Kh-25 for MiG-21bis?

[Rakkis]

Shot in the dark here, and if the answer is "NO NEW MISSILES GO, AWAY RAKKIS", then so be it BUUUUT.....

SOME kind of A2G Anti-Radiation Missile would be REALLY nice to have on REDFOR DCS. 

MiG-21bis began production in 1972. Kh-25 (NATO AS-10 "Karen") entered service between 1973 and 1975 and includes an Anti-Radiation variant (NATO AS-12 "Kegler") Kh-25MP and Kh-25MPU. Originally equipped by MiG-23BN, MiG-27 and Su-17M, according to the non-primary source but HIGHLY reputable Janes it "has been cleared for carriage on the MiG-21 'Fishbed', MiG-23 'Flogger', MiG-27 'Flogger', MiG-29 'Fulcrum', Sukhoi Su-17, Su-20, Su-22 'Fitter', Su-24 'Fencer', Su-25 'Frogfoot' and Su-27 'Flanker' aircraft."

Another arrow in the quiver would be really nice. 

Thanks for you time, thoughts and considerations either way!

[Buzzles]

Not that it's a super accurate source, but wikipedia reckons the missile was only available to newer versions of the -21, not the bis version we have:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-21_variants#Armament

 

See down for the -93 and Bison.

[Proper Charlie]

On 5/10/2021 at 11:07 PM, Rakkis said:

SOME kind of A2G Anti-Radiation Missile would be REALLY nice to have on REDFOR DCS. 

 

The Su-25T has the Kh-58 ARM.

[rossmum]

Jane's is incorrect in this case, unless it's talking about some modern/foreign market upgrade package (e: like 21-93 or Bison, as pointed out), which would make it inapplicable to our 21 anyway. The 21bis shouldn't even have (nor be able to guide) the Grom, much less ARMs that were usually employed in conjunction with ELINT pods. You would need to strap a Vyuga to the aircraft somewhere and I've never seen one (nor seen mention of one) on a 21, usually they were used by the Su-17M or the MiG-27. If you want ARMs, your choices are to fly the Su-25T or wait until either a Su-17M, MiG-27, or Su-24 arrive.

Edited May 15, 2021 by rossmum

[Nin]

On 5/15/2021 at 10:17 AM, rossmum said:

Jane's is incorrect in this case, unless it's talking about some modern/foreign market upgrade package (e: like 21-93 or Bison, as pointed out), which would make it inapplicable to our 21 anyway. The 21bis shouldn't even have (nor be able to guide) the Grom, much less ARMs that were usually employed in conjunction with ELINT pods. You would need to strap a Vyuga to the aircraft somewhere and I've never seen one (nor seen mention of one) on a 21, usually they were used by the Su-17M or the MiG-27. If you want ARMs, your choices are to fly the Su-25T or wait until either a Su-17M, MiG-27, or Su-24 arrive.

 

Out of curiosity how is the Grom guidance supposed to work? We can't really "guide" it now, can we? It's more just designate a target via locked beam and keep it locked until impact - or maybe I've been using it wrong 

[rossmum]

Ingame or in real life? Ingame you can lock the fixed beam on stuff and it'll track that, but as far as I'm aware the real thing on the earlier 21s required the nose (specifically one of the notches on the ASP net) to be kept on the target as the fixed beam couldn't be 'locked'/the radar had no capacity to point-track the ground.

[Mentos]

The original Kh-25 entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1973-5, equipping it with the MiG-23, MiG-27 and Su-17M.  Since then, it has been approved for use in MiG-21, MiG-29, Sukhoi Su-17/20/22, Sukhoi Su-24, Su-25 and Su-27. It can also be carried by attack helicopters such as the Kamov Ka-50.

 

 

[rossmum]

Only relevant for highly modernised MiG-21 variants. Kh-25 was not (and could not be) employed by the 21bis in any service, let alone Soviet service. The 21bis has no method of guidance for the missile. This is a 1972 jet, there is no "plug and play" here.

 

If you're going to try post sources, post reputable ones - ideally original technical manuals. Western publications are notoriously prone to making wrong claims or mistaking one variant of something for another.