“Turquoise” from the Soviet legacy frightened Americans
The British newspaper The Daily Telegraph broke out in a panicked article on combat
capabilities of the Russian missile system "Turquoise" (export name Club-K), which was recently demonstrated at the Asian exhibition of defense systems in Malaysia. Cited by the publication of representatives of the US defense department assure that the new Russian weapon can completely change the global military balance.
“This system provides an opportunity for the proliferation of ballistic missiles on such a scale that we have not yet seen,” Ruben Johnson, Pentagon’s consultant for defense, assesses the potential of Club-K. “Thanks to careful disguise, you can no longer easily determine that an object is being used as a launcher.” First, a harmless cargo ship appears at your shores, and the next minute your military facilities are already destroyed by explosions. ”
Another military expert, Robert Hewson, said while commenting on the novelty: “This Club-K completely changes the game. The threat is immense, because no one can tell where the strike will come from. ” As stated by the newspaper Robert Hewson, Club-K will allow to destroy even aircraft carriers. According to Hewson, the developer of Turquoise, the Russian Innovator Design Bureau, advertises its product mainly as a means of protection against aggression by the United States. But aircraft carrier groups are one of the pillars of the American armed forces.
The US military is particularly concerned that Russia openly offers the Club-K to everyone who is under threat of attack from the United States. According to The Daily Telegraph, Club-K will allow even the poorest countries to get powerful weapons, giving them the opportunity to deliver unexpected blows at the most protected targets of the enemy, even with military superiority. Caught in the hands of "rogue states" like Venezuela or Iran, said The Daily Telegraph, Club-K can seriously increase their defenses in the event of aggression by the United States and its allies.
The Israeli publication DEBKA.Com is also worried: if they sell missiles to Syria or Iran, they can easily end up in the hands of anti-Israeli terrorist organizations like the Lebanese Hezbollah. This can completely change the balance of power in the Middle East.
What is this rocket complex, which so frightened the Americans?
- The “Club” missile system (Russian name “Turquoise”), according to NATO codification: SS-N-27 “Sizzler” (translated as “ashes”) was developed and produced in the Novator Design Bureau (Yekaterinburg), - The expert of the information center “Weapon of the XXI century” Colonel Yuri Matushkin told the “SP” correspondent. - It consists of anti-ship missiles 3М-54Е and 3М-54Э1, anti-submarine missiles 91РЭ1 and 91РЭ2 and high-precision missiles for attacking ground targets 3М-14Э. They can be equipped with airplanes, surface ships (launch with universal vertical launch install 3C-14), submarines (launch from torpedo
apparatuses), Caliber-M coastal missile systems (Club-M), any boats, trucks and railway platforms (Club-K). In the latter case, the missile system is disguised as a standard cargo container that cannot be recognized by conventional intelligence. Its standard ammunition - four missiles of various modifications, designed to destroy ground and surface targets. Especially dangerous for the enemy is the version of the 3М54Э1 rocket, capable of sending a penetrating high-explosive warhead weighing 400 kg to 300 km. In the cruising mode, the 3М54Э1 flies at the speed of sound in 0,8 normal for rockets of this class. On the final stretch of the flight, the rocket is reduced, discards the cruising engine and picks up speed exceeding the speed of sound three times. In this mode, knock it off with standard air defenses is extremely difficult.
This magnificent missile system has a Soviet lineage. Its development began in the 1983 year. The first main element of the complex is the Alfa universal rocket, which was demonstrated in 1993 year (10 years after its development began) at the arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi and at the MAKS-93 international aerospace show in Zhukovsky. In the same year she was put into service.
The first test launch of an anti-ship missile of this complex, according to media reports, took place from a nuclear submarine in the North navy in March 2000, the second - in June of the same year from a diesel submarine of project 877 of the Baltic Fleet. Both launches were considered successful.
Today, Russia sells this complex in a number of countries. India became the first foreign customer of the Club system. Surface-mounted and submarine-launched missile systems were installed on 11356 frigates (Talwar type) and diesel submarines of the Indian Navy 877ECM built by Russian enterprises. On previously purchased submarines, the Club is installed when carrying out repairs and upgrades on them. According to media reports, the ZM-54E and ZM-54TE missiles are installed on Indian submarines and frigates, respectively. Rocket system Club is supplied to China.
Currently, other countries are showing great interest in the missile system.
From the dossier:
The “Club” complex can be equipped with coastal positions, surface ships and vessels of various classes, railway and automobile platforms. The Club-K complex is located in a standard 40-foot sea container.
The price of the kit, which, in addition to the universal launch module (USM), includes the combat control module and the power supply and life support module, is, according to data published in the press, the total 15 million dollars.
Performance characteristics:
The 3М54Е, 3М54Е1, 3М14Е, 91РЭ1,91РТЭ2 rockets have a length from 6 to 8 m, diameter 533 mm, starting weight from 1200 to 2300 kg.
Warhead penetrating high-explosive, high-explosive or cluster to 450 kg.
Firing range to 300 km.
Information