In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian state defense corporation Rostec has highlighted the exceptional performance of its latest Light Multipurpose Guided Rocket, also known as Izdeliye 305 or “Product 305.” According to statements released by Rostec, the missile has showcased an unprecedented level of resistance to jamming and electronic warfare interference, a significant achievement in modern combat where such capabilities are critical for success.
The missile, which has been actively used on the battlefield in Ukraine, continues to hit its targets with remarkable precision. According to Rostec, not once has the missile’s control channel been suppressed by enemy electronic warfare efforts, a testament to its robustness against countermeasures. This performance underscores the missile’s importance in Russia’s military arsenal, with Rostec claiming it to be “one of the most successful guided weapons” currently in use.
Electronic warfare has become a dominant aspect of modern military conflicts, with both sides employing sophisticated jamming technologies to disrupt enemy communication and weapon systems. The Izdeliye 305 missile, designed and manufactured by the Machine Building Design Bureau (KB Mashinostroyeniya) under the Rostec umbrella, appears to have been built with this battlefield environment in mind.
According to Rostec’s statement, which was posted on the corporation’s official Telegram channel, the missile has exhibited a high level of protection against interference. “To date, in combat conditions, there have been no cases of suppression of the control channel of a light multi-purpose guided missile (LMUR ‘Product 305’) during the special operation,” the corporation stated. The ability to function unimpeded by electronic warfare systems provides the missile with a tactical advantage, ensuring that it can consistently deliver precise strikes against a wide array of targets.
This resilience to jamming has bolstered its role in Russia’s offensive operations, particularly as it is deployed from Russia’s modern attack helicopters, including the Mi-28NM and Ka-52M.
The Izdeliye 305 missile is a versatile weapon, capable of operating in several modes that allow for flexible deployment depending on mission requirements. One of its key features is the “fire-and-forget” mode. In this mode, the missile’s homing system locks onto the target while it is still attached to the helicopter. Once launched, the missile operates autonomously, freeing the helicopter and its crew from having to maintain a line of sight with the target, thereby reducing exposure to enemy fire.
In addition to the fire-and-forget capability, the missile can also be operated in remote control mode, allowing for precision targeting at specific coordinates. Initially, the missile flies in inertial mode, but as it nears the target, its homing system activates and transmits a live image to the helicopter’s operator. The operator then identifies the target and manually guides the missile to ensure a direct hit. This mode is particularly useful in dynamic battlefield conditions where enemy assets may be mobile or hidden within complex environments.
A third operational mode involves the missile being fired toward approximate coordinates in inertial mode. As it approaches the target, the homing system provides a real-time image of the terrain to the operator, who can then adjust the missile’s trajectory to ensure a successful strike.
The Izdeliye 305 missile plays a crucial role in Russia’s aviation-based strike capabilities. It is primarily deployed from the Mi-28NM “Night Hunter” and the Ka-52M “Alligator” attack helicopters, both of which are designed for high-intensity combat scenarios. These helicopters, equipped with the latest avionics and sensors, are able to exploit the missile’s extended range and precision.
The missile is also compatible with the Mi-8MNP-2, a helicopter used for special operations. This adaptability across different platforms underscores the missile’s role as a key component in Russia’s broader military strategy. In fact, the Izdeliye 305 missile’s operational flexibility and its ability to engage targets from beyond the visual range allow it to be effective in various combat scenarios, including those involving fortified positions, armored vehicles, and even watercraft.
Weighing 231 pounds, the LMUR missile is notably heavier than Russia’s older helicopter-launched anti-tank weapons, such as the Ataka and Vikhr, which weigh approximately half as much. However, the increased weight brings with it enhanced capabilities. One of the missile’s standout features is its range—up to nine miles, which is twice the distance of comparable Russian anti-tank munitions. This extended range gives the missile the ability to engage targets from beyond the line of sight, a crucial advantage in modern warfare where direct exposure to enemy defenses can be catastrophic.
The missile is equipped with a powerful 25-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation warhead, housed within a 105-kilogram airframe. The warhead is designed to destroy a wide array of enemy assets, including heavily armored vehicles, fortifications, pillboxes, and even watercraft. This makes the LMUR missile an all-purpose solution for different types of targets on the battlefield.
The missile’s guidance system is a sophisticated blend of technologies, featuring inertial-satellite navigation combined with thermal imaging for precise targeting. Additionally, the two-way communication system between the missile and the helicopter allows for real-time control and manual guidance if needed. This blend of autonomous and manual control options makes the Izdeliye 305 highly adaptable to different combat scenarios, providing flexibility in mission planning and execution.
The LMUR missile has already seen extensive use in Ukraine, where it has reportedly played a significant role in Russian combat operations. British military intelligence highlighted the missile’s effectiveness in 2023, particularly noting its role in hindering Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations supported by NATO. The Ka-52M attack helicopters, armed with long-range LMUR missiles, have been described as key assets in slowing down Ukrainian advances and disrupting the battlefield logistics of NATO-backed forces.
The missile’s ability to strike targets from a distance of nine miles has allowed Russian forces to engage Ukrainian units before they can retaliate, giving the attackers a significant tactical edge. This standoff capability has been a critical factor in the missile’s success during the ongoing conflict, according to multiple military analysts.
The development of the Izdeliye 305 missile traces back several years. The missile was first publicly showcased at military exhibitions in Russia and the Persian Gulf in 2021, but it had already undergone limited production and testing as early as 2016-2017. Its combat capabilities were first tested in Syria, where it was deployed against various targets under combat conditions. This provided crucial insights into the missile’s performance, allowing engineers to refine its design ahead of its official introduction into the Russian military’s arsenal.
The missile officially entered service with Russian forces in late 2022, after several years of combat trials and incremental improvements. Since then, it has become a staple in Russia’s guided missile inventory, playing a pivotal role in military operations in Ukraine.
Details about the cost of the LMUR missile surfaced during a legal dispute between the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Machine Building Design Bureau in Kolomna, the manufacturer responsible for the missile’s production. According to court documents, the cost of each missile was approximately 14.2 million rubles, including an 18 percent value-added tax (VAT).
These legal proceedings, which revolved around delays in delivering a batch of 30 missiles in 2018, also shed light on the production volumes of the Izdeliye 305. Between 2018 and 2020, the total contract value amounted to 1,807 million rubles, sufficient to produce 127 missiles. Extrapolating from this data, analysts estimate that production rates for the missile have averaged around 50 units per year in recent years.
The Izdeliye 305 missile, with its superior resistance to electronic warfare, precision targeting capabilities, and extended range, represents a significant advancement in Russia’s military technology. Its deployment in Ukraine has demonstrated its battlefield effectiveness, particularly in countering NATO-backed Ukrainian forces.
As conflicts continue to evolve, with electronic warfare playing an increasingly central role, the development and success of weapons like the Izdeliye 305 highlight the importance of resilience in the face of advanced countermeasures. With its ability to consistently hit targets despite enemy jamming efforts, the LMUR missile is likely to remain a key asset in Russia’s arsenal for the foreseeable future.
