title: Kh-45
text: # Kh-45
  
  The Kh-45 Molnija "Lightning" was a Soviet hypersonic anti-ship air-to-surface missile project. It was developed from 1971 as the main armament for the ICD "Raduga"'s T-4 missile carrier bomber. The designers were A. Y. Bereznyak, G. K. Samokhvalov and V. A. Larionov.
  
  ## History
  
  The Kh-45 was intended to be carried on the Tu-160, but the integration was cancelled in 1976–77. The Kh-45 was cancelled and replaced by a nuclear version of the Kh-55 missile.
  
  ## Basic tactical and technical characteristics
  
  The Kh-45 weighed 4,500 kg and was 10.8m long.
  
  