(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Last January, when Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu visited the Raduga State Machine-Building Design Bureau facility, journalists captured images of a newly developed missile.
This missile, referred to as “Izdeliye 720,” is said to have been developed based on combat experiences from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Neither the Russian Ministry of Defense nor Raduga have officially disclosed the missile’s identity. The name “Izdeliye 720” was coined by Russian media.
According to Raduga director Sergei Bogatikov, while the missile known as “Izdeliye 720” does indeed exist, it is too early to reveal detailed specifications.
He stated, “The Izdeliye 720 missile showcases significant advancements in Raduga’s design school, combining technical solutions from long-range cruise missiles with the latest developments drawn from recent combat experiences.”
Raduga’s latest innovations focus on air-to-ground missiles for long-range aircraft, front-line aircraft, and warships.
Many of Raduga’s systems are now available worldwide and have proven their effectiveness in current conflicts.
Local military analysts have noted that the missile known as “Izdeliye 720” resembles the KH-69 missile.
However, in terms of size, the new Raduga missile is smaller, measuring just 3.4 meters in length with a wingspan of two meters, and weighing a total of 450 kilograms.
One notable difference in the “Izdeliye 720” missile is the placement of the air intake on the top of the missile rather than the bottom, as seen in other missiles.
Regarding its guidance system, the missile is believed to utilize radio guidance, with active homing for anti-ship variants and passive homing for anti-radar variants where radio communication is not required.
The military analyst also suggested that due to its compact size and moderate weight, the “Izdeliye 720” could be used by attack helicopters such as the Ka-52M and Mi-28NM.
“All indications point to the Izdeliye 720 missile being similar to the Delilah missile developed by Israel, capable of being launched from air, land, and sea.”
“Such missiles use an inertial guidance system with satellite correction. During the final phase of flight before hitting the target, the missile sends images to the operator to enable precise targeting or to make flight pattern corrections,” concluded the military expert. – DSA