kalibr sea launched cruise missiles

In-depth Analysis of 3M Series Kalibr Cruise Missiles

From the russian inventory, an in-depth analysis of 3m series kalibr cruise missiles reveals their remarkable characteristics as advanced, long-range, precision-strike weapons primarily designed for launch from naval platforms, including submarines, surface ships, and coastal defence systems. these missiles have garnered significant attention and acclaim due to their exceptional versatility, unwavering accuracy, and their extensive capability to engage a wide range of targets. operating under the nato reporting names ss-n-27 sizzler and ss-n-30a, this family of russian cruise missiles has been ingeniously developed by the prestigious npo novator design bureau..

Among the well-known variants, the 3M-14 Kalibr-K stands out as it is predominantly utilized by submarines and boasts an estimated range of 2,500 kilometres ( 1,553 miles ). This impressive range empowers the Russian Navy to effectively strike targets located deep inland throughout Central/Western Europe. This family of cruise missiles, similar to the American Tomahawk, first came into service in 1994. The range of subsonic versions is larger than that of supersonic ones. Additionally, some versions incorporate a second propulsion stage that initiates a supersonic sprint in the terminal approach to the target, thereby reducing the time available for the target’s defence systems to react.

The missile possesses the capability to carry either a thermonuclear warhead or an explosive payload weighing up to 500 kilograms ( 1,100 lb ). These missiles are frequently launched in salvos, which involve firing multiple missiles simultaneously. This strategic approach allows for coordinated attacks, significantly increases the likelihood of target destruction, and poses challenges to enemy defences. The 3M series Kalibr missiles employ a combination of guidance systems to ensure accurate targeting. They utilize inertial navigation systems, satellite guidance, and mid-course updates to adjust their trajectory and reach the intended target. Some variants may also incorporate terminal active radar homing or electro-optical seekers to enhance precision during the final stages of flight.

The Concept Behind the Development of the 3M Series Kalibr Cruise Missiles:

The development of the 3M series Kalibr cruise missiles began in the late 1990s by the Novator Design Bureau, with the goal of creating versatile and effective naval cruise missiles for the Russian military. These missiles incorporated advanced technologies, such as reduced radar cross-section and low observable characteristics, enhancing their ability to evade enemy defences. Russia plans to deploy KALIBR capability on newly designed submarines, corvettes, frigates, and larger surface ships, providing even modest platforms with significant offensive capability.

With the land attack missile , these platforms can engage distant fixed-ground targets using conventional warheads. Extensive testing and evaluation were conducted to verify the performance and reliability of the 3M series Kalibr cruise missiles, including land-based and sea-based tests to assess flight characteristics, range, accuracy, and effectiveness against various targets.

Over time, the development efforts resulted in the production of different variants of the 3M series Kalibr cruise missiles, each optimized for specific launch platforms and mission requirements. These variants included versions for submarines, surface ships, coastal defence systems , and even air-launched variants for deployment on Russian strategic bombers .

An In-Depth Analysis of the Kalibr Cruise Missile Design:

The Kalibr cruise missile design is a state-of-the-art sophisticated system of the latest generation that incorporates various technological advancements to achieve its capabilities.

Airframe and Propulsion: The Kalibr cruise missile features a streamlined airframe designed to minimize drag and increase aerodynamic efficiency. The sleek cylindrical shape reduces radar cross-section . The airframe is typically constructed using composite materials to ensure strength while keeping the overall weight low. The missile is propelled by a multi-stage solid-fuel rocket motor for the 91RE1/RTE2 versions, which provides high thrust and acceleration, and a turbojet engine for the 3M-54/E/TE/E1/TE1, 3M-14/E/TE versions. The propulsion system allows the missile to achieve the required speeds for efficient cruising and manoeuvring during flight.

Guidance and Navigation: The Kalibr cruise missile utilizes an advanced guidance and navigation system to ensure precise targeting. Some variants may incorporate terminal guidance capabilities, such as active radar homing or electro-optical seekers, to enhance accuracy during the final stage of the mission. When approaching the intended target, both the Russian domestic variant ( 3M54T / 3M54K ) and export variants ( 3M54TE / 3M54KE ) are capable of achieving supersonic speeds ( Mach 3.0 ) while maintaining sub-sonic speeds. These missiles also possess exceptional manoeuvrability, executing high-angled defensive manoeuvres that deviate from the typical linear flight path observed in other anti-ship cruise missiles .

To autonomously navigate during flight, the missile relies on an inertial navigation system (INS). This INS employs gyroscopes and accelerometers to accurately measure changes in velocity and direction. Additionally, the missile incorporates terminal active radar homing. Furthermore, satellite-based navigation systems like GLONASS, the Russian global navigation satellite system, are employed for precise positioning and mid-course phase updates. The incredible terminal speed of these missiles poses a significant challenge for modern defence systems attempting to repel them, and their remarkable precision renders them highly lethal against mobile targets such as destroyers.

Versions and Launch Platforms: The missile comprises five modular versions: two for anti-shipping purposes, one for land attack, and two for anti-submarine operations. The design of the missile allows for shared components between surface-launched and submarine-launched variants, although each missile possesses distinct elements, such as the booster. When launched from a surface ship, the missile can utilize a vertical launching system (VLS) and is equipped with a booster featuring thrust vectoring capability. Conversely, when launched from a submarine’s torpedo tube, the missile does not require such an addition but instead employs a conventional booster. As for the air-launched version , it is enclosed within a container that is subsequently released as the missile launches, effectively separating from the container.

The ‘Club-K’ is a Russian container complex of missile weapons that are housed in standard 20- and 40-foot sea containers . This system is specifically designed to engage surface and ground targets effectively. The versatile nature of the complex allows it to be installed on shorelines, vessels of various classes, rail platforms, and trucks. It is essentially a modified version of the Kalibr missile system. In 2010, a variant of the Club-K was introduced, which features a clever disguise as a shipping container.

This containerized variant can be easily placed on trucks, trains, or merchant vessels. The Club-K in a shipping container form was publicly showcased for the first time at the MAKS 2011 air show. By incorporating the launcher system within a standard shipping container, the missiles can be transported and stored discreetly without raising suspicion. This covert capability poses significant challenges for pre-emptive strikes against the launcher, as its true nature and intent remain well-concealed.

Naval application: The Kalibr missiles are launched from various Russian submarines, including the Kilo class, Lada class, Amur class, Akula class, Yasen class, and Borei class. Additionally, low displacement platforms equipped with the Kalibr system include the Russian Gremyashchy class, Buyan-M class, the second batch of Steregushchy class corvettes, and the Karakurt class. Russian frigates of the Gepard, Admiral Gorshkov, and Admiral Grigorovich classes are also capable of carrying these missiles. Furthermore, the Indian Talwar class frigate serves as another ship-borne launch platform for the Club missile system. There are indications that a variant for air launch may be developed to arm the Tu-142s , which are currently deployed by the Russian Navy.

