Harpoon and NSM missiles for Ukraine. Unresolved issues and doubtful prospects
Recently it became known that the United States is considering the possibility of transferring modern coastal systems with anti-ship missiles to the Ukrainian army. With the help of such weapons it is planned to push Russian ships away from the ports of Ukraine and ensure the free export of agricultural products. Several options for such assistance are being considered, but all of them face technical or organizational difficulties.
Anti-ship aid
On the current discussion of possible deliveries of anti-ship missiles on May 19, Reuters reported. It received information in this regard from three unnamed officials and two representatives of Congress. According to them, the very possibility of transferring missiles, the optimal type of weapons and the method of their delivery are now being discussed in Washington.
Anti-ship missiles are considered as a means of countering the Russian Black Sea the fleet. With their help, it is proposed to push Russian ships away from Ukrainian ports, which will allow the restoration of merchant shipping. As a result, it will be possible to deliver various cargoes to Ukraine, incl. military purposes, as well as to export agricultural products.
According to Reuters, two RCC models are currently being considered as potential assistance. This is the Harpoon product from Boeing and the newer NSM rocket from Kongsberg and Raytheon. While the comparison of these missiles continues, their features are being studied and prospects are being determined as an aid to Ukraine.
At the same time, there are significant difficulties of various kinds that prevent the immediate start of deliveries and the speedy deployment. So, Ukraine needs a coastal missile system, and the Harpoon anti-ship missile actually does not have a suitable land-based launcher. The possibility of transferring the ship installation to a land platform is being explored, but the timing of such a project and its success are in question.
The situation with the NSM rocket is simpler. Several launchers have already been developed for it, incl. ground. This RCC is also distinguished by a certain ease of development and operation. There is also a fundamental possibility of the earliest delivery of the complexes: they could be provided by one of the operating countries.
Deliveries and concerns
It is curious that the United States has so far only considered the possibility of supplying missiles - its own or from the presence of friendly armies. Several countries can become suppliers in such a scheme at once. However, none of them has yet been in a hurry to start shipping. Apart from technical factors, the allocation of aid is hampered by political risks. Potential suppliers are actually afraid of the consequences.
At the time of the article in Reuters, none of the countries capable of providing their anti-ship missiles wanted to become the first and / or only supplier of such weapons. They were afraid that the successful use of missiles would lead to a reaction from Russia. What it will be, and whether assistance to Ukraine will justify such risks is a big question.
A possible solution for such a problem has already been proposed. A Reuters source claims that one of the countries is ready to be the first to send Harpoon missiles to Ukraine. It will set a positive example for other states, and they will also start deliveries from the presence of their armed forces. At the same time, it was not specified which country would become the “leader”.
The situation cleared up the day before. On May 23, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that the first supplier of missiles had been found. Denmark is ready to provide a certain amount of ammunition and a launcher for them. Probably, we are talking about self-propelled coastal complexes, which were in service with the Danish coastal forces until the beginning of the XNUMXs.
The supply of NSM complexes is still in question. According to Reuters, Norway can provide them. It is reported that such a proposal from the American side has already found support from the Norwegian parliamentarians. However, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense does not comment on any new deliveries of its weapons to Ukraine.
Missile threat
Harpoon and NSM products are subsonic anti-ship missiles suitable for use on different platforms. Two anti-ship missiles have different dimensions and weight, which leads to a serious difference in performance characteristics and combat capabilities.
The Harpoon missile was developed in the mid-seventies and has since been repeatedly upgraded. It is intended to arm warships, submarines and naval aircraft. aviation. A land launcher also existed and was used to a limited extent. Compatibility with different platforms contributed to the widespread use of "Harpoons". Anti-ship missiles of this type are in service with more than 30 countries.
Depending on the launch method, Harpoon has a length of 3,8 or 4,6 m with a weight of up to 690 kg. The missile is equipped with a sustainer turbojet engine, with which it can reach speeds of up to 865 km/h. The main part of the flight takes place at a height of several meters above the water. The range of the ship modification of the missile reaches 125-140 km.
Rockets "Harpoon" are equipped with a combined guidance system. The flight to the target area is carried out using an autopilot with navigation aids. The search and defeat of the target is carried out due to the active radar homing head. The missile carries a 221-kg high-explosive warhead.
Norwegian anti-ship missiles NSM is used on ships and land launchers. It is curious that it is the coastal direction that is receiving special development - several variants of such complexes have already been created and new ones are expected. An aviation modification of the JSM rocket is also being developed. To date, NSMs have entered service with three countries, and orders from several more fleets are being carried out.
The NSM rocket is smaller and lighter than the Harpoon. Its length does not exceed 3,95 m, weight - 410 kg. The anti-ship missile is equipped with a small-sized turbojet engine, which gives it a high subsonic speed. The flight is made along one of the selected profiles with different heights. Depending on the profile, the flight range reaches 185 km.
The product is equipped with an autopilot with inertial and satellite navigation, as well as an infrared seeker with a database of typical targets. A 125-kg high-explosive warhead with a multi-mode fuse is used.
Retaliatory measures
Foreign anti-ship missiles pose an obvious threat to our ships, and the emergence of such weapons in Ukraine will lead to retaliatory measures. As the practice of recent months has shown, the Russian armed forces have all the means and capabilities to neutralize such threats, and at different stages.
Imported NSM or Harpoon missiles, as well as launchers for them, can be destroyed almost at any time after they enter Ukrainian territory. With the help of long-range means, they can be knocked out at the stage of transportation or during preparation for service. In addition, the missile system can be destroyed right at the firing position.
One of the means for the destruction of Ukrainian coastal complexes can be ship-based Kalibr missiles. They can be launched far beyond the NSM or Harpoon kill zone. This circumstance alone actually makes the supply of foreign anti-ship missiles useless.
However, the enemy may get a chance to use their new missiles and attack our fleet. In this case, the entire responsibility lies with the defense systems available on board each ship. So, to counter the GOS of the Harpoon missile, electronic warfare should be used, and the NSM guidance can be thwarted with decoys.
Also, all warships have anti-aircraft missile and artillery systems. Depending on the type of ship, an incoming missile can be hit by medium or short-range air defense systems at a distance of tens of kilometers, or by artillery in the near zone.
Deliveries in question
At the moment, the situation with possible deliveries of foreign anti-ship missiles to Ukraine looks ambiguous. Kyiv's main ally, the United States, is seriously considering such a measure and has even determined which anti-ship missiles should be included in the aid program. However, later technical and organizational problems arose.
Some of these issues appear to have been resolved. Denmark is ready to provide long-decommissioned land-based launchers and missiles of their day. Whether other countries will follow is unknown. However, given the experience of recent months, it can be expected that the supply of foreign anti-ship missiles will not be massive and will not have a significant impact on the situation as a whole - as has been repeatedly the case with other advertised foreign weapons.
Information