The Silex is a fully dual role, though it is designed to attack submarines it has features that enable it to attack and sink ships as well. It is very much like an Ikara but with longer range. It is basically a rocket that carrys a torpedo on a ballistic path towards the location of a submarine (based on information gathered by sonar or ASW helos etc etc). If the target is a sub the torpedo is released into the water and seeks out the sub while the remainder of the rocket hits the water. If the target is a surface ship there is a 300kg HE warhead inside the rocket portion of the weapon, which combined with the torpedos warhead (which is not dropped) provide enough power to seriously damage most surface ships. To make it an anti ship missile requires one flick of one switch before launch.
Modern replacements for the Silex would probably be ASuW 3M54E (subsonic all the way) and 3M54E1 (supersonic terminal phase) and the related ASW 91RE2. All three are fired from vertical launchers on ships with the latter carrying a torpedo payload out to 40km or so.
It is worth mentioning that in the anti-ship role, the missile uses a heat-seeking head that homes on the intended target. As it is an over-the -horizon system (50 km range), the Ka-27 Helix helicopters can be used for targeting as well as mid-flight guidance and correction.
I am not sure if there is a radar guided version of the missile.
This photo shows two different versions of the missile.
Just anti-sub plus dual role
or
IR guided plus Radar guided
:confused: ?????
Conversion
In 1997 the R-160 TARANTUL (pr.12411) class missile boat was converted to a “Small Artillery Ship”.
This vessel was laid down in 1986, launched 1987 and was commisiioned into the Soviet Navy as the “Poltavsky Komsomolets”.
It was renamed R-160 in 1990.
During 1997, the Moskit missiles and associated fire control systems were removed. In lieu of the antiship missiles it received four multiple launchers for artillery rockets.
The name changed to MAK-160
30 July 2006 in Astrakhan
Second Neustrashimy
After a long pause YAROSLAV MUDRY is now being completed. I don’t have a recent photo. This one dates back to 16 May 2005.
The Kara (pr.1134) class cruisers still in service
Two (out of a total of 7 built) are still in service.
KERCH at the navy parade in Sevastopol (27 July 2007)
OCHAKOV being refitted at Sevastopol (15 November 2006). I have heard from some sources that it will acquire modern armament.
For comparison sake. Here is a photo of the MATKA (pr.206) class boat BUDENNOVSK. The older SSN-2 missiles are prominant.
Picture date : 30 July 2006 in Astrakhan
Yes, it’s AK-630-2 Duet, a private venture by KBP. As the Navy is not enthusiastic about it, currently there are no on -ship trials planned, but that may change of course.
AFAIK, the only vessel that has received the superposed barrel double gun is the MATKA class (pr.206MP) missile boat R-44. The system was later on removed.
The R-44 in the Black sea. The duet gun is visble. Also note the Kh-35 URAN antiship missiles that have replaced the older SSN-2s. Date of photo is unknown.
A more recent photo of the R-44 (24 August 2006). The duet-gun is gone.
I believe this is a model of the small submarine P-650E shown at the IMDS-2007 show in St. Petersburg.
What are the vertical tubes at the rear of this sub? are they missile launchers? are they for mine laying? diver exit ?
photosource: http://pilot.strizhi.info/photos/v/IMDS-2007/
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