Missile Kh-59M (AS-18 Kazoo)

Development of the Kh-59 began in the 1970s as a stand-off precision weapon derived from the Kh-25. The design initially drew from the Kh-58, though this was modified to facilitate visual target acquisition. Development of the Kh-59M variant followed in the 1980s, with technical details becoming public in the early 1990s.

The Kh-59M is an air-launched cruise missile primarily configured for land-attack missions, though anti-ship variants are also produced. The propulsion system consists of a solid-fuel accelerator and a turbofan engine. During flight, the missile maintains a low altitude using a radar altimeter. Guidance is achieved through an inertial system for the mid-course phase, transitioning to a television-based system for the terminal phase. In this configuration, an operator identifies the target and locks the seeker via a datalink pod. Other variants utilize active radar homing, laser guidance, or infrared seekers. The Kh-59MK2 variant features a low-observable airframe and fire-and-forget capability. Warhead options include shaped-charge fragmentation, cluster munitions, and specialized penetrators for reinforced concrete. A nuclear-armed version is identified by the possible designation Kh-20.

The system is widely deployed, with operators including Russia, China, India, Algeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Syria, Venezuela, and Vietnam. While compatible with various aircraft such as the MiG-27, Su-17, and Su-25, the Su-24M has been the primary carrier in Russian service. Combat use includes the First and Second Chechen Wars. During a 2018 deployment to Syria, the Su-57 conducted test firings of the Kh-59MK2. The missile has been employed during the Russo-Ukrainian War, where it was used to strike infrastructure targets, including a grain silo near Mykolaiv and an airbase in the Zhytomyr region. One such strike near Mykolaiv was recorded by CCTV as the missile transitioned to the target area. The Su-34 has also been identified as a launch platform for these operations.