran Unveils New Long-Range Cruise Missile
Iran’s Defense Ministry, in an unusual public display, on Sunday introduced a new cruise missile, the Soumar. The missile is very similar to the Russian Kh-55, which can carry nuclear or conventional warheads and has a range of 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles). This would enable the Iranians to hit targets not only throughout the Middle […]
Iran Fires Cruise Missile Through Sanctions Loophole
Iranian defense officials over the weekend announced the successful test-firing of the Soumar, a new and indigenously produced land-attack cruise missile. The unveiling ceremony of this missile, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, was intended to be a strong statement by Tehran as negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program come to a head. […]