The Kalibr missile system became a real sensation last year. The cruise missiles of the complex, both naval and submarine, have been used several times to strike at terrorist targets in Syria. During these strikes, the missiles showed uniquely high characteristics of range and firing accuracy, which greatly surprised both specialists and the general public. Several missile strikes made it possible not only to complete the combat mission, but also to demonstrate the capabilities of the latest Russian weapons. It should be noted that the Kalibr missile system can exist not only in the form of a ship's or a submarine's weaponry. Other versions of this system with a different basing were also developed, which by now have been undeservedly forgotten. For example, the project of the Kalibr-M coastal missile system was of great interest at one time.
The cruise missiles of the Caliber family were developed by specialists from the Novator Design Bureau, which is now part of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern. A characteristic feature of the project "Caliber" (export designation Club) is the ability to use missiles on various platforms, from ships and submarines to ground launchers or even special systems based on standard containers. All of these capabilities have been used in several projects developed to date. Among other things, the new missiles were proposed to be used as weapons for the Kalibr-M or Club-M coastal mobile missile system.
The goal of the Caliber-M project was to create a promising coastal mobile missile system with the ability to attack various surface or ground targets. It was required to ensure the possibility of advancing the complex's means to the specified launch area, as well as an independent search for a target with its further defeat. The development of the project was carried out by several organizations. OKB "Novator", being the creator of the "Caliber" missiles, was responsible for armament, and other means were designed by the concern "Morinformsistema-Agat". In addition, some other related developers and suppliers of the necessary components were involved in the project.
The prototype of the Kalibr-M launcher at the MAKS-2007 exhibition. Photo Said-pvo.livejournal.com
The development of the Caliber-M project started in the late nineties or early 2000s, which made it possible by 2005 to start promoting this system on the international market. At several international exhibitions and salons in 2005, development organizations for the first time disclosed information about the existence of a new coastal missile system, and also announced some of its capabilities. The main characteristics of the complex and missiles were named, as well as some features of export deliveries were identified. In particular, even then the possibility of using several types of missiles was announced. In addition, it was then argued that the means of the Club-M complex could be based on chassis of various types, including MAZ, Ural or even Tatra brands, depending on the wishes of the customer. When using this or that chassis, however, some modifications of the complex were required.
After the "premiere" of the project, the work continued, resulting in the emergence of experimental equipment. At the MAKS-2007 showroom, Novator and Morinformsistema-Agat presented for the first time a prototype of a self-propelled launcher of a new missile system. It was a four-axle wheeled vehicle based on the Belarusian-made MZKT-7930 chassis, similar to that used as the basis for the Iskander complexes. Moreover, according to some reports, the Caliber-M prototype was rebuilt from the available Iskander machine, which was associated with some of its design features. The presented combat vehicle received a lifting launcher with attachments for several transport and launch containers of missiles. The prototype shown received four containers of missiles.
During the MAKS-2007 exhibition, only a self-propelled launcher was shown in the form of a full-size sample. Other means of the "Caliber-M" / Club-M complex at that time were demonstrated only in the form of large-scale models, as well as in the form of drawings in advertising materials. From the announced data, it followed that in addition to the launcher, the missile complex should include a communications and control vehicle equipped with a radar station to search for targets.
Mockups of the communication and control vehicle (left) and the launcher. Photo Bastion-karpenko.narod.ru
The complete composition of the Kalibr-M mobile coastal missile system is as follows: a self-propelled launcher, a transport-loading vehicle, a communications and control vehicle, a technical support vehicle, cruise missiles of three types, as well as equipment for servicing and storing missiles. All the main assets of the complex should be mounted on self-propelled chassis, which will provide them with the required mobility and will allow them to arrive in the launch area in time, and then change their position and escape from the retaliatory strike.
The number of these or those means in the complex depends on the characteristics of the area of work, tactical situation and other factors. In the simplest configuration, the Kalibr-M complex can consist of two launchers and one communication and control vehicle, as well as additional equipment for solving auxiliary tasks. If necessary, the number of launchers working in conjunction with one communication and control machine can be increased. The standard composition of the missile division was planned to include three launchers and one control vehicle, as well as auxiliary equipment.
