Kh-20

The Raduga Kh-20, NATO AS-3 Kangaroo, was an early Soviet air-launched cruise missile tied to nuclear strike doctrine. GlobalSecurity identifies it as a medium- to long-range standoff missile, and historical references describe its relationship to Tu-95 bomber operations. The database category currently says ICBM, but the platform is an air-launched cruise missile, not an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Kh-20 belonged to an era when strategic bombers needed a way to attack defended targets without flying directly overhead. Its size and nuclear role made it suitable for specialized bomber carriage rather than tactical aircraft use. Compared with later Kh-55-type missiles, it was less compact and less flexible.

Although obsolete by modern standards, Kh-20 matters because it shows the early transition from free-fall nuclear bombing toward standoff missile attack. Its retirement reflected advances in guidance, propulsion, compactness, and bomber integration. Content should emphasize historical context and avoid presenting it as a current ballistic missile threat.