Missile deal to boost Beijing's naval prowess

Taipei Times ^ | 6/18/02 | Brian Hsu

[Poohbah]

I don't know if you want to force the SSN's to intercept surface forces sortieing at 30+ kts.....

Plot their likely course, station a boat across their track.

I'd have thought they'd be tasked against a surge of Chinese SSN's and Kilo's, which you would expect in a scenario like that.

The SSNs would be fishfood in the first couple of hours--the biggest danger associated with tracking a Chinese nuke boat is the sonar crew suffering hearing damage.

They'd be preoccupied with their own quiet little war, I would think, for control of the Formosa Strait, and unavailable to protect surface groups. What do you think?

And the Sovremmennys would be sortieing into the same general region.

[gcruse]

YAKHONT (SS-N-26) ASCM

---

Designed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the Yakhont ASCM (Anti-Ship Cruise Missile) meets all principal requirements to anti-ship missiles of the fourth generation - low weight and dimensions (eight missiles can be placed in the hull of a slightly modernized Amur Class sub, or it can replace four P-15 Termit [SS-N-2a Styx] anti-ship missiles), employs stealth technology, has supersonic flight speed and a completely independent guidance system based on the fire-and-forget concept.

The missile is 8.9 meters (29.1 feet) in length. It can be launched from ships, aircraft, submarines, or even ground mobile launchers and is fired from a unified encapsulated ampoule - shaped transporter - launching container. Flight speed is at Mach 2.0+, using a kerosense liquid-fuel ramjet, with a terminal run at Mach 2.5. Range is at 300 km in a hi-lo profile or at 120 km at altitudes of 5-15 metres, in a lo-lo profile. A regular mid-course phase of the flight occurs at 15 km. If and when launched from submarines, the vessel must be fitted with 650mm torpedo tubes.

An operational missile designed for hitting complex sea-based and in-shore targets, a vessel armed with the Yakhount can carry out combat operations against warships or even against carrier battle groups. Yakhont's navigation system uses an inertial guidance system based on the present target location data. At a pre-calculated flight point (around 25 - 80 km), a brief turn-on of the homing scanner occurs, resulting in exact determination of target location. After that, the homing system turns on only when the Yakhont leaves the radio horizon and drops its altitude to 5 - 15 metres, i.e. a few seconds before hitting the target. It carries a 250 kg (553 lbs.) warhead.

The Yakhont ASCM on display at the '97 Moscow Airshow

The missile's designers assume, that the enemy would detect the launch of the missile at the distance of 300 km and take measures to destroy it. However, being resistant to jamming, having the flight velocity of 750 m/s and making complex maneuvers during flight, the Yakhont ASCM shall anyway reach the target. There are no effective means of defense against this Russian missile in naval forces of the world.

It is not the high speed or jamming protection that makes Yakhont an advanced weapon system. It's major advantage, not too much advertised by NPO Mashinostroyeniya representatives, is the guidance system which has accumulated all the NPO experience in developing electronic systems of AI (Artificial Intelligence) enabling to fight against single warships (one missile - one ship) or even against a group of warships (a flock against a group). It is salvo launching that shows all unsurpassed tactical capabilities of the Russian weapon.

The missiles allocate and range targets by their importance and choose the attack implementation plan. The independent control system keeps in memory not only of the ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) and ECCM (Electronic Counter-Countermeasures) data, but also the methods of evading the fire of the enemy's air defense systems such as the US' Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System). Having destroyed the main target in a carrier group, the missiles left attack other ships of the carrier group, eliminating the possibility of using two missiles on one target.

[gcruse]

YAKHONT (SS-N-26) ASCM

---

Designed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya, the Yakhont ASCM (Anti-Ship Cruise Missile) meets all principal requirements to anti-ship missiles of the fourth generation - low weight and dimensions (eight missiles can be placed in the hull of a slightly modernized Amur Class sub, or it can replace four P-15 Termit [SS-N-2a Styx] anti-ship missiles), employs stealth technology, has supersonic flight speed and a completely independent guidance system based on the fire-and-forget concept.

The missile is 8.9 meters (29.1 feet) in length. It can be launched from ships, aircraft, submarines, or even ground mobile launchers and is fired from a unified encapsulated ampoule - shaped transporter - launching container. Flight speed is at Mach 2.0+, using a kerosense liquid-fuel ramjet, with a terminal run at Mach 2.5. Range is at 300 km in a hi-lo profile or at 120 km at altitudes of 5-15 metres, in a lo-lo profile. A regular mid-course phase of the flight occurs at 15 km. If and when launched from submarines, the vessel must be fitted with 650mm torpedo tubes.

