Novator KS-172

NPO Novator started work in 1991 on a very long-range air-to-air missile with the Russian project designation Izdeliye 172. Initially called the AAM-L (RVV-L), it made its first public appearance at the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in early 1993, as part of a new export-led strategy whereby foreign investment in a -range export model In May 2005 the Indians were said to have finalised "an arrangement to fund final development and licence produce the weapon" in a joint venture similar to that which produced the successful BrahMos cruise missile. Since then the missile has had a higher profile, appearing at the 2005 Moscow Air Show and a modified version being shown at the 2007 Moscow Air Show designated as the K-100-1. This name first appeared in a Sukhoi document in 2006, ==Design==

An Indian magazine gave the specifications of the KS–172 in April 2004 as a core 6.01 m long and 40 cm in diameter with a wingspan of 61 cm, with a booster of 1.4 m, and 748 kg total weight. It had a solid fuel tandem rocket booster capable of speeds up to , 12g manoeuvring, and an adaptive HE fragmentation warhead. Guidance is by inertial navigation until the missile is close enough to the target to use active radar for terminal homing. It has a lock-on range of , described by an Agat designer as "one fifth or less of the overall range". ==Variants==

• KS-172 :Prototype in 1993. • KS-172S-1 :Prototype in 2003. ==Similar weapons==

• R-37 (missile) (AA-X-13/AA-13 'Arrow') was developed from the R-33 (missile) (AA-9 'Amos') and is intended for the Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E, Sukhoi Su-37 Flanker-F, MiG 1.42 MFI and other future fighters. Work on the missile appears to have restarted in late 2006, as part of the MiG-31BM programme to update the Foxhound with a new radar and ground attack capability. • Kh-31 (AS-17 'Krypton') – the Chinese have licensed the anti-radar version (Kh-31P) of this Russian air-to-surface missile, and may be working on an "AWACS killer" variant of their YJ-91 derivative. The Russians claim the anti-shipping version, the Kh-31A, can be adapted for use as an AWACS killer. • AIM-54 Phoenix – Now retired, a -range missile that was carried by the US Navy's F-14 Tomcat. • AIM-152 AAAM- intended replaced for the AIM-54 Phoenix but cancelled after the cold war ended. • AIM-97 Seekbat - based on the Standard Missile SAM, the Seekbat was an extremely long-ranged missile designed to shoot down the MiG-25 Foxbat, which at the time had almost mythical performance estimates. When the real-world performance of the Foxbat was found to be dramatically less impressive, development was cancelled. • AIM-174B Gunslinger - an American long range naval surface to air missile that was developed into the AIM-174B Gunslinger , an air-launched version of the RIM-174 Standard ERAM / SM-6 for the US Navy. • AIM-260 JATM == See also ==