Range and Performance: The range of the 3M series Kalibr cruise missiles varies depending on the specific variant and launch platform. The widely recognized variant, known as the 3M-14/3M-14T, boasts an estimated range of approximately 1,500 to 2,500 kilometres ( 932 to 1,553 miles ). This particular variant finds primary use on surface ships and submarines. On the other hand, the 3M-54 Kalibr and 3M-54E Kalibr variants also referred to as Klub, possess a range of around 220 to 300 kilometres ( 137 to 186 miles ) and are typically deployed for land-attack missions.

According to a state television news broadcast on 11th October 2015, the production of the Kalibr-PL missile, a submarine-specific derivative of the 3M14TE Kalibr-NK, commenced in 2012. This version boasts specifications including a top speed of Mach 3, a range of 4,000 kilometres, and the ability to operate in various environments: air, land, water, and underwater. The missile has a minimum operating height above the terrain of 10 meters, with an average height ranging from 20 to 50 meters ( up to 1000 m ).

It features automatic terrain following and in-flight controllability, allowing it to perform 147 or more manoeuvres in any direction. The design bureau has enhanced the targeting system of the Kalibr cruise missile, enabling it to execute time-sensitive attacks over extended distances from both ships and submarines.

Warhead placement: The 3M series Kalibr missiles are equipped with various types of warheads depending on their intended targets. Anti-ship variants, like the 3M-54E, commonly utilize a high-explosive fragmentation warhead specifically designed to cause substantial damage to surface ships. Land-attack variants, such as the 3M-14, utilize a conventional warhead with an estimated weight of approximately 450 kilograms (992 pounds). Moreover, the 3M-14/3M-14T versions can be equipped with either a thermonuclear or conventional warhead in domestic land-attack variants.

Testing and Evaluation: Since its inception in 1994, the Kalibr cruise missile has undergone extensive testing and evaluation during the development and production phases. The testing process encompasses ground-based trials, flight tests, and live-fire exercises to validate its performance, reliability, and accuracy. The missile’s flight characteristics, range, accuracy, and lethality are assessed under various operational conditions and scenarios. Notably, during the Russian military intervention in the Syrian civil war, the Kalibr missile was utilized to neutralize key targets, providing an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate its overall performance and missile characteristics.

Variant Configurations: Exploring the Different Versions of the 3M Series Kalibr Cruise Missiles

The 3M series Kalibr cruise missiles have various variant configurations that cater to different launch platforms and mission requirements. Let’s explore the different versions of the 3M series Kalibr cruise missiles in more detail:

Russian variants _

• 3M54K: The 3M54K is a submarine-launched anti-shipping variant designed specifically for deployment by the Russian Navy. It is widely known and extensively used. The missile has a length of 8.22 meters ( 27.0 feet ) and is equipped with a 200 kg (440 lb) warhead. Its estimated range is between 550 and 660 kilometres ( 340-410 miles ). The 3M54K is a sea-skimmer missile that maintains a final stage flight altitude of 4.6 meters ( 15 feet ) and achieves a supersonic terminal speed of Mach 2.9 ( 3,550 km/h; 2,210 mph ).
• 3M54T: The 3M54T is an anti-shipping variant deployed by the Russian Navy on surface ships. It is launched using a Vertical Launch System (VLS) and features a thrust vectoring booster. The missile measures 8.9 meters (29 feet) in length. It shares the same warhead weight and performance characteristics as the 3M-54K variant.
• 3M14K (SS-N-30A): The 3M14K is an inertial guidance land attack variant deployed by the Russian Navy. This submarine-launched weapon has a base length of 6.2 meters (20 feet) and is equipped with a 450-kilogram (990-pound) warhead. With a range of 2,500 kilometres (1,600 miles), it enables the Russian Navy to target locations throughout Central/Western Europe from beyond the GIUK gap. The missile achieves a subsonic terminal speed of Mach 0.8.
• 3M14T: The 3M14T is the inertial guidance land attack variant deployed by the Russian Navy. It is a surface ship-launched missile with a vertical launching system (VLS) and a thrust vectoring booster. The missile has a basic length of 8.9 meters (29 feet), and its warhead weight and other performance characteristics are identical to those of the 3M14K.
• Kalibr-M: The Kalibr-M is a new version of the Kalibr missile system that features a larger warhead and an extended range of up to 4,500 kilometres (2,796 miles). Currently, the ship-launched, submarine-launched, air-launched, and land-launched versions of the Kalibr-M are under development.

Export Variants: The export models are designated under the Club category.

• 3M-54E: is the submarine-launched anti-shipping variant. It has a basic length of 8.2 m (27 ft) and is equipped with a 200 kg warhead. The range of this variant is 300 km. It operates as a sea skimmer, reaching a supersonic terminal speed of Mach 3.0 and maintaining a flight altitude of 4.6 meters (15 ft) during its final stage.
• 3M-54E1: is a submarine-launched anti-shipping variant. It has a basic length of 6.2 m (20 ft) and is equipped with a 200 kg (440 lb) warhead. The range of this variant is 300 km (190 mi). It operates as a sea skimmer, with a subsonic terminal speed of Mach 0.8.
• 3M-14E: is an inertially guided land attack variant launched from a submarine. It has a basic length of 6.2 m (20 ft) and is equipped with a 450 kg (990 lb) warhead. The range of this variant is 300 km (190 mi). It operates at a subsonic terminal speed of Mach 0.8.
• 3M-54TE: is a surface vessel-launched anti-shipping variant equipped with VLS (Vertical Launch System) and a thrust vectoring booster. Its basic length is 8.9 m. It shares the same warhead weight and performance characteristics as the 3M-54E variant. However, its range is shorter compared to the 3M-54. It operates as a sea skimmer with a supersonic terminal speed and a flight altitude of 15 feet (4.6 m) during its final stage. At that stage, it achieves a speed of Mach 3 and has a range of 220 km (140 mi) at supersonic speed.
• 3M-54TE1: is a surface ship-launched anti-shipping variant equipped with VLS (Vertical Launch System) and a thrust vectoring booster. It has a basic length of 8.9 m (29 ft), and its warhead weight and other performance characteristics are identical to the 3M-54E1 variant. It operates as a sea skimmer with a subsonic terminal speed of 0.8 Mach.
• 3M-14TE: is an inertially guided land attack variant. It is launched from a surface ship with VLS (Vertical Launch System) and features a thrust vectoring booster. The basic length of the missile is 8.9 m (29 ft), and its warhead weight and other performance characteristics are identical to the 3M-14E variant. The missile operates at a subsonic terminal speed of 3.0 Mach, with a range of 300 km (190 mi) at supersonic speed.

