Moskit
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| Moskit | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Basic data | |
| Function | anti-ship missile |
| Manufacturer | MKB Raduga |
| Entered service | |
| General characteristics | |
| Engine | Four ramjets (solid fuel rocket on air-to-surface version) |
| Launch mass | 4500 kg |
| Length | 9.745 m |
| Diameter | |
| Wingspan | 2.10 m |
| Speed | Mach 2 |
| Range | 120 km |
| Flying altitude | 20 meters above sea level |
| Warhead | 320 kg high explosive or 120kt fission-fusion thermonuclear |
| Guidance | active radar |
| Launch platform | naval ships, fixed-wing aircraft |
The Moskit (Mosquito) (NATO reporting name SS-N-22 Sunburn) is a Russian supersonic ramjet cruise missile. The missile system was designed by the Raduga Design Bureau during the 1970s as a follow up to the SS-N-9 Siren. The Moskit was originally designed to be ship launched, but variants have been adapted to be launched from land (modified trucks), underwater (submarines) and air (reportedly the naval variant of the Sukhoi Su-27). The missile can carry conventional and nuclear warheads.
The exact classification of the missile is unknown, with varying types reported; this has been due to the secrecy surrounding an active military weapon. It is one of the missiles known by the NATO codename SS-N-22 Sunburn. In NATO analysis the Moskit is one of the most feared weapons due to the potential of quick elimination of friendly naval fleets due to its high speed. The Moskit was designed to be employed against smaller NATO naval groups in the Baltic Sea (Danish and German) and the Black Sea (Turkish) and non-NATO vessels in the Pacific (Japanese, South Korean, etc.), and to defend the Russian mainland against NATO amphibious assault. [1]
Variants of the missile have been designated P-270 (P270), 3M80, 3M80M, 3M82 (Moskit M) [1]. The P-270 designation is believed to be the initial product codename for the class of missile, with the Russian Ministry of Defense GRAU indices (starting with 3M) designating the exact variant of the missile. The 3M80 was its original model. The 3M80M model (also termed 3M80E for export) was a 1984 longer range version of the missile, with the latest version with the longest range being the 3M82 Moskit M. The ASM-MMS / Kh-4 variant is the air launched version of the missile.
The missile is reported to have been purchased by the People's Liberation Army Navy (China), as well as by Iran.
[edit] Operators
USSR: Original developer and primary operator of the Moskit.
Russia: Inherited Soviet stocks and production.
People's Republic of China: Reported to have employed Moskit on surface ships.
Iran: Rumored customer
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- FAS report
- Global Security report
- NTI report
- DTIG.org report (PDF)
- "Asia’s Advanced Precision Guided Munitions" (PDF)
- Missile analysis (PDF)
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