Russia has showcased the combat deployment of its Mi-28NM attack helicopter equipped with the LMUR (Lyogkaya Mnogotselevaya Upravlayemaya Raketa) missile, also known as the Kh-39 or Izdeliye 305.
The Kh-39 missile weighs just over 200 pounds and features a range of up to 9 miles—double that of earlier Russian helicopter-launched anti-tank weapons. Russian forces began operational use of the Kh-39 in 2022, targeting Ukrainian armored vehicles during the ongoing war.
The development history of the Kh-39 is marked by delays and bureaucratic complications.
Originally introduced around 2007 as Izdeliye 79 by the Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), the program was halted in 2009 due to a lack of ordered launchers. A new iteration of the project, under the name Izdeliye 305, was revived around 2012 via a classified contract believed to be issued by the FSB. The missile was intended to provide long-range firepower for Mi-8MNP-2 helicopters used in special operations.
A key characteristic of the LMUR is its man-in-the-loop guidance system. The missile includes a two-way datalink allowing real-time video transmission from the onboard seeker to the helicopter cockpit, giving the operator full control over targeting during flight, including the ability to abort or redirect the missile.
The missile’s configuration features front canard fins and foldable wings for deployment under helicopter pylons. It houses a 9B-7755 thermal imaging seeker, inertial navigation system, and a BNAP-305 receiver compatible with both GLONASS and GPS. The missile is launched via the APU-305 or APU-L launcher, developed by Vympel.
In contrast to legacy weapons like the 9M120 Ataka or 9M123 Khrizantema, the Kh-39 offers a combination of standoff range and targeting precision. Despite being labeled a “light” missile, it significantly exceeds its predecessors in weight and technological sophistication.
With the Mi-28NM now fielding the Kh-39 in active operations, Russian aerospace forces are expanding their long-range precision strike capability—a development likely to draw close scrutiny from defense analysts and policymakers alike.