The land-based anti-ship variant 3M-54E2 and the land-attack variant 3M-14E1 are part of a self-propelled missile system designed for coastal defence. Both missile variants in the system arsenal have a weight of 1,700 kg and are equipped with a 450 kg warhead. They are capable of achieving a flight speed of 240 m/s. According to the manufacturer, NPO Mash, when operating in land-attack mode, the system has a Circular Error Probable ( CEP ) of 50 m in the export version.

Club-A _ ( It is intended to be launched from bombers such as Tu-22M3 , Tu-160 , and Tu-95 )

• The 3M-54AE is an air-launched anti-ship derivative of the missile. It consists of two phases and achieves supersonic speed at the end. The missile weighs 1950 kilograms and is equipped with a 200-kilogram warhead. It has a range of 300 kilometres.
• The 3M-14AE is an air-launched land attack variant specifically designed for aerial operations. It operates at a subsonic speed and utilizes INS+satellite guidance for precise targeting. The missile has a length of 6.2 meters and weighs 1400 kilograms. It is equipped with a 450-kilogram warhead and has a range of 300 kilometres.

These variant configurations of the 3M series Kalibr cruise missiles offer adaptability and versatility for various launch platforms and mission scenarios. They provide Russia with the capability to engage a wide range of targets, including both land-based and surface targets, from submarines, surface ships, and potentially strategic bombers. It is worth noting that the Kalibr missile family may include additional versions or upgraded configurations that have been developed or may be developed in the future. These variants reflect the continuous efforts of the Russian military to enhance its cruise missile capabilities and maintain a credible strategic deterrent.

Operational Triumphs of the Kalibr Cruise Missile:

Combat Operations in Syria: The Kalibr cruise missile made its combat debut during the Russian military intervention in Syria from 2015 until 2018. Russian naval vessels, including submarines and surface ships in the Caspian and Mediterranean Seas, launched Kalibr missiles against targets in Syria. The missiles were used to strike various targets, including terrorist infrastructure, command centres, ammunition depots, and militant positions. The Kalibr cruise missiles showcased their precision and long-range capabilities, enabling Russia to effectively strike targets in Syria from significant distances.

Combat Operations in Ukraine: February 2022 – Present (June 2023): Kalibr cruise missiles have been extensively utilized by Russian forces since the commencement of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24th February 2022. The initial offensive reportedly involved a minimum of 30 cruise missiles, which targeted command and control centres, air bases, and air defence batteries. The missiles were likely launched from the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s corvettes, frigates, and Kilo-class submarines. It is estimated that this resulted in the destruction of approximately 80% of Ukraine’s energy sector as of 2023.

Technical Specifications Of The Kalibr Cruise Missile :

• Weight :  the Kalibr cruise missile varies across different variants, ranging from 1,300 kg to 1,780 kg to 2,300 kg
• Length :  Varies on the variant, from 6.2 m to 8.9 m
• Diameter :  21 inches
• Wingspan:  8 ft ( 2.43 m )
• Warhead :  high explosive (HE) or thermonuclear warhead weighing between 400–500 kg
• Detonation :  Various impact fuze options
• Engine :  Missile utilizes a multi-stage solid-fuel rocket booster to achieve the required altitude and speed. Afterwards, a turbojet engine is initiated for variants such as 3M-54/E/TE/E1/TE1 and 3M-14/E/TE. However, the 91RE1/RTE2 versions rely solely on solid-fuel rockets for propulsion
• Range :  91RE1: 50 km, 3M-54/3M-54T: 660 km (domestic anti-ship version , estimate) 3M-14/3M-14T: 1,500–2,500 km (domestic land-attack version, estimate) 3M-54E (export anti-ship version): 220 km 3M-54E1/3M-14E (export anti-ship version): 300 km Kalibr-M (under development): 4,500 km
• Flight altitude:   50–150 meter AGL(above ground level) And 20 meter over water
• Flight ceiling: max 1,000 meters AGL
• Speed :  Varies on the variant, from 0.8–2.5–3.0 Mach
• Guidance system :  Inertial guidance plus terminal active radar homing, by GPS
• Launch Platform:  naval ships, submarines, containers, bombers & TEL( transporter erector launcher)

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In conclusion, the Kalibr cruise missile is a highly advanced weapon system that has demonstrated remarkable operational success. It incorporates cutting-edge features such as a streamlined airframe, efficient propulsion, advanced guidance systems, and versatile warhead options. The missile can be launched from submarines, surface ships, and potentially strategic bombers, offering operational flexibility in diverse mission scenarios. In addition to Russia, countries such as Algeria, Vietnam, China, Iran, and India also operate this system.

During combat operations in Syria, the Kalibr cruise missile showcased its precision, long-range capabilities, and effectiveness against various targets. Its extended range and stealthy characteristics enhance its ability to engage targets discreetly. With reduced collateral damage, the missile serves as a formidable tool for power projection, deterrence, and precise strikes. The Kalibr cruise missile has become a critical asset in Russia’s naval strike capabilities, underscoring the ongoing advancements in missile technology for modern warfare.

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What to know about the long-range cruise missile Russia says it fired

Russian naval forces launched long-range cruise missiles on Tuesday evening from the waters off Sevastopol, a port city in Russia-held Crimea, according to expert analysis of video verified by The Washington Post.

Russia said the 3M-14 Kalibr cruise missile attack destroyed a major Ukrainian arsenal.

Understanding the weapons that have drawn the world’s attention since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

A v ideo filmed by a witness from the Sevastopol waterfront on Tuesday shows at least four projectiles being fired from the water. Geolocation of the video by The Post shows the missiles appear to be traveling northwest, away from the city. As the narrator recites the date and location, the camera pans to show his surroundings.

“We thought it was a plane flying,” the narrator says. “It’s normal that planes fly here. But shooting is something serious.”

Additional video filmed around the same time shows eight flares with long tails that appear to be airborne missiles flying over the Black Sea. Both videos were verified by The Post.

Footage shared by the Russian defense ministry on social media shows large fireballs emanating from a warship where the ministry said Russian forces had fired Kalibr cruise missiles toward military assets in Orzhev, a village outside of the city of Rivne. Rivne is located more than 200 miles west of Kyiv and would be within the range a 3M-14 Kalibr missile could travel if it was fired from Sevastopol.

