Russia to Test Krylo-SV Reusable Cruise Missile Demonstrator in 2023

A demonstrator launch of the Krylo-SV reusable cruise missile being developed in Russia is planned for early 2023, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Science reported.

"Work on the Krylo-SV rocket project began several years ago, and the development of a flight demonstrator started in February of this year. The first flight test of the demonstrator is scheduled for early 2023," Interfax reported quoting a statement from the ministry. "After the tests, a decision will be made to create a full-fledged rocket," the ministry said.

Krylo-SV is a reusable light-class cruise missile. The rocket will measure about six meters long and 0.8 meters in diameter. The rocket demonstrator will be one-third the size of the original. The rocket will travel at speeds up to Mach six. The launch is planned to be carried out from the Kapustin Yar test site in the direction of the Caspian Sea, the report said.

A laboratory of the Advanced Research Fund (FPI), Roscosmos has begun work on the development of a cryogenic component engine for the Krylo-SV flight-experimental demonstrator of reusable cruise missile units.

The main executor of the project is Russian firm TsNIIMash, which is responsible for the development of the rocket as a whole, the ministry explained.

"It is assumed that after the separation of the second stage, which will continue the flight with the cruise missile on board, the first stage for reuse will return to the cosmodrome on wings using an aircraft engine," the report said quoting the ministry statement.

The reusable rocket will also be used to launch a satellite which is part of another project of Roscosmos, the test launch of which is scheduled for 2022.