The NovatorKalibr (Калибр,caliber), also referred to as3M54-1 Kalibr,3M14 Biryuza (Бирюза,turquoise), (NATO reporting nameSS-N-27 Sizzler andSS-N-30A) is a family of Russiancruise missiles developed byNPO Novator (OKB-8). It first saw service in 1994. There are ship-launched,submarine-launched and air-launched versions of the missile, and variants foranti-ship, andland attack use. Some versions have a second propulsion stage that initiates asupersonic sprint in the terminal approach to the target, reducing the time thatair defense systems have to react, whilesubsonic versions have greater range than the supersonic variants. The missile can carry aconventional ornuclear warhead weighing up to 500 kilograms (1,100 lb).
The missile is a modular system with several versions: two anti-shipping types, and one for land attack. The missile is designed to share common parts between the surface and submarine-launched variants but each missile consists of different components, for example, the booster. The missile can be launched from a surface ship using avertical launching system (VLS).
It has a booster with thrust vectoring capability. The missile launched from a submarinetorpedo tube has no need for such an addition but has a conventional booster instead. The air launched version is held in a container that is dropped as the missile launches, detaching from the container.
There are several claims about the maximum range of Kalibr land attack versions in use by Russia. TheU.S. Department of Defense estimates its range at 1,400 km (870 mi), andRussian Defence MinisterSergei Shoigu put its range at "almost 1,500 km (930 mi)." Following its first operational firing in October 2015,Russian Ministry of Defence statements suggested a range of 2,000 km (1,200 mi), while a December 2015Office of Naval Intelligence report gathered a number of Russian statements projecting ranges between 1,500-2,500 km (1,600 mi).[2][5]
Discrepancies in range values may be political declarations for strategic effect,[2] or potentially longer 2,500 km-range claims could be associated with athermonuclear armed variant while shorter 1,500 km-range estimates are for the conventionally armed missile.[5]
Launch of production of a submarine-variant of the 3M14TE Kalibr-NK called the Kalibr-PL missile occurred in 2012, according to state television news (broadcast of 11.10.2015).[6]
Russia has improved the targeting system of its ship- and submarine-launched Kalibr cruise missiles to improve their ability to conduct time sensitive attacks. Defence MinisterSergei Shoigu revealed the development, which was initiated as a result of combat experience in Syria, in an interview with theMoskovsky Komsomolets newspaper on 22 September 2019.[7][8]
'Club-K'– a Russian container complex of missile weapons, placed in the standard20- and 40-foot sea container. It is designed to defeat surface and ground targets. The complex can be mounted onshorelines, vessels of various classes, rail platforms andtrucks. It is a modification of the Kalibr missile system.
A Club-K variant, which is disguised as ashipping container that can be placed on a truck, train, or merchant vessel, was advertised in 2010 and was shown for the first time at theMAKS 2011 air show.[9][10]
On 7 October 2015, a Gepard class frigate and three Buyan-M class Russian Navy corvettes, part of the Caspian Flotilla launched 26 Kalibr-NK system cruise missiles 3M14T from theCaspian Sea at 11 targets in Syria during theSyrian Civil War.[11] The missiles traveled 1,500 km (932 mi) through Iranian and Iraqi airspace and struck targets inRaqqa andAleppo provinces (controlled by theIslamic State) but primarily inIdlib province (controlled by theFree Syrian Army andNusra Front).[12] AnonymousUS DoD officials alleged that four missiles crashed inIran.[13] Russian and Iranian governments denied the claim of missile crash. Pentagon and State Department officials refused to comment on the reports.[14] Russia posted video footage of 26 Kalibr missile launches as well as several videos of missile impacts without time or location information.[15]
On 20 November 2015, Russia launched 18 3M14T cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea onto targets in Syria, the targets were in Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo.[16][17][18]
On 9 December 2015, Russia fired a group of 3M14K cruise missiles from Kalibr-PL system at positions occupied byISIL from theImproved Kilo-class submarine B-237Rostov-on-Don deployed in the Mediterranean.[19][20]
On 20 September 2016, Russian state media reported that Russian warships in the Mediterranean fired three Kalibr-NK missiles at western Aleppo, near Mount Simeon. The Russians claimed that the missile strike killed "30 Israeli and Western officers directing the terrorists' attacks in Aleppo and Idlib".[21]
On 15 November 2016, Russian frigateAdmiral Grigorovich fired at least three missiles against targets in Idlib and Homs provinces, Syria, in the opening stages ofthe decisive offensive on Aleppo.[22][23]
On 31 May 2017, the Russian frigateAdmiral Essen and submarineKrasnodar launched four missiles against targets east of Palmyra, Syria.[24][25]
On 23 June 2017, Russian frigatesAdmiral Grigorovich andAdmiral Essen, and the submarineKrasnodar fired six Kalibr missiles at ISIL arms depot targets in Hama.[26][27][28][29][30]
