Izdeliye 172 / K-100 - AAM-L

The Russian-developed Novator KS-172 (K-100) is a weapon that can reach a range of over 400km. This is considered the longest range air-to-air missile in the world. The KS-172 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile (product 172, 172S-1, K-100) was developed by the Novator Design Bureau since 1984. The development was based on design solutions from the second stage of the well-proven 9M83 missile of the S-300V ground-based air defense missile systems of the Ground Forces (export version Antey-2500).

Despite the rather interesting characteristics of the rocket, OKB Novator was denied admission to the closed competition “Creation of a long-range air-to-air missile” by the competition committee of the RF Ministry of Defense. The Russian Air Force did not adopt the KS-172 and took a rocket competitors K-37M (RVV-BD) production of "Vympel". The development process was very unfavorable, and it was not until recent years that an improved version of it, KS-172S-1, would be fitted to the Su-35 [and possibly the Su-57].

For the first time this missile under the designation "AAM-L" ("Air-to-Air Missile - Long range" - long-range air-to-air missile) was openly demonstrated at the exhibition of military equipment in Abu Dhabi in 1993, then at the International Aviation -the space salon MAKS-93 Zhukovsky in 1993. The KS-172 missile can engage virtually all types of aircraft, subsonic and supersonic cruise missiles, as well as air-to-air missiles and medium and long-range missiles (in self-defense mode), it also provides the defeat of AWACS-type RLDN aircraft. In December 2003, at an exhibition in Dubai, the Novator design bureau presented an export version of the upgraded KS-172S-1 missile as one of the Su-35 weapons, the missile had an increased length. Foreign experts showed great curiosity to this missile, mainly due to the enormous range.

Interest in the KS-172 from the Russian military began to return in the second half of the 2000s in connection with the entry into the final phase of development of the latest fifth-generation fighter PAK FA. Around this time, the RF Ministry of Defense held a closed competition for a long-range air-to-air missile. In addition to OJSC "GosMKB" Vympel "(KTRV) with K-37, OJSC" OKB "Novator" with the KS-172 missile (172S-1, AAM-L). Subsequently, the topic "KS-172" was classified, information on the missile became even more scarce. Ekaterinburg OKB Novator once again failed to obtain permission to display at MAKS-2005 a long-range air-to-air missile KS-172 (RVV-L).

In March 2004 Indian press reports claimed that Russia and India were about to begin collaborative development of the missile, referred to as the R-172. By 2006 the Izdeliye 172/K-100 was confirmed as a potential weapon for Sukhoi's revised Su-35 design and was exhibited in China that year. A full-size mock-up of a weapon identified only as 'AAM' (a catch-all designation) was shown for the first time in more than a decade at the 2007 Moscow Air Show. At MAKS-2007, mock-ups of the KS-172S-1 rocket under the designation "AAM" were didplay, but since then this rocket has not been publicly demonstrated. A miniature model of the missile was shown as part of the Su-35 aircraft system at the Air Show China 2008. The K-100 was absent in any form from the 2009 Moscow Air Show, indicating perhaps that the program had returned to classified status.

Then Russia came up with a proposal to sell the PLA a total of 38 of the newest multifunctional Su-35MKK combat aircraft, specially designed for the Chinese Air Force, with ultra-long-range air combat missiles KS-172 development of OKB "Novator", as well as supersonic anti-ship missiles "Yakhont" developed by NPO Mashinostroenie.

In different sources, the name of the "Novator" missile has often changed, so among the weapons that are announced for the Su-35, attention should be paid to powerful missiles that are not used on lighter fighters: the ultra-long-range air-to-air missile K-100-1, developed by the Novator OKB from Yekaterinburg, another version of the same KS-172 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile (RVV-L) two-stage missile capable of developing hypersonic speed.

The first stage is the accelerator, and after the fuel is used up it is dropped. After the first stage is dropped, the main engine is turned on. The launch weight of the rocket is about 750 kg. The missile is equipped with a combined homing system. On the cruising section, guidance is carried out by an inertial SN. An active radar seeker is used on the homing site. The estimated range of the missile is about 400 km. The height of the intercepted target is from 3 meters to 30 kilometers. capable of developing hypersonic speed. The first stage is accelerating, after the fuel is used up it is discharged. After the first stage is reset, the main engine is turned on. The launch weight of the rocket is about 750 kg. The missile is equipped with a combined homing system.

On the cruising section, guidance is carried out by an inertial SN. An active radar seeker is used on the homing site. The estimated range of the missile is about 400 km. The height of the intercepted target is from 3 meters to 30 kilometers. capable of developing hypersonic speed. The first stage is accelerating, after the fuel is used up it is discharged. After the first stage is reset, the main engine is turned on. The launch weight of the rocket is about 750 kg. The missile is equipped with a combined homing system. On the cruising section, guidance is carried out by an inertial SN. An active radar seeker is used on the homing site. The estimated range of the missile is about 400 km. The height of the intercepted target is from 3 meters to 30 kilometers. The estimated range of the missile is about 400 km. The height of the intercepted target is from 3 meters to 30 kilometers. The estimated range of the missile is about 400 km. The height of the intercepted target is from 3 meters to 30 kilometers. The missile can be effectively used against high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, AWACS and REP aircraft, flying command posts and strategic bombers. For use at maximum range, external target designation may be required.