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AS-7 KERRY |
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The Zvezda Kh-23 (Russian: Х-23, NATO reporting name: AS-7 Kerry) was
an early Soviet tactical air-to-surface missile.
The resulting weapon, known as Kh-66 or Izdeliye 66 (Article 66), utilised the K-5 guidance and propulsion systems but with a much larger 100 kg (220 lb) warhead (the K-5 warhead weighed only 13 kg (29 pounds)). This was very advantageous as any aircraft capable of firing the K-5 could launch the new weapon. Testing began in 1966 and Kh-66 was certified for use on the MiG-21PFM in 1968, where it would be carried under the aircraft centerline. In the meantime, Zvezda continued work on the Kh-23 which utilised the basic Kh-66 design but had an improved propellant and guidance systems.
Significant
delays were caused by problems with unreliable guidance which was
eventually traced to the smoke generator which interfered with the
antenna.[1] The missile was finally accepted into service in 1974 as
the Kh-23M, and certified for MiG-23B and MiG-23S aircraft.
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