The Kh-31, NATO reporting name AS-17 Krypton, is a Soviet/Russian supersonic air-launched missile family used in anti-radiation and anti-ship roles. It was designed to let tactical aircraft threaten radar emitters, air-defense systems, and naval targets from outside the shortest-range defensive envelopes.
Kh-31 variants use different seekers depending on mission: passive radar homing for suppression of enemy air defenses and active radar or related guidance for maritime targets. Its high speed reduces reaction time for defenders and makes the missile useful in coordinated attacks where multiple weapons or decoys pressure an air-defense network.
The missile is most dangerous when paired with electronic warfare, reconnaissance, and massed launches. A single Kh-31 can force radar shutdown or defensive maneuver, but modern air defenses may counter isolated shots. Its real value is in creating dilemmas: keep radars on and risk impact, or shut down and lose tracking coverage.
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