archives
Features

This material is produced by the Monterey Institute's Center for Nonproliferation Studies
 
Russia Nuclear and Missile Exports
Introduction
Russian Nuclear and Missile Exports by Country
+China
+India
+Iran
General Nuclear Export Developments
General Missile Export Developments


Russian Exports: Overview of Missile Types Exported by Russia Russia: Overview of Missiles Exported by Russia

Nuclear and Missile Exports Introduction
General Missile Export Developments

Ryan Green, CNS Graduate Research Assistant

This overview provides background information on the most significant nuclear-capable Russian missile designs that have been authorized for export.

CLUB (KLUB, KLAB) [SS-NX-27]
The Club system is a family of anti-ship, anti-submarine and land attack missiles with variants for delivery from surface ships and submarines.  The version intended for the Russian Navy is reportedly designated Kalibr.  Designed by OKB Novator in Yekaterinburg, the Club system was publicly displayed at the Ural Expo-2000.[1]  The Club system design is based on technology from Novator's earlier 3M10/RK-55 Granat [NATO designation SS-N-21 'Sampson'] cruise missile and RPK-2 Vyuga [NATO designation SS-N-15] ASW missile.[2,3] The direct predecessor of the 3M54E cruise missile (the anti-ship component of the Club system), the 3M51 Alfa, was first displayed in 1993 at arms conventions in Abu-Dhabi and Zhukovskiy (MAKS-93).[4]
 
There are two major Club variants: the Club-N for use on surface ships, and the Club-S for use on submarines. The Club family consists of three different missiles: the 3M54E (and 3M54E1), 3M14E, and 91RE1 (and 91RE2).  The 3M54E is an anti-ship cruise missile consisting of a launch stage, a winged low-flying subsonic cruise stage, and a terminal low-flying supersonic payload stage with a range of 20km.[5]  It can be fired from surface ship vertical launch tubes or 533mm submarine torpedo tubes. It has a 200kg payload with a range of 220km.  The 3M54E1 is a smaller version that does not have the third supersonic stage, but it has a longer range (300km) and a heavier payload (400kg).[1,6] The 3M14E is designed to engage fixed ground targets and consists of a launch stage and a winged low-flying subsonic cruise stage.  The 91RE1/2 is a ballistic anti-submarine missile whose payload is an underwater rocket-propelled homing torpedo.  The 91RE1 is designed for surface ship launch tubes, while the 91RE2 is designed for submarine torpedo tubes.[5]  No air-launched variants have been announced yet.[6]  Production of the missiles is to take place at the Kalinin Machine-Building Plant in Yekaterinburg.[4]
 
As of April 2002 India was the only customer of the Club system, which is being installed on the Indian Navy's Russian-built frigates and submarines. China and Iran have also expressed interest in purchasing the Club system as part of potential upgrade programs for their Russian-built submarines.  China reportedly received technical information about the system from OKB Novator at the request of Rosvooruzheniye.[7,8]   
 
