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Ananti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) is a militaryballistic missile systemdesigned to hit a warship at sea.
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Due to the high flight speed of ballistic missiles, an ASBM'skinetic energy alone may be sufficient to cripple or outright destroy a target with a singleconventionalwarhead impact. Unlike anuclear warhead, however, this would require a direct hit to be effective; therefore unlike a land attackballistic missile, which typically strikes fixed targets in known positions, an ASBM requires a dedicated sensor chain to detect and identify its target, combined with a precise and high-performanceterminal guidance system with advanced sensors and in-flight calibrations in order to successfully hit a moving target.[1][2]
In late November 2023, during theRed Sea crisis caused by the continuation of theGaza war, theUnited States Central Command (CENTCOM) in the Middle East reported that two ballistic missiles had been fired at the United States NavyArleigh Burke-class destroyerUSS Mason from areas controlled by YemeniHouthi movement.[3][4] In January 2024, at the same time as US and British airstrikes on Yemen, US PresidentJoe Biden confirmed that the Yemenis had used ASBMs for the "first time in history".[5]
The United States Navy fields what some experts believe to be the best midcourse anti-ballistic defense in the world,[10] and is developing high powered lasers for terminal-defense against anti-ship ballistic missiles.[11]The U.S. arsenal has a variety of potential countermeasures.[10]According to a senior political scientist at theRAND Corporation, Roger Cliff, an anti-ship ballistic missile is not useful without additional complex ship detection, data processing and communication systems, all of which, including the missile itself, could bejammed or spoofed.[12][13]
DuringOperation Prosperity Guardian, the first combat shootdown of an ASBM was achieved by the destroyerUSS Laboon on 26 December 2023.[14] By 9 January, a total of seven Houthi ASBMs had been successfully intercepted by the U.S. Navy.[14] On 24 January 2024,USS Gravely shot down two Houthi ASBMs.[15] On 26 January 2024,USS Carney also successfully intercepted a Houthi ASBM.[15]
The formerSoviet Union introduced the world's first intermediate-range ballistic anti-ship missile, initially called4K18, which was modified from theR-27K, where "K" stands forkorabelnaya which means "ship-related" withNATO reporting name:SS-NX-13. Initially, theSoviet Navy began testing ontheir submarines on 9 December 1972, first on boardK-102, aGolf-class submarine. Test firings were carried out between 11 September and 4 December 1973. Following the initial trials, theK-102 continued making trial launches with both theR-27 and theR-27K, until it was accepted for service on 15 August 1975.
Using external targeting data, theR-27K would have been launched underwater to a range of between 350 and 400 nautical miles (650 and 740 km), covering a "footprint" of 27 nmi (50 km). The maneuvering re-entry vehicle (MaRV) would thenhome-in on the target with acircular error probable (CEP) of 400 yards (370 m). Warhead yield was between 0.5–1 megatonnes.[citation needed]
The RussianR-27K was the world's first anti-ship ballistic missile. However, it never became operational, since every launch tube used for the R-27K counted as a strategic missile in theSALT agreement with the United States, and they were considered more important.[citation needed]
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China has inducted the world's first[18] operational anti-ship ballistic missile, a "carrier killer" capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads, known as theDF-21D.[19] In 2010, it was reported that ChinesePeople's Liberation Army Navy had entered the DF-21D into its early operational stage for deployment.[20]
TheDF-26, first revealed on theVictory Day Parade in 2015, is also able to carry anti-ship warheads, possiblyhypersonic glide vehicles like theDF-ZF, to attack medium and large naval vessels out to ranges of 3,500–5,000 kilometres (2,200–3,100 mi).[21]
China is apparently working on asecond-generation ASBM using hypersonicmaneuverable reentry vehicle technology tested on theDF-ZF. This would allow the warhead to search for the current location of the carrier, instead of just dropping towards the predicted spot it was initially aiming at. The high speed maneuvers would also make the missile much harder to intercept.[22]Type 055 destroyers are armed with theYJ-21 anti-ship ballistic missiles along with theYJ-18 anti-ship cruise missiles inGJB 5860-2006vertical launch system.
Between 2007 and 2009, theIndian Navy carried out the successful trials ofDhanush (lit. Bow) ballistic missiles, which is a naval variant of thePrithvi-III missile, for anti-ship roles. The Indian Navy currently operates theDhanush which has a range of 750 km (470 mi).[23]
In February 2011, Iran demonstrated a short-range anti-ship ballistic missile namedPersian Gulf orKhalij Fars based on theFateh-110, which were fired from the land-basedmissile vehicle that successfully hit a stationary target vessel from the coast. It has been reported as a short ranged ballistic missile with a range of 250–300 km (160–190 mi).[24]
Later, Iran introduced the Hormuz missile with anti-ship capability also being launched from the land platform.[25] In 2020, Iran unveiled the Zolfaqar Basir, an anti-ship variant of theZolfaghar with a range of 700 km (430 mi).[25]
In November 2024, thePakistan Navy successfully conducted a flight test of an anti-ship ballistic missile, theP282 SMASH, which has an officially stated range of 350 km (220 mi), hitting a land-based target. TheP282 SMASH was test fired from one of theZulfiquar-class frigates and was reported to be equipped with advanced controlled navigation and maneuverability features, capable of striking land targets with high precision at that time.[26] In early 2020, it was rumored in nation's media that the navy's weapons development complex, theMaritime Technologies Complex (MTC), was reportedly working on developing the rocket engine and the control system softwares.[27]
On November 2025, Pakistan Navy carried another test from one of theTughril-class frigate, hitting a sea-based target this time. The P282 SMASH has been deployed on at least one of Pakistan'sZulfiquar-class frigates andTughril-class frigates.[28]
The CM-401 is guided by a radar seeker that can track surface ships or use synthetic aperture (SAR) to image the ground to attack ground facilities such as ports
Latest Russian air-to-ground missiles are pretty accurate due to the use of modern guidance systems with satellite navigation capability.