Russian ss n 27 anti ship missile

The Yekaterinburg-based Novator Design Bureau has developed a new cruise missile system designated Klub (NATO: SS-N-27 & SS-N-30) and is sometimes referred to as the Club, Biryuza and Alpha / Alfa. The Klub ASCM (anti-sub/ship cruise missile) has been designed to destroy submarine and ships and also engage static/slow-moving targets, whose co- ordinates are known in advance, even if these targets are protected by active defences and electronic countermeasures. There are presently, two 'known' modifications of the system; Klub-S (for submarines) and Klub-N (for surface vessels). The latter can be installed in vertical launch cells or in angled missile boxes, depending upon operational requirements. Both systems are based on common hardware, the only difference being the design of the missile launchers and the missile transport- launching containers. Both modifications come in the supersonic 3M54E or the subsonic 3M54E1 AShM (anti-ship missile) variant and the 3M14E LACM (Land Attack Cruise Missile) variant. Klub-S can also be armed with the 91RE1 anti-submarine missile and Klub-N with the 91RE2 anti-submarine missile. The Klub missile family. From the left 91RE2, 91RE1, 3M54E, 3M54E1

3M54E1 / 3M54E1 (SS-N-27 Sizzler) The 3M54E three-stage anti-ship missile consists of a booster, a subsonic cruise low-flying sustainer stage and a low-flying supersonic terminal stage. For surface vessels of smaller displacement or with shortened torpedo launchers, the system uses the 3M54E1 anti-ship missile, which has a booster and a subsonic cruise sustainer stage, but carries a heavier warhead than the 3M54E missile. After launch from either a vertical or angled deck-mounted launcher or from a submarine torpedo tube, the 3M54E and 3M54E1 follow similar trajectories. At an altitude of up to 150 metres, the solid-propellant booster is jettisoned, the under-fuselage air intake is extended, and the air-breathing sustainer engine is started. At the same time the wings and tail surfaces are extended, and the weapon descends to its cruising altitude of 10 to 15 metres above sea level. At a distance of up to 30 to 40 km from the target, the missile climbs to higher altitude and activates its ARGS-54 active homing radar seeker. The pointed nose of the supersonic rocket, which forms the payload of the deadly 3M54E AShM, protrudes from the front of the complete missile Developed by the Radar-MMS company of St. Petersburg, the ARGS-54 seeker has a maximum operational range of 60 km. As the missile continues towards the target at subsonic speed, the seeker scans from +45º to -45º in azimuth, and from and +10º to -20º in elevation. The ARGS-54 is 70 cm long, 42 cm in diameter, and weighs 40 kg without the radome. It can operate in precipitation conditions of up to 4mm/sec and in heavy sea conditions of up to sea state 6. After the target is detected and the seeker has locked on, the 3M54E1 flies on at high subsonic speed to destroy the target. The 3M54E, on the other hand, reaches its target in a different manner. At 20 km from the target, the 3M54E's supersonic solid rocket-powered third-stage terminal 'dart' separates from the missile, descends to 3 to 5 metres above sea level and accelerates to a supersonic speed of Mach 2.9 in a zigzagging terminal run to hit its target. On the one hand helps in penetration of the enemy ship's air defenses, but on the other hand, due the high velocity the missile to become aerodynamically heated, giving it a relatively high infrared signature. The 3M51E on display in 1996, by Novator NPO, in front of a Su-27IB Flanker. The scoop for the turbojet is visible to the rear of the missile. A universal FCS is used to plan the flight mission, upload this to the missile, and conduct pre-launch preparations. Both versions use a common shore-based system for planned inspection and maintenance of the missiles. Since the different types of missile are compatible with a common shipboard system, the user can load the vessel with whatever mix of weapons is best suited to the planned mission. An un-named official with the Novotar Design Bureau, when describing the 3M54E variant, said "The Alfa combines aspects of the U.S. Harpoon and French Exocet besides the U.S. Tomahawk. This configuration offers speed, better fuel economy and a greater accuracy rate than the current Western missiles. Once launched from ship, submarine or aircraft, the 1.5 ton missile cruises at subsonic speed 4.5 meters above the sea to evade radar."
The official adds, "At around 40 miles to its approach to the target, the forward section of the missile separates and ignites a solid booster, which rockets the missile to a supersonic speed of Mach 2.9. The purpose of this is to defeat current anti-missile systems with the Alfa missile's sheer speed. By the time the missile is within enemy radar range, it is already doing Mach 2.9. Within seconds it will be upon its target, even before existing anti-missile systems can fire their engines. Its ability to attack land targets is enhanced by a new homing and guidance system that put it in the Tomahawk league." The Klub presents new challenges to Western defenses like Phalanx CIWS and Aegis currently found aboard many Western-built naval vessels. The Klub-S ASCM is planned to be incorporated into Russia's next generation Amur Class submarine, reportedly of which the first vessel is being built for the Indian Navy. However, that is yet to be confirmed from reliable sources. Russian Designation 3M54E / P-900 Alfa / Klub-S 3M54E1 / P-900 Alfa / Klub-S
NATO Designation SS-N-27 Sizzler
Type Submarine-launched Anti-Ship missile Guidance Inertial plus Active Radar Homing Warhead 200 kg semi-armor piercing 400 kg semi-armor piercing Propulsion Solid-rocket booster and turbojet sustainer, rocket boosted penetrator Solid-rocket booster and turbojet sustainer
Range 220 km 300 km
Speed Cruise Mach 0.8,
terminal up to Mach 2.9
Length 8.22 m 6.20 m
Body Diameter 533 mm
Wingspan 3,100 mm
Launch Weight 2,300 kg
Flight Path Low-flying, sea-skimming