CITEFA AS-25K

The AS-25K is an Argentine air-to-surface missile (ASM) under development by the CITEFA (Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas de las FFAA - Armed Forces Scientific and Technical Research Institute) in two versions: air-to-sea and air-to-land. The main user is the COAN (COmando Aviación Naval – Naval Aviation Command) of the Argentine Navy.

It is propelled by a booster rocket and a solid sustainer rocket, with a range of 25 km at a speed of Mach-2. Its total weight is less than 240 kg, and its warhead is composed by approximately 60 kg of Hexolite 50.50.

Variants[]

Four variants are being considered, differing basically in the guidance system:

AS-25K-RC – Radio Commanded
AS-25K-IR – Passive Infra-Red
AS-25K-LS – Laser
AS-25K-TV – Television

It has been reported that the IR version is already developed and ready for testing. Work is being done in a laser guidance system for the LS version. Research for the TV version is being commenced.

Relation with Martin Pescador[]

The AS-25K is a development of the Martin Pescador MP-1000 Argentine air-to-surface missile, currently in use also by the Argentine Navy. The main differences are:

Enhanced speed and range (thanks to the booster acceleration)
Improved guidance on height/range and azimuth (the MP-1000 can only be guided in height/range)
Fire-and-forget guidance system (thanks to the IR seeker; the MP-1000 has only manual radioelectric guidance).
Greater range (estimated at 25 km, that's why the "25K" missile denomination).

Technical specifications[]

Type: Anti-ship missile/Anti-tank missile
Manufacturer: CITEFA
Diameter: ? cm (? in)
Length: ? m (? in)
Wingspan: ? cm (? in)
Standard warhead weight: 60 kg (132.3 lb)
Warhead type: Hexolite
Maximum range: 25 km (15.55 mi)
Guidance: IR or TV

References[]

(in Spanish) Information and images about this missile translated to English

External links[]

(in Spanish) Weaponry of the COAN
(in Spanish) CITEFA web site (also in English)