An operational missile designed for hitting complex sea-based and in-shore targets, a vessel armed with the Yakhount can carry out combat operations against warships or even against carrier battle groups. Yakhont's navigation system uses an inertial guidance system based on the present target location data. At a pre-calculated flight point (around 25 - 80 km), a brief turn-on of the homing scanner occurs, resulting in exact determination of target location. After that, the homing system turns on only when the Yakhont leaves the radio horizon and drops its altitude to 5 - 15 metres, i.e. a few seconds before hitting the target. It carries a 250 kg (553 lbs.) warhead.

The Yakhont ASCM on display at the '97 Moscow Airshow

The missile's designers assume, that the enemy would detect the launch of the missile at the distance of 300 km and take measures to destroy it. However, being resistant to jamming, having the flight velocity of 750 m/s and making complex maneuvers during flight, the Yakhont ASCM shall anyway reach the target. There are no effective means of defense against this Russian missile in naval forces of the world.

It is not the high speed or jamming protection that makes Yakhont an advanced weapon system. It's major advantage, not too much advertised by NPO Mashinostroyeniya representatives, is the guidance system which has accumulated all the NPO experience in developing electronic systems of AI (Artificial Intelligence) enabling to fight against single warships (one missile - one ship) or even against a group of warships (a flock against a group). It is salvo launching that shows all unsurpassed tactical capabilities of the Russian weapon.

The missiles allocate and range targets by their importance and choose the attack implementation plan. The independent control system keeps in memory not only of the ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) and ECCM (Electronic Counter-Countermeasures) data, but also the methods of evading the fire of the enemy's air defense systems such as the US' Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System). Having destroyed the main target in a carrier group, the missiles left attack other ships of the carrier group, eliminating the possibility of using two missiles on one target.

[lentulusgracchus]

All of which brings up another delicate subject, which is the continuing build-down of the U.S. SSN fleet.

I'd be in favor of taking out the blueprints of the 638 class and banging out a dozen boats just to help fill the gaps. Not everything that goes into service needs to be a Seawolf. I wouldn't want to be the Alfa- or Akula-driver tasked with taking down a wily American boat-driver in a new 638.

[lentulusgracchus]

Thanks for the posts with the photos.

The fact that this missile can be launched from torpedo tubes is pretty serious....hopefully, the Kilo-class boats the Chicoms got from the Sovs don't have the bigger-diameter 26" tubes. I think all but the most recent Russian classes have 21" tubes.

[gcruse]

The fact that this missile can be launched from torpedo tubes is pretty serious...

Not only that, it can be launched from mobile shore structures.
In the hands of  Arabs, Yakhont could make the Gulf
uninhabitable by USN ships.

[Sawdring]

Would those missiles work if they were targeted by a third country not actively involved in the fighting? Lets say Russian warships patrol the area and played war games while the US and China face off in and around the Taiwan Strait giving Chinese forces targeting data on US forces in the area. I know the article I mention below is dated and a lot has supposedly changed since 9/11 but why would China buy these missiles if they couldn't use them to their maximum advantage? Wouldn't there be a cheaper alternative if their targeting capability only extends to a certain point?

Also, what do you think the the US response would be if the Russians were targeting US ships for the Chinese during a US/Sino conflict?

Russia may counter US in Taiwan Strait

[A. Pole]

As far as I know America is not selling arms to nations aggressing Russia these days.

The only armed conflict facing Russia "these days" is in Chechnya. And the support for Chechnya was coming from Saudi Arabia and Taleban ( before 9/11) through Georgia.

[rmlew]

Eww..
I assume that the Russians are overstating the capabilities. STill, the SS-N-26 puts the Harpoon to shame.

The thought of a Chinese Kilo launching those worries me.

[gcruse]

 
Eww..
I assume that the Russians are overstating the capabilities.
STill, the SS-N-26 puts the Harpoon to shame.

They don't seem to be. But attend to this.
The Russians offered to sell Clinton some
of these to use for testing antimissile defenses.
Clinton turned them down.

[lavaroise]

The Chechens never called the US for help and the US never helped the Chechens, though the US did have economic policy engineering recklessness by paying Saudi Arabia for oil. This however pales in comparison to selling Carrier destroyers to China.

If that is the logic of equivalence, then why not providing Chechen warlords with nukes while we are at it.

[lavaroise]

Well, anti trust and Fox News works here.

[Voronin]

Of interest:

Good find, I thought this site (kavkaz.org)was shut down (pretty sure a version of it was). I remember it from a few years ago, was much cruder. Looks much more professional now.

Cogent indeed - Washington DC, 20007. Deep pockets to go along with the deep hatred.