The tightly cropped video first shows multiple large explosions in succession above a ship, while someone off camera counts, “First, second, third, fourth.” The video then cuts to a wider view of a sunset where the long tails of the eight missiles are visible. The Post was not able to verify the location of this launch.

What you need to know about hypersonic missiles, which Biden says Russia used against Ukraine

Video reportedly of a Russian Project 21631 Buyan-M small missile ship launching 8 Kalibr-NK cruise missiles from near Sevastopol. https://t.co/GcWqUpoXLh pic.twitter.com/VvU3l5yYCK — Rob Lee (@RALee85) March 22, 2022

“As a result of the strike, a large depot of weapons and military equipment of the Ukrainian troops, including those received from Western countries, was destroyed,” a statement on the ministry’s Telegram channel said.

U.S. officials said they could not confirm that the weapons had been used. Ukrainian authorities have not confirmed the deployment of the missiles or the destruction of an arsenal near Rivne.

The Post could not independently verify Russia’s claim that a weapons depot had been destroyed.

Ian Williams, deputy director of the missile defense project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he was nearly positive the videos showed the launch of 3M-14 Kalibr cruise missiles.

“These are Russia’s long-range naval sea-based cruise missiles, similar to the U.S. Tomahawk,” he told The Post in an email. “They use satellite navigation along with some onboard inertial guidance.”

“This was almost certainly launched by the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” Mark Cancian, senior adviser for the international security program at CSIS, said in an email. Kalibr missiles are “at the high end of Russian capabilities,” he added. “Russia uses them to attack the highest priority targets. They seem to be doing more of that in western Ukraine. It may be part of an effort to attack strategic targets, that is, targets that matter in the long war.”

The 3M-14 or SS-N-30A cruise missile , commonly referred to as the Kalibr missile, can be fired from ships or submarines toward land targets. It can travel a maximum range of about 1,550 miles, according to the CSIS Missile Defense Project.

The missiles, designed to penetrate the air defenses of stationary ground targets, fly autonomously and largely horizontally at low altitude, along preprogrammed waypoints. Their route can be updated midcourse via satellite communication. Cruise missiles can be highly accurate compared to ballistic missiles.

The standard 3M14T land-attack missile reportedly contains a nearly 1,000-pound high explosive warhead. It is often used to attack storage facilities, command posts, seaports and airports.

Russia stuck barracks in the southern port city of Mykolaiv with a Kalibr missile earlier this month, the New York Times reported , killing at least eight Ukrainian soldiers who had been sleeping there. The region’s governor said at least 19 others were wounded.

A Pentagon official said at a background briefing Wednesday that the United States still assessed that Russia has “the vast majority” of its inventory of surface-to-air missiles and cruise missiles.

Russia first used the SS-N-30A Kalibr missile in Syria in October 2015, when it launched 26 missiles from Russian naval vessels in the Caspian Sea, at forces fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.

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Russian Navy to upgrade vessels with Kalibr cruise missiles

MOSCOW — Russia plans to equip several Navy vessels using Kalibr missiles, a weapon with which one naval policy expert predicts the country will more widely arm its fleet.

Russia recently attacked Ukraine using Kalibr cruise missiles, among other projectiles.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced Tuesday the future Lada-class submarine Kronstadt, which is under construction, will be able to fire Kalibr cruise missiles . That same day, state-run news agency Tass reported the corvette Steregushchiy will receive a new Kalibr-NK missile system during modernization work at the Kronstadt Marine Plant.

And Mikhail Budnichenko, CEO of the shipyard Sevmash, said earlier this month the nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will be armed with Kalibr-NK missiles, following repairs and modernization work.

Submarine construction

The keel laying of the diesel-electric submarine Kronstadt took place in 2005, but construction was suspended. It resumed in 2013 and is ongoing, after which the boat will join the Northern Fleet .

The transfer to the fleet was planned in 2019, but was postponed several times due to noncompliance with Defence Ministry requirements. The fleet will likely take delivery of the boat this year, according to the Russian naval policy expert, who spoke to Defense News on the condition of anonymity for security reasons.

The submarine is expected to have a launcher that can hold 10 Кalibr missiles.

“Thanks to the Kalibr missiles, submarines will be able to hit not only land and sea targets, but also submarines,” the expert said.

Defense industry experts in 2017 estimated the cost of the Lada-class sub at $350 million, but increased the approximation to $700 million in 2018.

Corvette update

The corvette Steregushchiy was produced under the shipbuilding program dubbed Project 20380. It and the other ships made under that effort were equipped with the Uran anti-ship missile system, which consists of two four-container, inclined launchers with an ammunition set of eight Kh-35U missiles.

Now the lead ship of its class, the Steregushchiy — constructed 17 years ago — is undergoing a midlife update, during which it will receive a universal shipborne firing complex 3S14. That technology will allow the vessel to launch Kalibr missiles and, eventually, hypersonic Zircon missiles.

“The next ships of this class will also receive Kalibr missiles in the course of their modernization,” the naval expert said.

In an interview with a corporate newspaper, the CEO of the Kronstadt Marine Plant, Anatoly Beloev, said modernization of the Project 20380 corvette will not begin until the end of the spring or the beginning of the summer. By that time the plant is required to hand over a large landing ship to the Defence Ministry, which would make room for new projects. The timeline for the modernization work is not yet determined, Beloev said.

Per annual reports from the shipyard Severnaya Verf, which makes corvettes, it appears the cost of such as vessel in 2016 was 17-29 billion roubles (U.S. $224-382 million).

Warship work

The nuclear missile battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov has undergone repairs and modernization since 2013. More than 150 enterprises have participated in the effort.

Last year, the installation of systems and equipment took place. The cruiser is currently at the outfitting quay, and it will begin trials in the spring of 2023, Budnichenko told a corporate magazine.

Delivery to the Navy was postponed several times, and the service is now expected to receive the ships in 2024.

As part of the modernization effort, the ship will carry 10 3S14 launchers, with eight Kalibr-NK cruise missiles in each, instead of 20 heavy supersonic Granit missiles.

In total, there will be 80 attack missiles on the vessel — a record number for the Russian surface fleet, according to the naval expert.

The Kalibr missile family is made up of several variants, including long–range cruise missiles and anti-submarine torpedoes. Russia decided as far back as the 1990s to equip naval platforms with the weapon.

Almost all newly built and most upgraded units receive this system, the naval expert said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Maxim Starchak is a Russia correspondent for Defense News. He previously worked as an editor for the Russian Defence Ministry and as an expert for the NATO Information Office in Moscow. He has covered Russian nuclear and defense issues for the Atlantic Council, the Center for European Policy Analysis, the Royal United Services Institute and more.