Club Missile Characteristics [1,7]
  3M54E 3M54E1 3M14E 91RE1 91RE2
Length (m) 8.22 6.2 6.2 8 6.5
Diameter (m) .53 .53 .53 .514 .514
Range (km) 220 300 300 50 40
Speed (Mach) .6-.8, terminal phase 3.0 .6-.8 .6-.8 N/A N/A
Launch Weight (kg) 1920 1570 1780 2050 1300
Payload (kg) 200 400 400 450kg torpedo 450kg torpedo
Trajectory Cruise  Cruise Cruise  Ballistic Ballistic
Sources:
[1] Dmitriy Litovkin, "And These Are Our Russian Rockets: The Naval Orientation of a Land-Based Exposition," Krasnaya zvezda, 22 July 2000; in "Litovkin: Naval Weapons Shown at Ural Expo 2000 by 'Novator' OKB," FBIS Document CEP20000721000353.
[2] Aleksandr Shirokorad, "Sub Takes Aim at Sub," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye, 31 July-6 August 1998, p.6; in "US disinformation about ASW Missile: US-RF Sub-to-Missile D[sic]," FBIS Document FTS19980825000900.
[3] Valentin Sobakin, "Testing of a Missile System With the 3M10 Long-Range Cruise Missile," Tayfun, 1 March 2001, pp.7-9; in "Russia: History of 3M10 Cruise Missile Flight Testing," FBIS Document CEP20010828000287.
[4] A.V. Karpenko and S.M. Ganin, "Otechestvennye aviatsionnye takticheskiye rakety," Bastion, No. 1, 2000,  pp. 74-76. 
[5] Pavel Kamnev, "The Club Missile System," Military Parade online edition, http://www.milprade.com, 2000.
[6] Sergey Sokut, "A Long Reach for Aviation and the Navy," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye, 24 August 2001; in "Russian long-range missile developments revealed at MAKS-2001 Aerospace Exhibit," FBIS Document CEP20010823000356.
[7] Duncan Lennox, "SS-NX-27 (3M14/3M54/91R1/91R2 Club)," Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems 36, Jane's Information Group Web Site, http://www.janes.com/, 12 November 2001.
[8] Yihong Zhang, "China negotiates to buy advanced Russian anti-ship missile," Jane's Defence Weekly, Vol. 34, No. 6, 9 August 2000; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com. {Entered 4/19/02 RG}

3M55 ONIKS/YAKHONT [SS-NX-26, SSC-X-5]
The Oniks/Yakhont is a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile capable of launch from surface ships, submarines, aircraft, and ground launchers.  Designed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the Oniks is the Russian military version and the Yakhont is the export version.  Development of the Yakhont began in 1983, and by 1993 the Yakhont was displayed at various weapons exhibitions.[1] In 2001 the shore-launched version was displayed and information about the air-launched version was revealed.  Production of the missile for the Russian military has not yet begun. It is expected to be deployed on the new Severodvinsk attack submarine which is still under construction.[2]
 
The Yakhont is deployed in a universal shipping/launch container that allows it to be launched from either submarines or surface ships.  It is too large, however, to be fired from 533mm submarine tubes and requires specialized launchers at least 650mm in diameter.  It uses a ramjet engine and travels at approximately Mach 2.5, with a range of 300km and a payload of 200kg.[3] The shore-launched version includes a mobile and fixed system.  The mobile ground system consists of four self-propelled launchers carrying three Yakhont missiles each.  The fixed ground system consists of silos containing up to 36 missiles.[2] The air-launched version, known as the Yakhont-M, is still in the design stage and is expected to be deployed on Mig-29, Su-27, Su-30 and Su-32 fighters.[2,4]
 
China, Indonesia, and Iran have shown interest in purchasing the Yakhont.[5,6]  NPO Mashinostroyeniya is participating in the joint venture "Brahmos" with India to develop a missile based on the Yakhont design.  Known as the PJ-10, the missile has many characteristics similar to the Yakhont and is expected to enter production in 2003 at PO Strela in Orenburg, with final assembly being completed at NPO Mashinostroyeniya.[1]
 