Registrant:
Udug, Movladi (KAVKAZ14-DOM)
10 Bird Lane
Orlando, FL 32860
US

Domain Name: KAVKAZ.ORG

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Udug, Movladi (ZWWPQJQEGI) salatag@hotmail.com
Udug,Movladi
10 Bird Lane
Orlando, FL 32860
US
+1-9745572730 123 123 1234

http://www.freerepublic.com/fo cus/news/698549/posts

It's interesting what you say about criticism of Putin being forbidden. It is said that the US media has self-censored itself from criticism of W. since 9/11... Indeed, it has indeed been quite a turn around.

VRN

[Voronin]

From the same thread:

If you want your twisted news-propaganda straight from the Mujhadeen themselves try Kavkaz.org Their website has fiber-optic connectivity straight to an internet backbone in Washington DC via Cogent. Expensive - thousands of dollars a month just for the bandwidth - don't we all wonder who's footing the bill? Why doesn't someone ask?

Look at the effectiveness of the censorship in Russia verses the effectiveness censorship in the USA. Ours is much better! Our censors don't allow people to know the Mujhadeen have a website in Washington DC.

[Poohbah]

Would those missiles work if they were targeted by a third country not actively involved in the fighting?

They're designed in part around a space-based ocean surveillance network operated by the late and unlamented USSR. That network is dying as we speak (it needs six satellites for full coverage of any given point on the Earth; they're down to two, and those birds are right at the end of their service lives with no replacements in sight).

Lets say Russian warships patrol the area and played war games while the US and China face off in and around the Taiwan Strait giving Chinese forces targeting data on US forces in the area.

The Russian Navy is many things. They are not, however, stupid AND crazy. There is entirely too much chance of (a) the US getting frosted and Russian warships "accidentally getting sunk in the confusion," (b) Chinese missiles getting lost and sinking the Russians (particularly if we play fun little games with GLONASS and GPS), (c) the US mistaking the Russian ships for Chinese ships and REALLY sinking them by accident. And all this to support a historical enemy of several centuries' standing, to boot.

I know the article I mention below is dated and a lot has supposedly changed since 9/11 but why would China buy these missiles if they couldn't use them to their maximum advantage?

Many governments buy the shiniest toys without regard to whether they can be used to best effect. Heck, we've done it ourselves.

Wouldn't there be a cheaper alternative if their targeting capability only extends to a certain point?

Good question. There isn't a rational answer, though. Procurement decisions outside the US are frequently tied to bribes and kickbacks.

Also, what do you think the the US response would be if the Russians were targeting US ships for the Chinese during a US/Sino conflict?

"Gosh, Vladimir, you just can't trust those heathen Chinee, can't you? Imagine, the little bastards back-stabbing you with that SSN after you helped them sink our ships."

[GOP_1900AD]

So please describe the dates of the most recent US arms sales to Iran, Iraq, Syria or other crap countries? Compare and contrast with the most recent Russian (reborn USSR) sales? Go for it....

[GOP_1900AD]

Putin leading Russia (reborn USSR) is akin to an ex-SS officer being Chancellor of Germany. You are digging your own rhetorical hole and exposing your own (and your country's) true leanings.

[GOP_1900AD]

Some in Russia seem to have a particular ability to forecast US "terrorist" attacks. Why might this be?

[GOP_1900AD]

Indeed, the most important proviso of the 7/16/2001 Russo-Chinese mutual defense treaty that no one wants to talk about is the implied role for Russia in providing interdiction of US naval forces in transit across the N. Pacific to supplant forces out of Japan, Hawaii and Guam, in taking direct action in the Western Pacific, and, here's the clincher, providing ICBM cover if called upon to do so.

Now, revisit all assumptions regarding cross Straits conflict. What would the US do if we faced the Russian Navy on the way, and upon arrival, all in addition to the PLAN? And, what would be our will to action if ICBM strikes against CONUS by the new USSR were also in the offing if we dared to oppose PLA / PLAN aggression against Taiwan. Now, to make things really interesting, let's throw in concurrent PLA island hopping towards the Strait of Malacca, invasion of Thailand southward through the Mekong Gap, and, coordinated strategic and tactical attacks on India by the combined forces of Pakistan and the PRC (including many IRBMs lobbed over the hump). As if all of that were not enough to ruin your day, now, let's also throw in a DPRK attack across the DMZ, another Saddam outbreak, and, some sort of Cuban organized shenanigans in multiple locations in the Americas. Think it cannot happen?

[mikhailovich]

More akin to an ex-CIA officer being President of the U.S., ala George Bush, Sr.