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• Missiles of the World

3M-54 Kalibr/Club (SS-N-27)

The 3M-54 Kalibr/Klub (SS-N-27 “Sizzler”) is a Russian short-range ship-, and submarine-launched anti-ship missile. The Sizzler is part of the Kalibr family of missiles and has several export versions known as the ‘Klub’ missile series.

3M-54 Kalibr/Club (SS-N-27 “Sizzler”) at a Glance

SS-N-27 Development

Ss-n-27 specifications, ss-n-27 service history.

• James O’Halloran, IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, 2015, (United Kingdom: IHS), 174.
• “3M-54/Caliber SS-N-27 Sizzler”, 2016, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/club.htm.
• Jane’s Strategic, 174.
• Office of Naval Intelligence, “The Russian Navy: A Historic Transition”, December 2015, https://news.usni.org/2015/12/18/document-office-of-naval-intelligence-report-on-russian-navy.
• Commodore Stephen Saunders RN, IHS Jane’s Fighting Ships: 2016-2017, (United Kingdom: IHS), pp. 677-707.
• Nikolai Novichkov and Peter Felstead, “Russian Project 971 Submarines to be Armed with Kalibr Missiles”, IHS Jane’s Defense Weekly, 24 Marc 2016, http://www.janes.com/article/59030/russian-project-971-submarines-to-be-armed-with-kalibr-missiles/

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• 3M-14 Kalibr (SS-N-30A)

Russia’s Kalibr cruise missiles are believed to be the land-attack version the Klub family cruise missiles, yet, not much is currently known about these variations. The 3M-14T Kalibr-NK is a land-attack cruise missile carried by Russia’s surface vessels. Reports put its max range at 1,500 – 2,500 km. In October and November 2015, Russia launched a salvo of Kalibr missiles from the Caspian Sea at ISIS targets inside Syria. The Kalibr-NK cruise missiles were launched from a Russian Gepard-class frigate and Buyan-M-class corvettes and travelled 1,500 km to reach their targets. It has been reported it is capable of carrying a 450 kg conventional or (reported) nuclear warhead.

The missile is believed to fly 64 ft above the sea and 164 ft above the ground at speeds up to 965 km/hour. It is believed to be guided, using GPS and terminal-phase active radar seekers to achieve a reported three m CEP. The 3M-14K Kalibr-PL is similar to the 3M-14T except that is launched from a submarine. This variant was reported to have been launched from an improved Kilo-class submarine in the Mediterranean to strike targets inside Syria in December 2015. Russia plans to equip most of its submarines and surface ships with the respective versions of the Klub anti-ship and Kalibr land-attack cruise missiles. This will include ships in Russia’s Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Northern, and Pacific Fleets. Novator Design Bureau, the designers of the Klub launch system, have developed a shipping container version of the launcher, capable of holding up to four missiles. This shipping container version allows the cruise missile to be forward deployed on ships, trucks, and trains without detection.

Strategic Implications

The Russian plan to equip its submarines and surface ships with the Kalibr cruise missile poses a serious threat to the U.S. ability to project force across the globe. The Russian ships that carried out the 2015 strike all had a displacement around or under 1,000 tons.  The 26 Kalibr missiles reportedly traveled 1,800 km, a significant distance for missiles launched from such small vessels. The small size of the Russian ships that carried out the strike offers them unique strategic opportunities, not to mention the fact that these naval vessels are relatively inexpensive. Despite significant Russian ground assets in Syria capable of carrying out such a strike, Russia elected to demonstrate its improvement with a longer-range sea-based launch. According to a U.S. official, this was done intentionally to display these enhanced capabilities. Beyond the immediate ramifications of the Russian strike on Syria with Kalibr cruise missiles, the strike showed that Russia has potentially strengthened its A2/AD capabilities to further limit US military operations in contested regions, which, in turn, will allow Russia to continue conducting hybrid warfare tactics and to punch above its own weight militarily.

Cavas, Christopher P. “Is Caspian Sea Fleet a Game-Changer.” Defense News . October 11, 2015. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/ships/2015/10/11/caspian-sea-russia-navy-missiles-attack-strike-military-naval-syria-frigate-corvette-lcs-littoral-combat-ship/73671188/

Lewis, Jeffrey. “Sokov on Russian Cruise Missiles.”  Arms Control Wonk . August 25, 2015. http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/207801/sokov-on-russian-cruise-missiles/.

Akulov, Andrei. “Kalibr: Russia’s Naval System Upping Cruise Missile Game.”  Strategic Culture Foundation.  May 24, 2016. http://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2016/05/24/kalibr-russia-naval-system-upping-cruise-missile-game.html.

Johnson, Richard. “How Russia fired missiles at Syria from 1,000 miles away.”  The Washington Post . October 23, 2015. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/russian-cruise-missile/.

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3M-54 Kalibr: Is Russia’s Most Advanced Cruise Missile Being Wasted in Ukraine?

The current war between Russia and Ukraine has seen a wide variety of sophistication in the weaponry on both sides. Although the Russians seem to have enjoyed the most success where they concentrate great numbers of such relatively simple but deadly weapons as tanks and artillery, they have also made considerable use of the most technologically advanced items in their arsenal.

These are the 3M-54 Kalibr cruise missile and its various derivatives.   

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History of the Kalibr

The 3M-54 Kalibr was developed by the Novator Design Bureau in 1994 as a counter to the American Tomahawk cruise missile and has been under production in various forms ever since. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization codenames it the SS-N-27 Sizzler.

Kalibrs launched from warships in the Mediterranean Sea were extensively used during the Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War between October 2015 and December 2018.

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The kalibr’s stats.

With a length of 8.9 meters (29 feet) and a diameter of 5.33 meters (17.5 feet), the basic Kalibr is a multistage, solid-fuel turbojet with a modular propulsion system to accommodate five versions: two anti-ship, two anti-submarine and one for land targets. Depending on size, performance and launching platform, the other variants go under such designations as 3M14 Biryuza (“turquoise”), 3M-14T Kalibr-NK and 3M-14K Kalibr-PL. More advanced versions are still under development, to improve “combat efficiency.”   

Existing variants are capable of being fired from warships as small as a corvette, from submarines and from land vehicles. All use vertical launch systems. They reach their targets through a combination of inertial guidance plus terminal active radar homing, although more current variants have been modified to use satellite signals using a DSMAC (digital scene matching area correlator).

Range varies from 220 to 2,500 kilometers (140 to 1,550 miles), depending on whether the second propulsion stage is driving the warhead at a supersonic sprint or cruising along at subsonic speed for greater range.

