Kh-31 missile colors

[Andrew D Jolly Rogers guy]

Been poring over photos of Kh-31 missiles trying to figure out how to paint one, and I'm finding a confusing mess.  Seems like every single image has a completely different color combination, including various degrees of bare metal/materials.  Worse, I don't even know if I'm looking at testing examples versus active combat-capable examples. 

 

What would y'all suggest for painting one of these, circa 1990's or early 2000's?

[Shorty84]

Hi,

 

in-service Kh-31 missiles are finished in NMF. Painted ones are usually for display purposes (Airshows, Arms fairs, ...) only.

 

Usually you see various shades of metal (titanium, aluminium, steel, ...), the dielectric tip is finished in a mid to dark grey. The solid fuel booster motor and the covers for the ramjet intakes are finished in light grey (see 2nd and 3rd pic below).

 

Here are a few examples what a Kh-31 missile typically looks like:

 

https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/0*HcTg1TUsm2vSPLFM.jpeg

https://defencesecurityasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EQ9JaiyVUAAcmoY.jpg

https://defencesecurityasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/EQYufYrU0AEyk5V.jpg

 

Cheers

Markus

 

[Andrew D Jolly Rogers guy]

Thank you!  Saw one of those but couldn't tell it from the airshow examples.  Thanks again!  

[Pappy]

The missile in the bottom pic has 'TRAINING' painted on the side

 

cheers,

 

Pappy

[Shorty84]

1 hour ago, Pappy said:

The missile in the bottom pic has 'TRAINING' painted on the side

That's right but outwardly it is fully representative of a 'live' missile. Considering the booster motor is attached the only difference might be a missing warhead.

 

Cheers

Markus