S-71K Kovyor Missile: Russia’s New Air-Launched Stand-Off

Weapon

Context

1. Russia has unveiled the S-71K Kovyor, an air-launched stand-off weapon designed primarily for the Su-57E fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
2. The missile was showcased at the El Alamein International Airshow in Egypt.

Key Features

1. Airframe: It has a wide, flattened, aircraft-like body instead of the conventional cylindrical design. Its configuration includes a trapezoidal nose, chin-mounted optical sensor, swept-back wings and inverted V-shaped tail surfaces.
2. Propulsion: The missile uses turbojet propulsion with three internal fuel tanks. Its powered flight distinguishes it from a simple glide bomb.
3. Range: Its estimated range is 300–350 km.
4. Guidance: It reportedly relies on an inertial navigation system (INS) and is not known to use a highly sophisticated terminal seeker.
5. Targeting: It is primarily intended for pre-programmed fixed targets rather than independent target identification immediately before impact.
6. Warhead: It carries a 250-kg OFAB-250-270 high-explosive fragmentation warhead.
7. Flight profile: The missile can reportedly cruise at around 8,200 metres before descending to approximately 20–75 metres over land and 5–15 metres above water. Such low-level flight can make continuous radar tracking more difficult.

FAQs

Q1. What is a stand-off weapon?
A stand-off weapon is designed to engage a target from a distance, reducing the need for the launching platform to approach the target closely.

Q2. Why is the S-71K classified as a cruise missile?
It uses powered flight through a turbojet engine rather than relying solely on an unpowered glide after release.

Q3. What is the purpose of an inertial navigation system?
An INS uses onboard sensors to estimate the weapon’s position, movement and direction during flight without requiring continuous external guidance.

Q4. Why can low-altitude flight complicate air-defence operations?
Flying close to the surface can reduce the effectiveness of continuous radar detection and tracking.

Q5. What kind of targets is the S-71K primarily intended to attack?
Its reported design is mainly suited to pre-programmed fixed targets.

Q6. Which aircraft is the missile designed for?
The missile is primarily intended for the Su-57E fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

Q7. What is the estimated range of the S-71K Kovyor?
Its reported range is approximately 300–350 km.