The missile can carry from 400 to 500 kilograms (880 to 1,100 pounds) of high explosive or a nuclear warhead at Mach 0.8, 2.5 or 3.

The Kalibr in UKraine

After Syria, the next major usage of the Kalibr came on Feb. 24, 2022, when some 30 missiles helped herald the “special operation” in Ukraine. Above the cacophony of guns, the cruise missiles turn up from time to time in incidents that make the international news.  

Between June 25 and 26, 60 to 80 missiles were launched, of which 30 were aimed at Zhytomir, 10 of which were shot down short of their targets by Ukrainian defenses. On July 14, three Kalibrs hit the city center of Vinnytsia, killing about 20 people — three of them children. Ukraine reported that its defenses shot down two more of the missiles. On July 23, Maria Zakharova of the Russian Telegram reported that “Kalibr missiles destroyed military infrastructure in the port of Odesa, with a high-precision strike.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy quickly denied that the Russian strikes had involved any tactical precision. 

The Russian military pays a price for the Kalibr’s capabilities, since each missile costs an average of $6.5 million each. Up for debate amid a war that has entered its sixth month is whether Russia’s most advanced missile is indeed being guided to vital military targets or simply joining the general barrage of roughly aimed ordnance, wasting its primary asset. Each side has its own appraisal, but the truth will ultimately be revealed over the battlefield.  

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Report: Russia Designing Cruise Missiles with 3,000-Mile Range

The missiles will support both conventional and nuclear warheads.

Russia is modifying an existing cruise missile design to extend its range to 4,500 kilometers, or approximately 3,000 miles. The new missile, Kalibr-M, could be launched against targets deep within the United States from extended distances. Coupled with the low flying altitude of cruise missiles in general, Kalibr-M would be difficult to defend against.

According to Russian state news outlet TASS , Kalibr-M is “at the stage of scientific research and financed by the Ministry of Defense.” The new cruise missile is designed to go after targets on land as a very long-distance precision strike weapon with both high-explosive or nuclear warhead capability. TASS claims the weapon will go into service with the Russian Navy, equipping frigates and later submarines.

Kalibr is roughly similar to the American Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile. Powered by a turbojet engine, it flies at low altitude, hugging the ground to avoid radar detection while flying at subsonic speed. Current Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles used by Russian surface ships and submarines have a range of 932 miles to 1,500 miles and have been used to strike alleged terrorist targets in Syria from the Mediterranean and landlocked Caspian Sea . Here's some video from Russian-state government-funded RT:

Why does Russia need a nuclear-tipped cruise missile with a 3,000-mile range? Russia is building up nuclear forces, including the Poseidon nuclear-tipped torpedo, Avangard hypersonic weapon system, and Sarmat ICBM, that can overwhelm or fly under U.S. ballistic missile defenses. A nuclear-tipped cruise missile can also fly under existing U.S. defenses. The missile’s long range gives Russian planners the ability to launch against coastal targets from as far away as the North Sea, a relatively short journey from Russian naval bases north of the Arctic Circle. Alternately, a submarine that risks approaching closer to the U.S. coast can strike targets farther inland.

According to TASS’ source , the new missile "will be much larger, the weight of its warhead will approach 1 tonne." Although Russia often launders propaganda through state media sources like TASS, none of this is technically impossible. Turbojet engines use aviation fuel and their range can be extended simply by increasing the size of the fuel tank.

The fielding of a really, really long-range nuclear cruise missile also could be a sign that Russia’s new strategic bomber, PAK-DA , is in trouble. PAK-DA has been promised for years and is allegedly in the design stages but has so far proven vaporware. That may be just as well, as the state of modern air defenses means the new bomber would probably just be used as a standoff cruise missile carrier. If long-range cruise missiles do most of the penetration work, it seems hardly worth it to build an entirely new stealth bomber just to carry them. With the new Kalibr-M, Russia’s Yasen -class guided missile submarines could instead fulfill the same role.

Source: TASS

Kyle Mizokami is a writer on defense and security issues and has been at Popular Mechanics since 2015. If it involves explosions or projectiles, he's generally in favor of it. Kyle’s articles have appeared at The Daily Beast, U.S. Naval Institute News, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, Combat Aircraft Monthly, VICE News , and others. He lives in San Francisco.

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Russia Shoots Kalibr Missiles From Under Water To Obliterate Enemies | Putin Navy's Biggest Drills

Posted: 11 September 2024 | Last updated: 11 September 2024

Russian Defence Forces shows its military might during its naval drill, which is the biggest in three decades. The defence ministry released scintillating footage from ‘Ocean-2024’, which is being held simultaneously in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans. The Russian pacific fleet launched a massive joint strike and fired a dozen cruise missiles in a coordinated volley. Watch. #russia #putin #russiandefenceministry #russianpacificfleet #kalibrmissiles #zelensky #unitedstates #nato Russia Shoots Kalibr Missiles From Under Water To Obliterate Enemies | Putin Navy's Biggest Drills

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Ukraine stopped Russian cruise missiles from taking out a cargo ship in the Black Sea as Putin tries to 'weaponize food,' UK says

• Russian forces fired two Kalibr cruise missiles at a cargo ship in the Black Sea last month. 
• But Ukraine's air defenses successfully shot down the missiles, the UK revealed on Monday.
• The brazen attack comes after Moscow stepped up threats against civilian vessels in the region. 

Ukraine thwarted a Russian missile attack on a cargo ship in the Black Sea last month, the UK government revealed on Monday, citing new intelligence. 

The attempted strike, though ultimately foiled, marked perhaps the most serious attack on a civilian vessel since Russia withdrew from the crucial Black Sea grain deal several weeks earlier and began ramping up threats against ships transiting the region, recklessly warning that they would be considered potential carriers of military cargo.  

Britain's foreign office said in a statement that on August 24, a missile carrier belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet fired two Kalibr cruise missiles at a Liberian-flagged cargo ship that was moored at a port in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, but they were "successfully shot down" by Kyiv's air-defense systems. 

"Thanks to declassified intelligence we know the Russian military targeted a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles," UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in remarks to lawmakers on Monday, although he did not elaborate on the specifics of the intelligence.

It's unclear what time, exactly, the attack took place, although Ukraine's air force said on August 25 that it destroyed missiles targeting the Odesa region during the previous night.

After Russia killed the grain deal in mid-July, it warned that all vessels transiting the Black Sea would be treated as potential carriers of military cargo, operating on behalf of the Ukrainian government, and would not be offered any safety guarantees.

The announcement immediately raised concerns over the safety of shipping in the region. The White House said in response that it believed Moscow was trying to justify attacks on civilian ships and blame the incidents on Ukraine. 

