Kh-38 vs PL-2: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

Loading the evidence…

Preparing your view.

AMissiles

Kh-38

Tactical air-to-surface missile

BMissiles

PL-2

Short-range air-to-air missile

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

Kh-38Length

4.2 m

Length source ↗

PL-2Length · source measurement 3

2.9972 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Kh-38larger figure on 2 of 2

Diameter+144%
Mass+390%

PL-2larger figure on 0 of 2

None

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

17 of 26 rows sourced on both sides

4.2m

3mLength · source measurement 3

Length

All recorded figures & sources

4.2 m

Length

Single source

4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)^[source]

2.15–2.99 m

Length · source measurement 1

Single source

Configuration

Details

Kh-38 and PL-2 configuration
Specification	Kh-38	PL-2
Speed	Mach 2.2^[source]	Mach 1.6 to 2.5^[source]
Type	Tactical air-to-surface missile^[source]	Short-range air-to-air missile^[source]
Place of origin	Russia^[source]	China^[source]
In service	2012 (Kh-38ME) 2019 (Kh-36)^[source]	1970s to present^[source]

Used by	Russia^[source]	China^[source]

Wars	Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War^[source]	—

Designer	Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC^[source]	—

Designed	2007 (Kh-38ME) - 2015 (Kh-36)^[source]	—

Manufacturer	Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC^[source]	Luoyang Electro-Optics Technology Development Centre (EOTDC)^[source]

Produced	2015 (Kh-38M) - 2019 (Kh-36)^[source]	1970s to 1980s^[source]

Warhead	HE fragmentation, cluster warhead, armor-piercing^[source]	11.3 kg (25 lb) high explosive^[source]

Detonation mechanism	Contact fuse^[source]	Impact / Proximity^[source]

Engine	Two-stage solid rocket motor^[source]	rocket 2668dN^[source]

Flight altitude	200-12000 m^[source]	—

Guidance system	Laser, active radar, IR, satellite, depending on variant^[source]	Nitrogen cooled passive InPb infrared seeker^[source]

Launch platform	Kh-38: Su-34 , Su-25SM3 , Su-57 , Ka-52K , MiG-29K Kh-36: Su-57 , MiG-35^[source]	aerial^[source]

Role	family of standoff air-to-surface missiles meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families^[source]	—

Source measurement	The Kh-38/Kh-38M ( Russian : Х -38 ) is a family of standoff air-to-surface missiles meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families. The Kh-38 also serves as the basis for the Kh-36 unpowered and powered glide-bombs.^[source]Kh-38 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The basic configuration of the Kh-38M was revealed at the 2007 Moscow Air Show (MAKS) . The first prototypes of the missile had initially folding wings and tail fins for internal carriage, and would have a variety of seeker heads for different variants. Different warheads (fragmentation, cluster munitions , penetrating) can also be fitted. The Kh-38M is meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families. It can be used by combat aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi Su-57 , and it is planned to be integrated on the Kamov Ka-52 K helicopter. The first test firing took place in 2010 from a Su-34, and production was ordered to start in 2015.^[source]Kh-38 · Design and development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Kh-38M was first used in combat during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war . It was also used during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine .^[source]Kh-38 · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Kh-36 Grom-E1 - Rocket assisted version of the Grom-E2. Sometimes referred as a hybrid missile glide bomb. AS-23 tactical cruise missile derivative/AGM with 120 km range^[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Kh-36 Grom-E2 - AS-23B/KAB-type guided glide bomb with 50 km range.^[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Both versions of the Grom are of 600 kg weight, with various guidance mechanisms, and both are created on the basis of the Kh-38M short-range tactical missile and also have modular structures, warheads and seekers. This weapon was first seen at MAKS 2015, and intended to equip all types of fighters, including the MiG-35 and Su-57 .^[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	—

Source measurement

The Kh-38/Kh-38M ( Russian : Х -38 ) is a family of standoff air-to-surface missiles meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families. The Kh-38 also serves as the basis for the Kh-36 unpowered and powered glide-bombs.^[source]Kh-38 · Lead; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The basic configuration of the Kh-38M was revealed at the 2007 Moscow Air Show (MAKS) . The first prototypes of the missile had initially folding wings and tail fins for internal carriage, and would have a variety of seeker heads for different variants. Different warheads (fragmentation, cluster munitions , penetrating) can also be fitted. The Kh-38M is meant to succeed the Kh-25 and Kh-29 missile families. It can be used by combat aircraft such as the Sukhoi Su-34 and Sukhoi Su-57 , and it is planned to be integrated on the Kamov Ka-52 K helicopter. The first test firing took place in 2010 from a Su-34, and production was ordered to start in 2015.^[source]Kh-38 · Design and development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Kh-38M was first used in combat during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war . It was also used during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine .^[source]Kh-38 · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Kh-36 Grom-E1 - Rocket assisted version of the Grom-E2. Sometimes referred as a hybrid missile glide bomb. AS-23 tactical cruise missile derivative/AGM with 120 km range^[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Kh-36 Grom-E2 - AS-23B/KAB-type guided glide bomb with 50 km range.^[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Both versions of the Grom are of 600 kg weight, with various guidance mechanisms, and both are created on the basis of the Kh-38M short-range tactical missile and also have modular structures, warheads and seekers. This weapon was first seen at MAKS 2015, and intended to equip all types of fighters, including the MiG-35 and Su-57 .^[source]Kh-38 · Variants / Kh-36; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

—