MissileThreat.com

Country:	Russian Federation
Alternate Name:	3M55 Oniks
Class:	S/Su/L/ALCM
Target:	Ship
Length:	8.90 m
Diameter:	0.67 m
Launch Weight:	3000.00 kg
Payload:	250 kg HE, SAP
Propulsion:	Ramjet w/ internal solid booster
Range:	300.00 km
Guidance:	INS, active and passive radar
Status:	Operational
In Service:	2002-Present

Details

The SS-N-26 is a short-range, ramjet-propelled, single warhead, air-to-surface and surface-to-surface, anti-ship cruise missile developed and manufactured by Russia. It was designed to combat naval surface ships under heavy fire and electronic counteraction. Ship-, ground-, air-, and submarine-launched versions are believed to exist.

 

The SS-N-26 was intended as a lighter weight follow-on system to the SS-N-9 “Siren,” SS-N-19 “Shipwreck,” and SS-N-22 “Sunburn” anti-ship missile systems. Development began in 1985 by NPO Mashinostroyeniye (previously Chelomei OKB), and the missile was first exhibited in 1993. Russia has designated the ship-launched missile 3M55, and 3K55 for the complete system. The export version is known as Yakhont.

 

The missile is 8.9 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.67 m, and has a launch weight of 3,000 kg. It has four delta-shaped wings at mid-body and four delta-shaped wings at the rear for control during flight. It is powered by a solid propellant boost motor and a ramjet engine. Midcourse guidance is provided by an inertial navigation system (INS), with an active/passive radar seeker for the terminal phase. The missile is capable of selecting an individual ship target from a group, even in a jamming environment.

 

The SS-N-26 has a cruise speed of Mach 2.6 at high altitude or Mach 2.0 at low altitude. It has a minimum range of 50 km, and a maximum range of 300 km when cruising at high altitude and 120 km when at low altitude. It flies at low level during the terminal phase, between 5 and 15 m in altitude, and makes evasive maneuvers near to the target to defeat any defenses. It carries a 250 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing warhead.

 

The coastal defense version of the SS-N-26 was named SSC-5 “Bastion.” It uses the same missile as the ship-launched version, but is launched from a modified “Scud B” Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicle. Silo-launching may also be offered.

 

In 1999, an air-launched version known as Alfa was reported to be in development. It has a range is 300 km when released from high level, 200 km when released from low level, and carries a 200 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing warhead. Flight tests began in 2004, and the Alfa will probably be deployed on MiG-29 “Fulcrum,” Su-27, Su-30, and Su-33 “Flanker” aircraft, and of Tu-142M “Bear F” aircraft. The air-launched export version is known as the Yakhont-M.

 

A submarine-launched version has been proposed, and may currently be in development. It may be deployed on “Yasen” class (Type 885) attack submarines. A land-attack version with GPS or GLONASS added to the guidance system has also been proposed. It has been reported that an improved active radar is being developed for greater accuracy, and that an imaging infrared seeker was being developed for use against land targets.

 

In 2001, a new Russian-Indian cruise missile development project known as the BrahMos PJ-10 was announced. The BrahMos missile is based on the SS-N-26, and is currently being manufactured by Brahmos Aerospace, a joint venture between the Indian Defense Ministry’s Defense Research and Development Organization and Russia’s Mashinostroyeniye Company. In 2006, reports indicated that Russia and India plan to manufacture 1,000 BrahMos missiles over the next 10 years through their joint venture company.(1)

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

 

1. Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 45 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, July 2006), pp. 161-163; GlobalSecurity.org, “PJ-10 BrahMos,” available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/brahmos.htm, accessed on August 1, 2006; PTI News Agency, July 22, 2006.