HC Deb 14 March 1988 vol 129 c486W
Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all the categories of weapons and support systems the Soviet Union has modernised since Mr. Gorbachev became Soviet leader, based on information available to his Department at 2 March.

Mr. Ian Stewart

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the NATO summit on 4 March at columns 1279–80 which emphasised that there has been no let-up in the Soviet Union's extensive military modernisation programme. For example, new cruise missiles have recently been flight-tested, while a new road-mobile ICBM has been deployed and a rail-mobile ICBM should be deployed shortly. In addition, a long-range strategic bomber has been introduced, a modified battle tank has been developed and a new mobile surface-to-air missile system is under development.

Dr. Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the Soviet weapons systems code named(a) AS-9 (Kyle), (b) AS-x-10 (Karen), (c) AS-11 (Kilter), (d) AS-12 (Kegler) and (e) AS-l4 (Kedge), in terms of their intended deployment, capability and range.

Mr. Ian Stewart

All the Soviet weapon systems referred to are tactical air-to-surface missiles. They are intended for use by tactical air forces in early conventional attacks on targets such as air defence radar and missile sites, command and control centres and airfields.

The AS-9 (Kyle), AS-11 (Kilter) and AS-12 (Kegler) are anti-radiation homing missiles and can be carried by the SU-23 (Fencer), SU-17 (Fitter) and Mig 23 (Flogger) aircraft. The AS-10 (Karen)—which is now operational—and AS-14 (Kedge) are electro-optical homing missiles and are carried on the same range of airframes.

The AS-9 carries a 150 to 200 kg high explosive warhead and can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead. The AS-10 and AS-12 each carry a 100 kg high explosive warhead. We believe the AS-11 and AS-14 to be updated versions of the AS-9 and AS-10 respectively. The ranges of these missiles vary from a limited range up to about 100 km.