Moscow appeared to follow through on its threat for the first time several weeks later, when its forces fired warning shots at a Palau-flagged cargo ship and the carried out a helicopter raid of the vessel. Though the Russian defense ministry said its troops searched the vessel for "prohibited goods," it ultimately allowed the ship to keep sailing to a Ukrainian port city.

Ukraine has tried to remedy the threat by establishing a protected shipping corridor to allow for safe transit through dangerous Black Sea waters. But news of the attempt to deliberately attack the Liberian-flagged cargo ship represents a deadly escalation. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin "is trying to win a war he will not win, and these attacks show just how desperate he is," UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in the Monday statement. "In targeting cargo ships and Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia is hurting the rest of the world."

Since Russia withdrew from the grain deal, it has also increasingly targeted Ukrainian cities, ports, and food storage buildings along the Black Sea with relentless missile and drone strikes , killing and injuring scores of civilians. These attacks have also damaged dozens of grain infrastructure facilities and destroyed nearly 300,000 tons of grain, preventing critical supplies from reaching vulnerable countries around the world, according to the UK. 

"Russia has stopped even attempting to justify that these attacks are against legitimate military targets and is cynically targeting civilian infrastructure. President Putin's intentions are clear for all to see.  This is a brutal attempt to choke the Ukrainian economy," Britain's foreign office said on Monday. 

"While the UK and our partners continue to do all we can to ensure Ukraine's exports reach those who need it most, this pattern of deliberately targeted attacks in the Black Sea by Russia demonstrates President Putin's willingness to weaponise food and innocent trade at the expense of the rest of the world as they block food from reaching world markets," it added.

To deter against Russian attacks on civilian ships, the British government said last week that Royal Air Force aircraft are conducting surveillance flights above the Black Sea so they can monitor any potential preparations by Moscow to launch an assault on shipping or infrastructure. 

Watch: Russian strike leaves 17 dead during Blinken's visit to Ukraine

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Should Ukraine Launch Western Weapons Deep Into Russia?

President Biden has refused to allow Ukraine to use long-range Western missiles on Russian military targets, but he appears to be wavering.

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By Lara Jakes

Lara Jakes writes about weapons and military aid for Ukraine and other conflicts.

A deadly uptick of Russian guided glide bombs slamming into Ukrainian cities — as many as 800 in a single week this summer — has injected new urgency into a long-running debate over whether Ukraine should be allowed to launch missiles supplied by the West at military targets deep in Russian territory.

Amid signs that President Biden is wavering, the issue will be on the table when he meets in Washington on Friday with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, after the two leaders dispatched their top diplomats to Kyiv on Wednesday to hear out the latest pleas from Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has for months asked to use Western long-range weapons to attack more of the military sites that Russia uses to launch missiles and house the warplanes that drop the large, free-fall glide bombs that are wreaking havoc on Ukrainian forces and cities.

This past spring, Mr. Biden put specific limits — around 60 miles — on how far Ukraine can fire American-made weapons into Russia, leery of spurring a harsh retaliation from President Vladimir V. Putin.

U.S. officials said Britain and France, which gave Ukraine long-range, air-launched “bunker busters” in 2023, appear to be waiting for Mr. Biden’s endorsement before allowing those European missiles to hit targets far into Russian territory. The officials, like other U.S. officials interviewed for this article, requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue.

Mr. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, warned on Wednesday that Russia was preparing “appropriate countermeasures” should the West extend Ukraine’s authority, RIA Novosti, a Russian state-run news agency, reported.

But earlier presumed provocations that the Biden administration resisted — including sending Western tanks and F-16s to the fight, as well as Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk , a Russian border region — have not prompted a Russian retaliation against NATO.

And Mr. Zelensky is now pushing for the permissions on a near-daily basis.

“Terror can be reliably stopped only in one way: by strikes on Russian military airfields, on their bases, on the logistics of Russian terror,” Mr. Zelensky said on Sunday. “We have to achieve this.”

Mr. Biden is also facing pressure in American foreign policy circles to loosen the restrictions. Senior American military planners no longer advise against doing so, and high-ranking former U.S. diplomats and generals urged him in a letter on Tuesday to “let Ukraine defend itself.”

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ben Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, noted the recent escalation in Russian airstrikes on Wednesday. “The time has come to ease restrictions on Ukrainians’ use of U.S.-provided weapons,” he said.

But another U.S. official cautioned that no imminent change in the restrictions was expected. And, ultimately, the decision rests with Mr. Biden.

“We’re working that out right now,” Mr. Biden told reporters on Tuesday.

Here is how Ukraine could use that broader authority.

“Attack ’ems”

Right now, it appears Mr. Biden is weighing whether to allow Ukraine to fire the American-made surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile Systems — known as ATACMS, or “attack ’ems” — into Russia.

The United States first gave Kyiv the ATACMS, which have a range of about 190 miles, last year. But as of yet, they are not among the limited weapons that the Biden administration is allowing Ukraine to launch into Russia.

In May, Mr. Biden reluctantly agreed to let Ukraine fire some U.S.-supplied weapons, like artillery, into Russia to target military bases that were used to launch attacks on the Ukrainian border, including against the city of Kharkiv. That authority extended about 60 miles.

But U.S. and European military officials now say Russia has since moved 90 percent of the air bases that house its bomber jets out of the range that ATACMS could reach, in anticipation that they will soon be fired over the border.

“A missed chance to attack them, when they were still in range,” said Col. Markus Reisner, who oversees force development at Austria’s main military training academy and closely follows how weapons are being used in the war in Ukraine.

Experts say the ATACMS could also target Russian ground-based air-defense systems that threaten Ukraine’s nascent fleet of F-16 fighter jets.

The first tranche of American-made F-16s — Ukraine will not say how many, but believed to number around a dozen — arrived this summer. While Ukrainian officials say they will initially be used for air defense, like shooting down incoming Russian cruise missiles, it is expected the F-16s will also fly combat missions.When used in a ground-attack role, the fighter jets have a range of about 500 miles, according to the Air Force .

The F-16s could play a crucial role against the guided glide bombs that have pummeled population centers and military posts in eastern Ukraine. Experts said that Ukraine wants to use the F-16s to intercept Russian warplanes to prevent them from releasing the glide bombs.

The glide bombs, many of which are old warheads that have been refitted with pop-out wings and satellite navigation systems, are dropped dozens of miles from the border — outside the reach of Ukraine’s short-range surface-to-air missiles.

But it remains unclear whether Ukraine will fly the F-16s into Russian territory, and the NATO countries that donated the jets are divided over whether they should.

