Russia eyes ramjet-propelled hypersonic tactical missile
Klevok-D2 is envisaged to reach Mach 5 with a 57kg warhead — but development is likely to take years
Russian military researchers have turned their attention to development of a lightweight high-precision tactical missile with a range of 100km.
According to available official data and reports in the state-run Izvestia newspaper, the Klevok-D2 precision-accuracy missile is based on the Hermes ATGM (pictured), with the principal differences being that the new weapon uses a ramjet engine and its warhead is twice as heavy as Hermes.
The ramjet will accelerate the missile to hypersonic speed (Mach 5). This will significantly increase its firing range and (the Russian military hopes) make it almost invulnerable to air defence systems.
Klevok-D2 is expected to
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