Yakhont Missile Characteristics [7]  
Length (m) 8.9
Diameter (m) .7
Range (km) 300 (high trajectory), 120 (low trajectory)
Speed (Mach) 2-2.5
Launch Weight (kg) 3,000 (2,500 for air-launched variant)
Warhead (kg) 200-250
Sources: 
[1] Miroslav Gyurosi, "Indian/Russian PJ-10 missile to be vertically launched," Jane's Missiles & Rockets, October 2001, Vol. 5, No. 10, p. 1.
[2] Sergey Sokut, "A Long Reach for Aviation and the Navy," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye, 24 August 2001; in "Russian long-range missile developments revealed at MAKS-2001 Aerospace Exhibit," FBIS Document CEP20010823000356.
[3] Victor Tsarev and Valery Melnikov, "Yakhont - New-Generation Antiship Missile," Military Parade online edition, http://www.milparade.com, 1998.
[4] "NPO  mashinostroyeniya nachnet seriynoye proizvodstvo eksportnogo varianta noveyshey sverkhzvukovoy protivokorabelnoy rakety 'Yakhont' s 2001 goda," ITAR-TASS, 23 September 1999; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[5] "Defense Minister to Leave for Moscow Tomorrow: New Steps Toward Broadening Tehran-Moscow Relations," Nowruz, 2 September 2001, p. 6; in "Iran: Prospects for Further Military Ties With Russia Viewed," FBIS Document IAP20010923000009.
[6] "Indoneziya, vozmozhno, namerena zakupit u Rossii krupnuyu partiyu protivokorabelnykh raket 'Yakhont', sposobnykykh unichtozhat avianesushchiye korabli," TASS, 31 October 1997; in Integrum Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.
[7] Duncan Lennox, "SS-NX-26 (3M55 Oniks/Yakhont) (PJ-10)/SSC-X-5 (Bastion)," Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems 36, Jane's Information Group Web Site, http://www.janes.com/, 12 November 2001.{Entered 4/19/02 RG

Kh-35 URAN [SS-N-25 'Switchblade', AS-20 'Kayak']
The Uran is a subsonic anti-ship cruise missile that can be deployed on surface ships and aircraft.  Designed by Zvezda-Strela, official development of the Uran began in 1984 to duplicate the characteristics of the US AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile.  The Uran was first displayed in 1992 at the MAKS-92 air show near Moscow.[1]  The Uran entered service into the Russian Navy and was offered for export in the 1990s.[2]  
 
The Uran is a light-weight anti-ship missile by Russian standards.[1]  It has a launch weight of 600kg which allows it to be deployed on small patrol boats.  It is stored and fired in a transport/launch container.  There is a version for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.[3]  The Uran is powered by a turbojet engine and has a range of 130km and a warhead payload of 145kg.  
 
India has purchased the Uran to arm several of its classes of guided-missile destroyers, frigates, and corvettes.[4,5]  Algeria and Vietnam have also purchased Uran missiles, and China was reported negotiating the purchase of the air-launched version for its Sukhoi Su-30MKK fighters.[6,7,8]
 
Uran Missile Characteristics [1]
Length (m) 4.4
Diameter (m) .65
Range (km) 130
Speed (Mach) .90
Launch Weight (kg) 600
Payload (kg) 145
Sources: 
[1] A.V. Karpenko and S.M. Ganin, "Otechestvennye aviatsionnye takticheskiye rakety," Bastion, No. 1, 2000,  p. 74.
[2] "Neustrashimy Class (Type 11540) - Frigates, Russia," Naval Technology Web Site, http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/neustrashimy/.
[3] Yury Novikov and Gennady Zaitsev, "Uran Shipborne Missile System," Military Parade online edition, http://www.milparade.com/1996/16/92-94.htm
[4] "Delhi Class - Destroyers, India," Naval Technology Web Site, http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/delhi.
[5] "India to Acquire 50 more Russian missiles," The Daily Star online edition, http://www.dailystarnews.com, 5 July 1998.
[6] Yihong Zhang, "China to acquire anti-ship missiles," Jane's Defence Weekly, 28 February 2001; in Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, http://www.lexis-nexis.com.
[7] "Voyenno-tekhnicheskoye sotrudnichestvo Rossii i Vetnama," Nomos-Bank Web Site, http://www.nomos.rgc.ru, 18 July 2001.
[8] "Postavki Alzhiru raket Kh-35 nachnutsya v sleduyushchim godu," AviaPort.Ru Web Site, http://aviaport.ru, 24 November 1998. {Entered 4/19/02 RG}