But if they were to cross the border, they could target Russian aircraft with medium-range missiles known as AMRAAMs that the United States has already sent to Ukraine. Depending on the model, AMRAAMS can be fired both from an airborne F-16 and a ground-based air-defense launching system. According to the Air Force, the missiles can reach targets more than 30 miles away .

JASSMs, Storm Shadows and SCALPs

The Biden administration is also poised to give Ukraine air-launched cruise missiles that can be used with the F-16s. The weapons, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, or JASSMs, are older models, but they have a range of about 230 miles and carry a 1,000-pound warhead. They could strike targets — like air bases and ammunition depots — deep into Russian territory without leaving Ukrainian airspace.

But a U.S. official said that even if the U.S. decided to send JASSMs to Ukraine, they would not be delivered for months. And it remains unclear if the Biden administration would allow the JASSMs to be launched into Russia, as opposed to Crimea and other parts of Ukraine that are controlled by Russia.

Britain and France have already sent Ukraine their own air-launched cruise missiles that, so far, have struck Russian targets in Crimea and in the Black Sea. They have a range of about 155 miles and have been fired from Ukraine’s aging fleet of Soviet-era and Russian-designed fighter jets. Virtually the same model of missile, they are known as Storm Shadows in Britain and SCALPs in France.

Ukraine is already able to strike deep inside Russia using domestically produced drones and is testing a new long-range surface-to-surface missile that can be fired without asking the West’s permission. That domestic production capability has been one reason the Biden administration has resisted allowing American weapons to be used for those attacks.

Yet when it comes to combating the glide bombs in particular, American officials and experts said that Ukraine will need to strike deep into Russia with a mix of fighter jets and ground-based air systems — nearly all of which will require Western approval.

“As Ukraine gains new Western arms and technologies, it can better address the threat,” John Hoehn and William Courtney, munitions experts and former U.S. officials, wrote in an analysis for the RAND Corporation in June. “But the West will also need to show more flexibility in the conditions it sets for Ukraine’s use of advanced weaponry.”

Eric Schmitt , Helene Cooper and John Ismay contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to U.S. policy on the use of American-made Army Tactical Missile Systems , or ATACMS, by Ukraine on Russian targets. Ukraine is pushing to be granted that authority, but the United States has yet to grant it.

How we handle corrections

Lara Jakes, based in Rome, reports on diplomatic and military efforts by the West to support Ukraine in its war with Russia. She has been a journalist for nearly 30 years. More about Lara Jakes

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

U.S. Election Issue:  At the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Trump repeated his claim that he can end the war  and refused to say if defending Ukraine was in America’s national security interests.

How Nail Salons Lift Morale:  Paying attention to beauty may seem a trivial concern when the very fate of Ukraine is at stake. But for many Ukrainian women, it is an important ritual of daily life .

A Tug Between Russia and Europe:  A falling-out between former political allies  in Montenegro has complicated the country’s efforts to join the European Union and curb pro-Russian influence.

Street Artist Documents War:  Using ruins as his canvas, Gamlet Zinkivskyi has captured life in wartime Ukraine  in dozens of grim, gripping and harshly beautiful paintings.

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What is the Storm Shadow cruise missile? The British weapon banned from use in Russia by Ukrainian troops

The missile carries a range of around 155 miles and is designed to evade detection despite flying low after being launched, article bookmarked.

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The US is considering easing restrictions on long-range missiles being used by Ukraine so that they can hit targets deep inside Russia, a decision which would also free up the use of British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

Kyiv has made renewed pleas at high-level talks over the issue, with Ukraine calling it crucial for its defences against Russia’s invasion. US secretary of state Antony Blinken, UK foreign secretary David Lammy and president Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the issue at a meeting in Kyiv on Wednesday , with Mr Blinken saying the war has entered a “critical moment”.

Prime minister Keir Starmer and Joe Biden will “no doubt” talk about the use of long-range missiles, including more Storm Shadow cruise missiles, in Washington on Friday, Mr Blinken said.

Until now the Storm Shadow missiles have been limited to Russian targets operating inside Ukraine, as well as in occupied Crimea. The missiles were likely used in the largest Ukrainian attack on the headquarters of Russia ’s Black Sea fleet last year at Sevastopol.

While the UK – and France, which also uses a variant of Storm Shadows – are said to be supportive of using such missiles deep inside Russia, Kyiv is said to be waiting for permission from Washington, given US systems are key to the launch and targeting of long-range missiles.

The US, which has provided Ukraine with the longest-range version of ATACMS, a ballistic missile that can travel 190 miles, has remained hesitant for the firing of long-range missiles into Russia over fears of a reaction from Moscow that could escalate the conflict. They are believed to be particularly concerned that Russia could respond by deploying nuclear weapons.

But that position appears to be shifting, with Russia acquiring ballistic missiles from its ally Iran. Tehran has formally denied exporting missiles to Moscow, while the Kremlin has said it is deepening “cooperation” with allies.

Joe Biden said the US is also “working out” how best to ease restrictions on Ukraine’s use of its ATACMS long range missiles .

British Storm Shadow missiles have a range of more than 150 miles and can be fired by Ukrainian aircraft. Kyiv has long lobbied for permission to hit deep inside Russian soil via the western long-range missiles.

Manufacturer MBDA has said that the missile, which is fired from an aircraft, carries a range of around 155 miles and is designed to evade detection despite flying low after being launched.

By contrast, the US-supplied Himars missiles currently used by Ukraine only have a range of around 50 miles. ATACMS have a range of around 190 miles.

Powered by a turbo-jet engine, the 1,300kg Storm Shadow travels at speeds of more than 600mph, is just over five metres long and has a wingspan of three metres.

After launch, the weapon, equipped with its own navigation system, descends to a low altitude to avoid detection before locking on to its target using an infra-red seeker.

On final approach the missile climbs to a higher altitude to maximise the chances of hitting the target.

On impact, it penetrates the target before a delayed fuse detonates the main warhead.

The UK first confirmed it would supply Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles in May last year. Then defence secretary Ben Wallace had touted that the weapons would give Ukraine the “best chance” of defending itself.

Just last week, former defence secretary Grant Shapps pushed actively for allowing Ukraine to hit Mr Putin’s targets inside Russia issuing a “simple ultimatum”. He also urged French, American and German partners to follow Britain’s lead in supporting Ukraine’s response.

Ukraine has deployed Storm Shadow missiles on several occasions during the war. In June last year, the then-defence secretary Ben Wallace told parliament that the missiles were already having a “significant impact on the battlefield”.

Storm Shadow missiles have also been used by British and French air forces in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya.

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