Russian Sukhoi Su-35 Destroys Ukrainian Radar Station

For the first time, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the use of the Kh-31PM anti-radiation (anti-radar) missile in an air attack using the Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter jet. 

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Quoted from RIA Novosti (4/12/2023), short video footage shows a Russian Su-35 successfully destroying the radar station of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the direction of Svatovsky.

“During one of the flights in the direction of Svatovsky, radiation (wave emissions) from a Ukrainian radar station was detected. And a Kh-31PM air-to-surface missile was launched at the target. "As a result of the launch of the aircraft-guided missile, the target of the Ukrainian radar station was destroyed," said a source from the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Kh-31PM is actually a development of the Kh-31P, a type of anti-radiation missile which is also used by the Sukhoi Su-27/Su-30 Air Squadron 11 of the Indonesian Air Force. 

Misi Sukhoi Su-35 AU Rusia menggunakan rudal anti radiasi Kh-31PM dalam misi serangan ke stasiun radar Ukraina pic.twitter.com/smpBHFl1sS

— Indomiliter.com (@indomiliter) December 5, 2023

The Kh-31PM is an anti-radiation missile with a passive homing head designed to counter air defense radars, particularly those associated with the United States' Nike Hercules, Improved Hawk and Patriot systems. This missile maintains the Kh-31P's proven aerodynamic configuration and layout.

The Kh-31PM uses an integral solid-propellant boost motor, followed by a kerosene-fueled ramjet boost motor.

The Kh-31PM can fly at supersonic levels. This missile has been combined with an increased amount of internal propellant and a modified control system. This modification significantly increases the missile's range, but has minimal effect on its weight.

The Kh-31P uses three optional seeker heads (L-111, L-112, L-113), but for the Kh-31PM the Omsk Plant 'Avtomatika' (CKBA) has developed an improved multiband seeker. Labeled as the L-130, the Kh-31PM missile can be used against various radiation-emitting targets, detecting them at distances beyond the range of the air defense system under attack. 

Resistance to jamming actions is also improved. The fuel has also been modified to improve efficiency. The surface radar station targeted by the Kh-31PM is a radar system with antenna devices placed up to a height of 15 meters. 

Relying on a passive radar seeker guidance system, this missile's detonation pattern uses contact, instant action and non-contact with variable detonation height options. The warhead adopts the high explosive fragmentation type.

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From the specifications, the Kh-31PM, which is produced by the Tactical Missile Corporation, has a launch range of up to 110 km and a maximum speed of 1,000 meters per second. The weight of this missile is around 600 kg, including a warhead weighing 87 kg. The Kh-31PM has a length of 4.7 meters and a rocket wingspan of 0.91 meters.