Extended Range Russian 'Khrizantema' Air-to-Ground Missile Debuts on Ka-52M, Mi-28NM Helicopters

Russia’s Khrizantema-S self-propelled anti-tank missile system has been successfully integrated into the latest combat helicopters, the Mi-28NM and Ka-52M, providing them with enhanced capabilities.

Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ Army Aviation, Igor Romanov, made this announcement during an interview with the Russian Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Friday.

Over the past several years, the Russian Aerospace Forces have been receiving upgraded Ka-52M and Mi-28NM combat helicopters. According to Romanov, these advanced helicopters are now equipped with new armaments, including the versatile Khrizantema anti-tank missile and the Verba missile. These munitions are known for their characteristics that enable precise targeting from a safe distance, eliminating the need to enter enemy air defense areas.

"The combat use of new armaments, particularly, the light multipurpose missile, the Khrizantema anti-tank missile and the Verba missile, considering their characteristics, makes it possible to strike targets without entering the area of enemy air defenses. Pilots have already highly valued the upgraded helicopters’ combat capabilities that have increased substantially," he said.

The 9M123M Khrizantema helicopter-launched missile is produced by the Kolomna-based Design Bureau of Machine-Building and a part of Rostec’s High Precision Systems Holding Company. In August, the High Precision Systems Holding Company reported that the missile's striking range had been extended to 10 kilometers.

The 9M123 missile is supersonic, boasting an average speed of 400 meters per second (1,300 ft/s) or Mach 1.2. Previously, its maximum effective range ranged from 400 to 6,000 meters.

Originally designed for the Khrizantema-S self-propelled anti-tank missile system, it has been effectively adapted for the latest combat helicopters, the Mi-28NM and Ka-52M. This weapon is capable of engaging a wide range of targets, including enemy armored vehicles with reactive armor, adversary fortifications, engineering structures, naval vessels, low-speed aerial targets, and enemy personnel.