3M80/Kh-41 MOSKIT [SS-N-22 'Sunburn']
The Moskit is a large supersonic anti-ship missile.[1,2]  Designed by the Raduga Design Bureau, development of the Moskit began in the 1970s.  The Moskit entered Soviet military service in the 1980s aboard Sovremennyy-class guided missile destroyers and several classes of fast attack boats.  An air-launched version of the Moskit was first displayed in 1992, and Raduga also reportedly began designs for a surface-to-air variant. Neither variant had entered production as of April 2002.[3,4] The Moskit's control system is manufactured by NPO Altair.[5]  Missile assembly takes place at the Progress plant in Arsenyevo in Primorskiy Kray.[6]
 
The Moskit is powered by a ramjet engine and has an estimated top speed of Mach 2.5.  It has a launch weight of 3,950kg and carries a payload of 300kg. The Moskit has a range of 120km (250km air-launched), but tests of the Moskit using a high trajectory showed the possibility of increasing its range to 300km.[3,7,8,] The air-launched version can be carried by Su-27 and Su-33 fighters. There is no known submarine-launched version of the Moskit.[9]
 
Russia's export customers so far include only China, which purchased two Project 956E Sovremennyy-class guided missile destroyers armed with Moskit missiles.[6]  China has also recently signed a new contract with Rosoboroneksport to purchase two more destroyers by 2005.[10]  There are also reports that China is expected to sign contracts for the air-launched version of the missile.[11] There have also been unconfirmed reports that Iran acquired eight Moskit missiles from Ukraine. Iran has also shown interest in purchasing Project 12421 Molniya missile corvettes armed with the Moskit.[12,13]
 
Moskit Missile Characteristics [7]  
Length (m) 9.385
Diameter (m) .76
Range (km) 120 (ground-launched), 250 (air-launched)
Speed (Mach) 2.5
Launch Weight (kg) 3,950
Warhead (kg) 300
Sources: 
[1] Steven J. Zaloga, "Missile Markets:  Uneven Recovery," Aviation Week & Space Technology, 15 January 2001, pp. 181-183; in Proquest, http://proquest.umi.com.
[2] Michael Waller, "Will Gore's slips sink U.S. ships?" Insight on the News, Vol. 16, No. 18, 15 May 2000, pp. 22-24; in Proquest, http://proquest.umi.com.
[3] V.P. Kuzin and V.I. Nikolskiy, Voyenno-morskoy flot SSSR 1945-1991 (St. Petersburg:  Istoricheskoye morskoye obshchestvo, 1996), p. 332.
[4] Eric H. Biass and Roy Braybrook, "Missiles on a cruise," Armada International, June/July 2001; in Proquest, http://proquest.umi.com.
[5] Dmitriy Safronov, "'Moskit' stal sovershenno nesekretnym," Kommersant-Daily, 14 April 1998; in East View Russian/NIS Central Newspapers Databases, http://online.eastview.com.
[6] Nikolay Novichkov, ITAR-TASS, 16 May 2000; in "First Lot of Russian Moskit Missiles Shipped to China,"  FBIS Document CEP20000516000142.
[7] A.V. Karpenko and S.M.Ganin, "Otechestvennye aviatsionnye takticheskiye rakety," Bastion, 1/2000,  pp. 57-58.
[8] "SS-N-22 Sunburn," Missile.index Web Site, http://www.index.ne.jp, 1997.
[9] Norman Friedman, "India tests new antiship missile," U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, August 2001.
[10] Vladimir Urban, "Destroyers of Discord," Novyye izvestiya, 9 January 2002; in "Shipbuilders Squabble Over New Chinese Destroyer Contract," FBIS Document CEP20020109000348.
[11] "Russia Plans To Increase Export Of Moskit Missiles To China," Segodnya, 26 September 1998, p. 2; in Defence & Security, No. 116, 30 September 1998; in East View Military and Security Periodicals Database, http://online.eastview.com.
[12] Anatoliy Dokuchayev, "Russia Does Its Own Production," Krasnaya zvezda, 30 October 1999; in "Dokuchayev reviews developments in naval armaments in last 2-3 months," FBIS Document CEP19991102000037.
[13] Igor Korotchenko, "Vopreki davleniyu SShA," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye online edition, http://nvo.ng.ru, No. 3, 1 February 2002.
[14] Duncan Lennox, "SS-N-22 'Sunburn' (P-80/3M-80 Zubr)," Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems 36, Jane's Information Group Web Site, http://www.janes.com/, 12 November 2001. {Entered 4/19/02 RG}