A self-propelled communication and control vehicle responsible for searching for targets and target designation is a chassis of a suitable type (for example, MZKT-7930), on which a van body is mounted with a set of special equipment, including a lifting radar antenna. At various exhibitions, it was argued that monitoring the situation can be carried out using active and passive means of observation: the equipment is capable of both independently "inspecting" the surrounding space, and studying the situation without emitting its own signals. The detection range in the active mode was set at 250 km, in the passive mode - up to 450 km.
Means of the "Caliber-M" complex in position. Figure Concern-agat.ru
Communication equipment, proposed for installation on a control machine, allows the transmission of target data to self-propelled launchers. In addition, it provides combat work on third-party target designation with the reception of information from the command post or from other reconnaissance means and the subsequent transfer of data to launchers with missiles. Fire control is carried out centrally, which allows you to optimize the process of attacking targets by choosing a launcher at the most convenient position, controlling missile consumption, etc.
The self-propelled launcher is worthy of a separate review. This combat vehicle can be based on various types of chassis, on which, however, some characteristics of the complex depend. Thus, the use of the MZKT-7930 or BAZ-6909 chassis makes it possible to bring the ready-to-use ammunition load to six missiles. In the case of developing other versions of the complex based on less heavy chassis, the ammunition load can be reduced in accordance with the capabilities of the existing equipment.
The prototype of the self-propelled launcher presented at the MAKS-2007 exhibition was a four-axle all-wheel drive vehicle with a special van body containing the elements of the launcher. A characteristic feature that distinguishes the Caliber-M / Club-M from the Iskander system on a similar chassis is a van of greater height and increased volume, which can accommodate a relatively large ammunition load. Because of this, in particular, a characteristic casing appeared on the roof of the cab of the base machine.
Demonstration of the complex operation. Figure Bastion-karpenko.narod.ru
The body of the launcher must protect the internal systems and TPK with missiles while moving and at a stop, and also not interfere with their launch. For this purpose, the roof and the rear wall of the van are openable. On the sides, double folding devices are attached, capable of diverging to the sides and opening the way for missiles. In the stowed position, they fold down to provide the required protection for the indoor units.
The prototype "Caliber-M", shown in 2007, received two independent launchers with their own hydraulic drives, which is probably due to its "origin", namely, with a rework from the "Iskander" complex. On two separate lifting devices, attachments for TPK missiles were provided. Each of the devices could carry two containers. In the stowed position, the containers were lowered to a horizontal position and laid along the hull. In the center of the body-van, a vertical partition was provided.
It should be noted that the advertising materials of that time featured a ready-to-use ammunition load in the form of six missiles. According to some reports, full-fledged serial self-propelled launchers were supposed to receive three lifting devices with mounts for two missiles on each. At the same time, it was planned to provide both joint and separate lifting of pairs of missiles. However, the advertising materials featured images of the launcher, made in the form of a single package with a single lift cylinder. Regardless of the design of the lifting devices, it can be assumed that for the implementation of the "three-row" launcher project, it would be necessary to rework the body of the machine, increasing its width.
Model of the 3M-54E anti-ship missile. Photo Wikimedia Commons
In advertising materials for the Club-M project, it was argued that a self-propelled launcher based on the MZKT-7930 chassis with six missiles would be able to move along the highway at speeds up to 70 km / h and cover up to 1000 km at one refueling. The combat weight of the vehicle was determined at the level of 48 tons, the crew was 3 people. After arriving at the position, the deployment procedure was supposed to take about 3 minutes. Within 2 minutes after starting, the machine could move to the stowed position and leave the position.
It was proposed to include three types of missiles with different characteristics and a different range of tasks to be solved in the nomenclature of weapons of the mobile coastal complex "Caliber-M". To destroy enemy ships, it was planned to use 3M-54KE and 3M-54KE1 missiles (in the export modification of the complex). In addition, the complex could also destroy stationary ground targets with known coordinates, for which it was proposed to use 3M-14KE missiles. This range of missile weapons made it possible to expand the range of tasks to be solved, ensuring the protection of the coast not only from attacks from the sea, but also from other threats.
The anti-ship missiles proposed for use in the Club-M complex allow attacking surface targets at ranges of up to 200-300 km, depending on the modification. The missiles are equipped with penetrating high-explosive warheads of different weights, from 200 to 400 kg, and, as a result, differ in launch weight. The cruise missile 3M-14K (or export 3M-14KE), in turn, must carry a high-explosive warhead weighing 450 kg and deliver it to a range of up to 300 km.
