Video: Russia Conducts Test of Kalibr-PL Cruise Missile with Volkhov Submarine

Kilo Class Submarine B-265 Krasnodar. Photo: Wikimedia

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced today that the Volkhov submarine of the Kilo class from the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet successfully conducted a test firing of the Kalibr-PL cruise missile at a coastal target.

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The operation was conducted as part of the combat training plan in the Sea of Japan, with the crew of the diesel-electric submarine Volkhov executing the missile launch from the seabed.

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According to the statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Kalibr missile successfully hit the designated target at the Syurkum shooting range, in the Khabarovsk region, from a firing range of 1000 kilometers. The missile firing area was previously closed for safety operations, with the presence of ships from the Pacific Fleet, aircraft drones, and naval aviation.

The diesel-electric submarine Project 636.3 (SSK) Volkhov, which entered service in October 2020, is the second in a series of six SSK submarines built for the Russian Pacific Fleet. Constructed by the Admiralty Shipyard, the Volkhov took 41 months to build and operationalize, from the start of the keel laying in July 2017 until its launch in December 2019.

Kalibr Missile. Photo: Wikimedia

The Kalibr missile, a versatile family of Russian cruise missiles developed by the Novator Design Bureau (OKB-8), is capable of carrying warheads with an explosive weight of up to 500 kilograms, and can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear weapons. With a range exceeding 2,500 km (1,550 miles), the Kalibr can be launched from various platforms, including surface ships, submarines, and aircraft.

A unique feature of the 3M-54 Kalibr is its second stage thrust, allowing the missile to reach supersonic speed on its final approach to the target. This capability reduces the reaction time of the target’s defense systems, making it more difficult to detect and destroy the missile. Additionally, there are subsonic versions of the missile, with an even greater range than the supersonic versions, making it a key piece in the Russian naval arsenal.

Photo and video: Reproduction telegram mod_russia