On 14 September 2017, the Russian submarinesVeliky Novgorod andKolpino fired seven Kalibr missiles on ISIL targets (command posts, communications centers and ammunition depots) in the south-east of Deir ez-Zor.[31]
On 22 September 2017, the Russian submarineVeliky Novgorod fired at least three Kalibr missiles on al-Nusra in the Idlib province. The missile strike destroyed command centers, training bases and armored vehicles.[32]
On 5 October 2017, the Russian submarinesVeliky Novgorod andKolpino launched 10 Kalibr missiles. The strikes were to support Syrian troops conducting a ground offensive in Deir-ez-Zor province.[33][34]
On 3 November 2017, the Russian submarineKolpino launched 6 Kalibr missiles from a submerged position. Missiles hit terrorists' strongholds, weapon and ammunition depots, concentrations of militants, and important command centres near Abu Kamal, Deir-ez-Zor.[35][36]
On 3 February 2018, Russian frigates and submarines active in the Mediterranean sea launched several Kalibr missiles on the positions of rebels in theIdlib province, Syria where theSukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft of MajorRoman Filipov was shot down. The Russian ministry of defence said that more than 30 rebel fighters were killed.[37]
Kalibr cruise missiles have been widely used by Russian forces since the start of the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The opening assault is said to have included at least 30 cruise missiles, targeting command and control points, air bases, and air-defense batteries. The missiles were likely fired by theBuyan-class corvettes,Admiral Grigorovich-class frigates andKilo-class submarines of the RussianBlack Sea Fleet.[38] Ukraine's military command reported widespread usage of Kalibr cruise missiles in strikes against strategic and non-combat targets across Ukraine.[39][40] Most notable incidents were:
On 14 July 2022, three Kalibr cruise missileshit the city center ofVinnytsia, Ukraine, killing at least 20 people, including at least three children. Ukraine claimed two other missiles were shot down.[41]
On 23 July 2022, at least two Kalibr cruise missiles hit the port ofOdesa, other two were reportedly shot down.[42]
On 11 September 2022, Kalibr cruise missiles were again fired from the Black Sea on targets in Ukraine.[43] The same day, missile strike onKharkiv TEC-5 thermal power plant inKharkiv was confirmed by Ukrainian officials.[44]
During2022 Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure in October, November and December 2022, number of Kalibr cruise missiles fired from the Black Sea targeted various Ukrainian energy facilities across the country. This led to destruction of at least 50% of Ukraine's energy sector by mid-November 2022.[45]
On 10 October 2022, three Kalibr cruise missiles violated the airspace of theRepublic of Moldova.[46]
On 31 October 2022, remains of a Kalibr missile reportedly shot down by Ukrainian air defence crashed in Moldova.[47]
On 20 March 2023, Ukraine claimed Russian Kalibr cruise missiles had been involved in an explosion in the north of annexed Crimea. Ukraine announced the explosions but, as is normal, did not explicitly say it was behind the attack.[48]
Domestic variants are basic versions of this missile family; these are the 3M54,3M51, 3M14 and 91R variants. The export model is called Club (formerly Klub). There are two major launch platforms: the Kalibr-PL (export Club-S), designed for use from submarines, and the Kalibr-NK (export Club-N), designed for surface ships. These two launch platforms can be equipped with the following warhead and guidance combinations:[49]
India: The Indian Navy uses both 'Club-S' and 'Club-N' variants for theKilo class submarines (known as theSindhughosh-class submarine in Indian service), theTalwar class frigates respectively.[54][55]
Iran: Contradictory sources indicate that theIranian Navy is thought to have purchased or is about to purchase 'Club-S' missiles for its threeKilo class submarines.[58][59][needs update]
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Russia:
Russian Navy uses the 3M14, 3M54, 3M54-1, 91R1, 91RT2. Submarine-launched variants (entered service in 2016)[52] are used byKilo-classsubmarine,Lada-classsubmarine,Akula-classsubmarine,Oscar II-class submarine and theYasen-classsubmarine. Surface ship launched variants are used by theGremyashchy class,Karakurt class,Buyan-M class corvettes,Gepard class,Admiral Gorshkov class and theAdmiral Grigorovich-class frigates.[citation needed] According to classified documents, Russia signed two large contracts for the supply of 240 missiles between 2022 and 2024 and 450 missiles between 2025 and 2026. Also, 56 3M-14S missiles with a special nuclear warhead are ordered.[53]
Algeria: TheAlgerian National Navy uses the 'Club-S' variant for theirKilo class submarines.[citation needed]
India: The Indian Navy uses both 'Club-S' and 'Club-N' variants for theKilo class submarines (known as theSindhughosh-class submarine in Indian service), theTalwar class frigates respectively.[54][55]
Vietnam: TheVietnam People's Navy uses the 'Club-S' variant for its sixKilo class submarines.[56]
China: ThePeople's Liberation Army Navy uses the 'Club-S' variant for itsKilo class submarines.[57]
Iran: Contradictory sources indicate that theIranian Navy is thought to have purchased or is about to purchase 'Club-S' missiles for its threeKilo class submarines.[58][59][needs update]
Media related to3M-54 Klub at Wikimedia Commons