Military Knowledge - Islamic World News

The KS‑172, also known as K‑100, Izdeliye‑172, AAM‑L, and R‑172, is a Russian very‑long‑range air‑to‑air missile designed to target Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and command‑and‑control planes. According to various sources, its claimed range extends up to 400 kilometers. The design and development of the KS‑172 has been a lengthy and complex project, and recent reports in 2025 suggest that the missile has entered service with the Russian Air Force. In this article, we will take a closer look at KS-172 missile.

Skana Robotics Ltd. is an Israeli defense company focused on developing autonomous maritime systems, including surface, subsurface, and amphibious platforms, with the aim of strengthening modern naval forces. Through modular design, Skana offers products such as the Bull Shark (tactical surface vessel), Stingray (subsurface reconnaissance and anti‑submarine vehicle), and Alligator (high‑capacity amphibious craft), positioning itself in the global unmanned maritime market with low operating costs.

The R-77 air-to-air missile is regarded as one of the most important medium-range weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces. Featuring a distinctive lattice-fin design, it offers high agility and maneuverability, and in advanced variants such as the R-77M, its range has been extended to 193 kilometers. Equipped with a multifunction active radar, data link, proximity fuse, and fragmentation warhead, the R-77 is considered a true “fire-and-forget” weapon capable of independent target engagement, and today forms part of the armament of Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 fighter.

At the Dubai Airshow 2025, India officially unveiled and promoted its domestically developed Astra Mk1 air-to-air missile as a substitute for Russia’s R-77. This move comes at a time when many traditional buyers of Russian arms — including Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Serbia — have faced long delays and non-delivery of R-77-1 missiles since 2023.

The R-37M missile is a Russian long-range, solid-fuel, supersonic air-to-air missile, regarded as one of the longest-range operational air-to-air weapons in the world. With active radar guidance and a range exceeding 300 km, it is an ideal option for targeting aerial refueling tankers, AWACS aircraft, and other standoff airborne platforms.

The R-73 missile is a short-range, infrared-guided air-to-air missile designed by Vympel NPO. Entering service in 1984, it is known in NATO designation as the AA-11 Archer.

The Barak MX air defense system, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, is a modular, network-centric platform built on an open architecture. Available in both land-based and Sea-based variants, it supports a wide range of radars and interceptor missiles, enabling engagement against diverse aerial, cruise, and ballistic threats. Given its export to foreign clients—particularly to conflict-prone regions such as the South Caucasus, the southern Persian Gulf, and the Eastern Mediterranean—Barak MX is regarded not only as an advanced weapon system but also as a geopolitical lever for Israel.

The Tomahawk is a subsonic, long-range, precision-guided cruise missile launched from submarines and surface platforms. Designed for deep land strikes and targeting high-value assets, it has become a cornerstone of U.S. military strike operations over the past half-century. Its ability to fly at low altitude, employ advanced combined guidance systems, and—on modern variants—retarget mid-flight, makes it a highly versatile and reliable weapon.

The Burevestnik (Буревестник) missile system is a Russian cruise-like weapon distinguished by two groundbreaking features: it carries a nuclear warhead and is powered by a nuclear propulsion unit. This technological fusion enables sustained energy and thrust—capabilities that conventional chemical-fueled systems typically cannot maintain. As a result, Burevestnik stands apart conceptually and operationally from other strategic and cruise systems, aiming to overcome traditional limitations in range and endurance through nuclear energy.

The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-engine multirole fighter and one of Russia’s most successful fourth-generation aircraft. With its high maneuverability, extended operational range, and capability to perform a wide array of aerial missions, it has become the backbone of the air forces of several nations. Derived from the design of the Su-27, the Su-30 has been developed in multiple variants and serves as a complementary platform to more advanced fighters like the Su-35. Its ability to conduct air-to-air and air-to-surface operations, reconnaissance, and aerial support has made it a popular choice in the global defense market.

Space-Based Early Warning Systems (SB-EWS) are a critical component of the anti-ballistic missile defense architecture employed by global powers. These systems utilize specialized satellites equipped with infrared sensors to detect ballistic missile launches from both land-based and naval platforms. Once a launch is identified, the system tracks the missile’s trajectory during its midcourse phase. The collected data is then transmitted to ground-based missile defense networks, enabling timely response and precise interception capabilities.

The Russian company RoboAvia has unveiled the Klin suicide drone, which has entered service with the Russian military in recent months and whose field performance videos have also been released.