KSR-2 / KS-11 / KSR-II / AS-5 KELT - Program
KSR-2 (product 085) is an air-launched cruise missile of the K-16 complex, developed as a replacement for the Kometa anti-ship missiles KS-1 . It was intended to destroy radar-contrast sea targets of the cruiser type with a displacement of at least 10 thousand tons, as well as ground targets - railway bridges, dams, etc.
The rocket was developed in OKB-155-1 under the leadership of A. Ya. Bereznyak. The liquid rocket engine was developed by KB-300 A. M. Isaev, the control system "Rubicon" - OKB-238. Pilot production of rockets was carried out at plant No. 256 in Dubna, serial production - at Smolensk plant No. 292.
Flight tests of the rocket as part of the K-16 complex began in 1958, for which the Tupolev Design Bureau-256 converted two Tu-16 aircraft, equipping them with the Rubicon system. During the tests, 11 shells were launched from the Tu-16KSR bomber at a distance of up to 100 km. Six shells were fired at target ships (tankers "Dzhaparidze" and "Chkalov"), and the rest - at ground targets, indicated by corner reflectors. Of the 6 launches on ships at a distance of 90-96 km, 4 direct hits were noted, 1 miss and 1 launch were not counted due to the failure of the guidance station.
Tests showed that the K-PM radar guidance station installed on the carrier aircraft provided, when working on a ground target at an altitude of 4-10 km, detection at a distance of up to 200 km and stable auto-tracking of the target at a distance of 160-180 km. The target was reset from auto-tracking at a distance of up to 13-15 km. When working on sea targets, the range of detection and taking on auto-tracking depended on many factors, including the type of ship and the direction of approach. Thus, at a Tu-16KSR flight altitude of five kilometers, the detection range of the Dzhaparidze and Chkalov tankers was 140-160 km, and the range of their stable tracking was 120-160 km.
It seemed that the tests were going well, but when they switched to missile launches at a distance of 130-150 km, they all ended in failure. The reason is malfunctions in the operation of the aircraft guidance system, the unreliable supply of fuel to the LRE of the rocket was also discovered during prolonged negative normal overloads. After testing was completed in accordance with Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR N 998-435 of August 22, 1959, an improved homing head with an oversized antenna was developed at OKB-286 for the KSR-2 rocket - the diameter of the radio-transparent fairing increased almost to the midsection of the rocket. Along with the reconfiguration of the nose of the rocket, the tail unit also changed - the stabilizer was moved from the keel to the fuselage.
In OKB-286 for the KSR-2 rocket, an improved homing head with an enlarged antenna was developed - the diameter of the radio-transparent fairing increased almost to the midsection of the rocket. Along with the reconfiguration of the nose of the rocket, the tail unit also changed - the stabilizer was moved from the keel to the fuselage. in OKB-286 for the KSR-2 rocket, an improved homing head with an enlarged antenna was developed - the diameter of the radio-transparent fairing increased almost to the midsection of the rocket. Along with the reconfiguration of the nose of the rocket, the tail unit also changed - the stabilizer was moved from the keel to the fuselage.
December 30, 1961 the KSR-2 rocket was put into service by Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR N 1261-537, and in February 1962. Decree was adopted on the conversion of Tu-16KS and Tu-16 aircraft into carriers of KSR-2 missiles. The missile system was named K-16, later it was renamed Tu-16K-16. The complex included the KSR-2 missile and the Tu-16KSR-2 carrier aircraft with the Rubicon missile control equipment.
In part, the KSR-2 missile began to arrive in February 1963. In total, 4 aviation regiments switched to these missiles. The first practical launches were carried out by the crews of the 33rd training center from October 25 to November 23, 1962. In parallel with the development of the rocket in parts, work was carried out to reduce the height of the rocket launch. It turned out that it can be launched from a height of 2 km. On April 22, 1968, an order was issued by the Minister of Defense of the USSR to finalize the KSR-2 missile to ensure the possibility of launching it from a height of 0.5 to 10 km. The modified missiles received the KSR-2M index.
The carriers of the KSR-2 missile were converted and modified Tu-16KS missile carriers (50 vehicles) and Tu-16A bombers (155 vehicles). The modified missile carrier received the Tu-16KSR-2 index. Later, another 156 bombers, as well as KS-1 (Tu-16KS) missile carriers, and Tu-16S rescuers (in Tu-16K-11-16), were further developed under the KSR-2 and the KSR-11, which was similar in design to the KSR-11. In 1962, the combined K11-16 complex, consisting of the Tu-16 carrier and the KSR-2 and KSR-11 missiles, was adopted by the Long-Range Aviation, and in 1965 - by the Navy Aviation. They were equipped with 156 combatant Tu-16A (ZA) long-range aviation, which were designated Tu-16KSR-2-11, several Tu-16KSR-2A (Tu-16KSR-2-11), but the remaining 211 aircraft of this type received other equipment and index Tu-16K-11-16. The fleet converted 230 Tu-16KSR-2A and Tu-16S, which also became known as Tu-16K-11-16, although they differed in design and equipment. It was the most widespread Soviet aviation and missile system. His aircraft carried the Rubin-1K radar. In total, 441 aircraft underwent modifications for the K-11 and K-16 complexes, of which 211 served in Long-Range Aviation and 230 in Naval Aviation.
The production of KSR-11 missiles also took place in Saratov, and the leading specialists of this plant, along with the creators of the KSR-2 and KSR-11 missiles, were awarded the Lenin Prize.
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