Missile Kh-59 (AS-13 Kingbolt)

The AS-13 Kingbolt, known by its Russian designation Kh-59, is an air-to-surface missile developed by the Soviet Union. Primarily used for precision strike missions, the Kh-59 is launched from aircraft and is designed to engage a variety of ground targets, including bunkers, bridges, and fortifications. It is often carried by aircraft such as the Su-24, Su-30, and Su-34.

The Kh-59 uses a two-stage propulsion system with a solid rocket booster for initial acceleration and a turbojet engine for sustained cruise. This allows the missile to cover distances up to 115 kilometers or more, depending on the variant.

For guidance, early versions of the Kh-59 used a television-guidance system with a data link, allowing a human operator to steer the missile by watching the video feed and sending corrections. Newer variants can employ laser guidance, inertial navigation, or satellite-based systems like GPS or GLONASS for more autonomous operations.

The missile carries a high-explosive warhead designed to inflict significant damage upon impact. The precision guidance systems enable the Kh-59 to be highly accurate, making it suitable for hitting well-defended or high-value targets.

However, the Kh-59 the older TV-guided version requires a "man-in-the-loop" to guide the missile, making the system more susceptible to human error and limiting its use in high-threat environments where the launch aircraft needs to quickly exit the area. Additionally, while newer versions have improved guidance systems, they remain relatively expensive and complex to operate, often requiring advanced platforms for launching and guidance.