Tasnim news agency reported that the Iranian Air Force on Tuesday, February 7, unveiled a homegrown long-range cruise missile mounted on a Sukhoi Su-24MK tactical bomber. The “Asef” air-launched cruise missile is manufactured in Iran. The weapon was put on display during the unveiling of the Air Force’s first tactical underground airbase designated Oghab-44.
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Asef cruise missile mounted on an Iranian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24MK (Picture source: Tasnim news agency)
Asef is simply described as having a warhead with great explosive and destructive power. No other detail is known so far. The new long-range cruise missile can be mounted on the Sukhoi Su-24 tactical bombers of the Iranian Air Force.
The Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name: Fencer) is a supersonic, all-weather tactical bomber developed in the Soviet Union. The aircraft has a variable-sweep wing, twin-engine and side-by-side seating arrangement for its crew of two. It was the first of the USSR's aircraft to carry an integrated digital navigation/attack system. It remains in service with the Russian Air Force, Syrian Air Force, Ukrainian Air Force, Algerian Air Force and various other air forces to which it was exported.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force operates Su-24MKs, 30 of which were known to be in service as of January 2013. 24 Iraqi examples were evacuated to Iran during the 1991 Gulf War and were put in service with the IRIAF. Iran possibly purchased other Su-24s from Russia or other former Soviet States. Iran tested domestically produced anti-radar missiles carried by Su-24 aircraft in September 2011, the IRIAF's Deputy Commander, General Mohammad Alavi said, according to IRIB TV1.
Iranian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24MK (Picture source: Shahram Sharifi via Wikipedia)
Specifications of the Su-24MK
Crew: 2 (pilot and weapons systems operator)
Length: 22.53 m (73 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 17.64 m (57 ft 10 in) wings spread
10.37 m (34 ft) wings swept
Height: 6.19 m (20 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 55.2 m2 (594 sq ft)
Airfoil: TsAGI SR14S-5.376; TsAGI SR16M-10[98]
Empty weight: 22,300 kg (49,163 lb)
Gross weight: 38,040 kg (83,864 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 43,755 kg (96,463 lb)
Fuel capacity: 11,100 kg (24,471 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Lyulka AL-21F-3A turbojet engines, 75 kN (17,000 lbf) thrust each dry, 109.8 kN (24,700 lbf) with afterburner
Performances
Maximum speed: 1,654 km/h (1,028 mph, 893 kn) / M1.6 at high altitude
1,315 km/h (817 mph; 710 kn) / M1.06 at sea level
Combat range: 615 km (382 mi, 332 nmi) lo-lo-lo attack mission with 3,000 kg (6,614 lb) of ordnance and external tanks
Ferry range: 2,775 km (1,724 mi, 1,498 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
g limit: +6
Rate of climb: 150 m/s (30,000 ft/min)