Model of a cruise missile 3M-14E. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The declared target detection radii and missile flight ranges allowed the Kalibr-M / Club-M complex to cover a fairly large section of the coast. According to calculations, it is possible to protect a section up to 600 km wide along the front and about 300 km deep, both towards the sea and in the direction of land. The starting positions of the launchers, according to the developer, should be at a distance of no more than 100 km from the coastline. By correctly placing combat positions, the Club-M complex can become a reliable barrier on the enemy's path and disrupt the implementation of his plans.
It should be noted that the figures given apply only to the export version of the complex and missiles. The events of last autumn and winter clearly showed that the range of 300 km is exclusively a consequence of international agreements that impose restrictions on the characteristics of exported missiles. In the case of the production of Kalibr-M complexes for the Russian armed forces, the range can reach 1000-1500 km with the corresponding consequences of a tactical nature. At the same time, to achieve such characteristics, appropriate means of detection and target designation are required.
Both Russian and export versions of the mobile coastal missile system should have a common inherent advantage in terms of missile power. It is not difficult to calculate that a common salvo of six missiles from one launcher will allow warheads with a total weight of 1200 kg to be delivered to the enemy ship. For a ground target, this parameter reaches 2700 kg. From the point of view of such characteristics, the Caliber-M / Club-M complex turns out to be one of the most advanced systems in the world.
Launcher at launch position. Figure Concern-agat.ru
As you can see, the promising coastal mobile missile system "Caliber-M" is able to effectively solve the problems of coastal defense against enemy ships, as well as strike at stationary targets at a distance of up to several hundred kilometers. The use of self-propelled chassis as the basis for all means of the complex provides a quick transfer to a given area, and also allows you to leave the starting position in order to avoid a retaliatory attack from the enemy. At the same time, the chassis of high cross-country ability significantly expands the size of the areas where missile systems can be located.
The proposed detection and targeting systems provide search for targets at ranges of up to 250-450 km, followed by firing control. This, to a certain extent, simplifies and accelerates the attack of enemy ships, and can also have a positive effect on the survivability of the complex.
Perhaps the most important and interesting feature of the Club-M complex is the ability to use three types of cruise missiles. Two of them provide effective destruction of enemy ships, both single and in a group, and the third is designed to attack ground targets with predetermined coordinates. Thus, depending on the task at hand, "Caliber-M" can be both a coastal defense complex and an analogue of operational-tactical systems with ballistic missiles. This greatly expands the range of tasks to be solved.
At exhibitions of past years, the coastal complex appeared under the name Club-M, and the letters "E" were present in the designations of the proposed missiles. All this testified to the desire of the development organizations to present their new project to potential foreign customers, as well as to interest them and in the future to sign contracts for the supply of new equipment. According to available data, the countries of Southeast Asia were considered as potential customers. In addition, the countries of the Persian Gulf showed some interest in advertising materials. All these Asian and Middle Eastern states need modern systems to protect their maritime borders, which is why the Club-M project could be of great interest to them.
Complex "Caliber-M" / Club-M dj time of combat work. Figure Concern-agat.ru
Nevertheless, despite the presence of materials, models and a prototype at various exhibitions, the project "Caliber-M" / Club-M has not yet reached the construction and testing of prototypes. In addition, there are no contracts for the supply of such military equipment so far. The new Russian project attracted the attention of the foreign military, but in this case the matter did not go beyond mere interest and discussion. The domestic armed forces also did not show much interest in the "Caliber-M", focusing their efforts on the development of similar weapons for ships and submarines.
Despite a number of positive features, high performance and remarkable potential, the Kalibr-M / Club-M coastal mobile missile system has not yet left the stage of design and construction of a prototype-model. Perhaps in the future the situation will change and the new missile system will be able to go into series production in the interests of Russian or foreign armed forces. However, the future of the project is still a matter of controversy.
An additional factor that may affect the future of the coastal complex may be the results of the combat use of ship-based and underwater-based Caliber missiles. Last year, the navy carried out several strikes against a real enemy using such weapons. The results of combat use have demonstrated all the advantages of such missiles, and also made an impression on specialists and the general public. It cannot be ruled out that the results of the actual use of "sea" missiles of the "Caliber" family will somehow affect the further fate of the "Caliber-M" coastal complex.