9K79 TOCHKA/9K79-1 TOCHKA-U [SS-21 'Scarab']
The Tochka/Tochka-U short range ballistic missile (SRBM) is designed for attacks against stationary land targets.  Created by the Design Bureau of Machine Building (KBM) in Kolomna, the Tochka entered service in the Russian military in 1975.  The more advanced Tochka-U entered service in 1989.[1]  It was manufactured at the Votkinskiy Zavod, and was used in the Chechen conflict by the Russian military.[2,3]

The Tochka SRBM is a solid-fueled, single stage missile with a maximum range of 70km (120km for the Tochka-U).[1]  It carries a 500kg payload with a launch weight of approximately 2,000kg, and is carried in a 9P129 transporter erector launcher (TEL).[1,4,5]
 
Iran and Vietnam have shown interest in purchasing the Tochka-U.[6,7] Countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union or that imported arms from the Soviet Union obtained Tochka SRBMs during the 1980s.  Belarus, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Ukraine, Syria, and Yemen are reported to have the Tochka in their arsenals.[8]
 
Tochka Missile Characteristics [1,4,9]
  Tochka (9K79)  Tochka-U (9K79-1)
Length (m) 6.4 6.4
Diameter (m) .65 .65
Range (km) 70 120
Launch Weight (kg) 2,000 2,000
Payload (kg) 480-500 480-500
Sources:
[1] Sergey Sokut, "Innovation: Iskander-E Attacks the Rivals: Russia's Leading Role in the Surface-to-Surface Class of Missile Weaponry Is Being Restored," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye, 1-7 October 1999, No. 38, p. 6; in "Tech Specs of Iskander-E Missile System," FBIS Document FTS19991007001708.
[2] Dmitriy Litovkin, "A Hospice For Missiles," Krasnaya zvezda, 20 May 2000; in "Botkinskiy [sic] Missile Plant and CTR Program," FBIS Document CEP20000519000345.
[3] David Hoffman, "War gives Clout To Russian Military," Washington Post, 5 December 1999, p. 1.
[4] Interfax, 4 November 1999; in "Russia Successfully Tests Tochka-U Missile," FBIS Document FTS19991104000852.
[5] "SS-21 Scarab (9K79 Tochka)," Federation of American Scientists Web Site, www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/ss-21.htm.
[6] "Russian military say cooperation with Iran good for regional stability," ITAR-TASS, 5 October 2001; in "Military 'sources' say cooperation with Iran good for regional stability," FBIS Document CEP20011005000395.
[7] Dmitriy Safonov, "Vietnam Pleased With 'Prodigal Brother's' Return," Izvestiya online edition, http://www.izvestia.ru, 2 March 2001; in "Vietnam Viewed as Promising 'Solvent' Market for Russian Weapons," FBIS Document CEP20010302000185.
[8] "World Missile Chart - Countries Possessing Ballistic Missiles," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Web Site, http://www.ceip.org, 28 June 2001.
[9] "SS-21 Scarab," Missile.index Web Site, http://www.index.ne.jp, 1997.{Entered 4/19/02 RG}

