Missile Kh-20 (AS-3 Kangaroo)

Development of the Kh-20 began in 1954, utilizing technical experience derived from fighter aircraft. Initial testing was conducted using modified airframes to evaluate the interface between the carrier aircraft and the missile, as well as the guidance systems and launch procedures. Flight testing commenced in March 1958, with government trials concluding in late 1959. The missile entered service in 1960.

The Kh-20 is an air-launched cruise missile powered by a turbojet engine. It employs an inertial guidance system supplemented by radio command correction. The missile is designed for high-altitude supersonic flight. A technical challenge during development involved starting the engine after exposure to low temperatures at high altitudes. The system carries a thermonuclear warhead with a blast yield between 0.3 and 3.0 megatons. The Kh-20M variant was introduced with an improved warhead design. Manual guidance is required for higher accuracy, though this makes the system susceptible to electronic jamming.

The Soviet Air Forces were the sole operator of the Kh-20, deploying the system on Tu-95 strategic bombers. Although intended for retaliation strikes against targets in the United States, high preparation times and warhead storage requirements led to the missile being assigned to secondary strikes and operations against aircraft carrier groups. Attempts to adapt the system for the Myasishchev M-4 were not successful. The missile was deployed on Tu-95 variants until it was replaced by the Kh-22 by the mid-1980s.