The missile warload for Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKM warplanes went on show this morning, giving the public what is believed to be their first look at these missiles in RMAF service.
These missiles made their public debut at the Malaysian Armed Forces 80th Anniversary Parade:
* Kh-29TE air-to-ground missile. NATO reporting name AS-14 Kedge. Range: 10km to 30km
* Kh-31P supersonic anti-radiation missile. NATO reporting name AS-17 Krypton. Range: 110km.
* Kh-59ME air-to-ground missile. NATO reporting name AS-13 Kingbolt. Range: 200km.
The missiles were carried on flat bed trailers as part of the RMAF contingent. Also shown were American-made missiles such as the Harpoon, Sidewinder and Sparrow.
The Russian-made ordnance are game changers for the RMAF as they allow its Su-30MKMs to hit targets from long-range and at ingress speeds far higher than that of comparable western munitions. The long reach of these missiles puts the RMAF pilots and WSOs out of the defensive envelope of most surface-to-air missile systems.
The supersonic Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles, in particular, could potentially unhinge air defence systems that rely on radars to scan the airspace and guide SAMs to their targets.
The RMAF is not known to have publicised live-firing trials of these missiles.
The pictures posted here indicate how close the MAF allowed this blog to approach the parade and Mobile Column. Many thanks for the courtesy this morning.
Kh-59ME air-to-ground missile