ISKANDER-M/ISKANDER-E [SS-26 'Stone']
The Iskander-M/Iskander-E is a short range ballistic missile (SRBM) designed for tactical battlefield use.  The Russian military version is known as the Iskander-M and the export version is known as the Iskander-E.  Created by the Design Bureau of Machine Building (KBM) in Kolomna, the Iskander-M/Iskander-E has its origins in the Oka-U project which was first started in 1984 as an upgrade of the 9K714 Oka [NATO designation SS-23 'Spider'], but was discontinued in accordance with INF Treaty requirements.  Further development of the Iskander-M/Iskander-E began in the 1990s under the project name 'Tender' using the information and technology from the Oka-U design.[1] The Iskander-E was first displayed at the MAKS-99 air show in 1999 in Zhukovskiy, near Moscow.[2]  On 3 October 2001 testing for the Iskander-E was reported completed, while testing of the domestic Iskander-M version was reported to be continuing.[3]
 
The Iskander-E is a solid-fueled, single-stage SRBM with a maximum range of 280km and a warhead payload of 480kg.  It adheres to MTCR restrictions that limit missiles to a range of 300km and a payload of 500kg.[4]  The domestic Iskander-M version is expected to have a longer range of approximately 400km and a larger warhead up to 700kg.[1]  The Iskander-E has a launch weight of 3,800kg and is deployed on a transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicle that carries two missiles.  The missiles can reportedly be launched within a minute of each other.[4] 
 
Syria, Iran, and Jordan have shown open interest in purchasing the Iskander-E.[5,6,7]  KBM director Nikolay Gushchin has stated that Russia will also seek to export the Iskander-E to Algeria, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and South Korea.[8]  The state tests are to be completed in which is planned for 2003, and following their completion the Iskander-M is expected to be deployed by the Russian military.[9]
 
Iskander-E Missile Characteristics [1,4] 
Length (m) 7.3
Diameter (m) .92
Range (km) 280
Launch Weight (kg) 3,800
Payload (kg) 480
Sources: 
[1] Steve J. Zaloga, "Son of Scud," Journal of Military Ordnance, Vol. 10, No. 2, March 2000, p.28-30.
[2] Dmitriy Litovkin, "Kolomna is surprising the world.  The time is ripe for a revolution in the market for technical systems," Krasnaya zvezda, 18 March 2000, p. 6; in "New Products at 'Mashinostroyeniya'," FBIS Document CEP20000317000289.
[3] ITAR-TASS, 3 October 2001; in "Russia tests export version of Iskander missile system," FBIS Document CEP20011003000179.
[4] Sergey Sokut, "Innovation: Iskander-E Attacks the Rivals: Russia's Leading Role in the Surface-to-Surface Class of Missile Weaponry Is Being Restored," Nezavisimoye voyennoye obozreniye, 1-7 October 1999, No. 38, p. 6; in "Tech Specs of Iskander-E Missile System," FBIS Document FTS19991007001708.
[5] Igor Korotchenko, "Russian Federation Will Strengthen Damascus' Military Potential.  Over Next Few Years Russian Arms Shipments to Syria Will Rise to $1 Billion," Nezavisimaya gazeta, 24 May 2001, p. 6; in "Syrian Defense Minister To Discuss Military-Technical Cooperation in Moscow," FBIS Document CEP20010542000148.
[6] "Russian military say cooperation with Iran good for regional stability," ITAR-TASS, 5 October 2001; in "Russia: Military 'sources' say cooperation with Iran good for regional stability," FBIS Document CEP20011005000395. 
[7] "Russia Has Little Hope For Jordan Purchase," Middle East Newsline, Vol. 3, No. 340, 29 August 2001.
[8] "Russia Wants To Sell Multi-Warhead Missiles To M.E.," Middle East Newsline, Vol. 2, No. 114, 22 March 2000.
[9] Agentstsvo voyennykh novostey, 22 May 2002; in "State tests of two missile systems to be completed in 2003," FBIS Document CEP20020522000087. {Entered 4/19/02 RG}

Page last updated 26 June 2002
For more recent developments, see the General Missile Export Developments file.
 
Comments or questions? Contact Michael Jasinski at MIIS CNS: Michael.Jasinski@miis.edu

CNSThis material is produced independently for NTI by the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2003 by MIIS.

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  SITE MAP