SS-N-22
From Free net encyclopedia
SS-N-22 Sunburn is the NATO reporting name for two unrelated Soviet anti-ship missiles. Although the missiles were very different, distinguishing is difficult because their ship-mounted launching containers were identical. Confusion was exacerbated by the Soviet practice of mixing the types within a class of ships. It was therefore not confirmed that the "SS-N-22" actually identified two different missiles until after the fall of the Soviet Union.
One of the SS-N-22s was the Chelomei's P-80 Zubr. It was rocket-propelled, armed with a 250-kilogram warhead, and was carried by early-model Sovremenny-class destroyers and Tarantul-class corvettes. The submarine-launched version of this missile, also known to NATO as SS-N-22 Sunburn, was designated the P-100 Oniks.
The other, unrelated SS-N-22 was the Raduga P-270 Moskit. It was ramjet-propelled (though launched by a small solid-fuel rocket), armed with a 300-kilogram warhead, and was carried by later-model Sovremennyy-class destroyers, Tarantul-class corvettes, and several smaller warships.
People's Republic of China acquired SS-N-22 launchers and missiles (specifically, the for-export 3M-80E Moskit variant) with its 1999–2000 purchase of two Sovremenny class destroyers from Russia. It is speculated that People's Liberation Army Navy intend to use it against the carrier battle groups deployed by United States Navy in case of any confrontation with Taiwan.
Six SS-N-22 launchers were also present on the Soviet ekranoplan Lun.de:Kh-41 ja:SS-N-22 (ミサイル)