Russia's Western partners, at least in the media, were concerned about our next innovation - the missile system (RK) "Club-K" in a container version. In their opinion, this is a miracle weapon, a powerful strike system, dangerous in the hands of a weak but aggressive enemy. The developers of the Republic of Kazakhstan claim that it is just an effective means of deterrence.

It turns out that the container version of the placement of missile weapons has its own background, the story of which allows us to unambiguously resolve the question: to what extent were previously known technological solutions used in the novelty?

Technological background

At the defense industry enterprises, work is constantly being carried out to reduce the dimensions of weapons with the same or better combat characteristics. Let us recall the first domestic sea-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) - KSS, KSCH and P-15. They were housed in hangar and stabilized bulky launchers. A little time passed, and they were replaced by containers. This made it possible to make launch systems and SLCMs themselves more compact. The latter began to be equipped with folding wings. The adopted decisions increased the ship's ammunition.

“The missiles of the Club-K complex are in standard shipping containers, which are daily transported by thousands around the world - by planes, ships, rail, cars”

Soon new technologies were introduced in the field of electronics, small motors, rocket fuel, explosives, which ensured the development of small-sized cruise missiles. The United States adopted the Harpoon anti-ship missile (ASM) and the Tomahawk strategic SLCM. In France - anti-ship missiles "Exoset". In the USSR - anti-ship missiles X-35 and SLCM "Club". Later, from two to four KRs began to be installed in containers, which actually turned into rocket modules. Then below-deck cellular launchers appeared. For the ship version of the RK "Club" such accommodation is provided.

However, all of the above is not directly related to the Club-K complex. Its missiles are in standard civilian shipping and rail transport containers, which are transported daily by the thousands around the world - by planes, ships, rail, cars. Advantages - stealth and disguise. It is almost impossible to find a container with weapons in a huge volume of transported cargo, and it is extremely convenient to transfer it.

A similar situation at one time developed with domestic combat railway missile systems (BZHRK). At the talks in Geneva on the reduction of strategic weapons, the American side proposed an experiment, the essence of which is as follows: a train with a BZHRK is driven to a large railway junction, then photographs are taken from space, then experts must find the complex. So, this operation was difficult even for our military specialists. Therefore, the Americans insisted on banning the movement of the BZHRK in Peaceful time outside the bases of permanent deployment. It was about a rocket 23 meters long and weighing more than 100 tons. Another thing - "Club" is only six - eight meters long and weighs just over two tons.

Unrealized plan

By the way, in the late 70s - early 80s, work was also carried out in the USSR on container-based naval aviation. It was supposed to significantly increase the combat capabilities of the fleet in war time, having received a certain number of "escort" aircraft carriers (like our Western allies in the anti-Hitler coalition during World War II) and helicopter carriers.

Deployment of Ka-252 helicopters (after being put into service - Ka-27) and Yak-38 attack aircraft not only on aircraft-carrying cruisers, but also on civilian ships opened up tempting prospects. In order to test its feasibility in September 1983, on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy S. G. Gorshkov, pilots of the naval aviation combat unit for the first time in the USSR landed Yak-38 vertical take-off and landing combat aircraft (VTOL) on the deck of the motor ship Agostinho Neto » type «RO-RO». At first, this was done on September 14 by Senior Pilot-Inspector Colonel Yu. N. Kozlov. A total of 20 flights were made up to September 29.

State tests (18 flights) were carried out by pilots V. V. Vasenkov and A. I. Yakovenko from the container ship Nikolai Cherkasov. As a result, it turned out that boarding a ship of this type is very difficult due to the limited possible approach trajectories. Big problems were also caused by the tightness of the area (18 by 24 meters) surrounded by ship structures, allocated for VTOL aircraft. However, the idea itself was not rejected, and in the future it was not denied that civilian ships could be used as "mini-aircraft carriers." Nevertheless, when they began to consider how many containers needed to be converted and stored in peacetime, the idea was abandoned.

Not only in our country

Work on the placement of weapons in standard containers was also carried out in the West. The Falkland Islands war forced the British government to quickly form a powerful naval force, turning Special attention to its aviation component. After all, far from their native shores, it is not only difficult, but also impossible, to do without air support. Then, in 1982, the British placed the complex for airfield maintenance of the Harriers, as well as air defense installations, in ship containers, loaded them onto the Atlantic Conveyor transport and sent them to the South Atlantic.

Currently, weapons container modules are key elements American programs LSC-X and LCS. According to the command of the US Navy, on the experimental ship FSF-1 Sea Fighter, the “automatic configuration” of replacing modules according to the plug and play principle (“plug and play”) should be worked out, which, however, immediately received a new sound - plug and fight ( "turn on and fight").

However, the modules themselves are still being created, and so far there is nothing to “include”. It is known that four modules are designed for anti-mine operations, while others are for anti-submarine and for combating surface ships and boats.

Since the 1970s, the German company Blohm+Voss has been developing MEKO plug-in modules for various systems weapons. To date, more than 1500 MEKO modules have been produced. They are installed on about 60 ships. The latest MEKO Mission Module has the same external dimensions as a 20ft ISO Type 1C container. Provided global transportability around the world by land, air and sea. For German supply transports such as Berlin and Elba, various "sets" of modules have been developed. Thanks to this, you can quickly assemble a floating hospital, or a command ship, or a ship for a humanitarian operation, or other options.

Small ICBMs

The container deployment of weapons and our strategic nuclear forces has also been affected. At the turn of the 1980s, several projects of solid-propellant strategic missiles, including an ultra-precise small-sized one, were completed in the Leningrad design bureau "Arsenal". In 1976, Arsenal was entrusted with the development of a mobile combat missile system (PBRK) with a small-sized solid-propellant ICBM F-22 (R&D "Verenitsa"). The work was carried out in accordance with the decisions of the Commission of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the USSR on military-industrial issues (MIC of the USSR Council of Ministers) No. 57 of April 5, 1976 and No. 123 of May 26, 1977 as part of the Horizon-1 research project with the involvement of the Design Bureau of General Mechanical Engineering, Design Bureau "Motor", PO "Iskra" and the Research Institute of Automation and Instrumentation for TTZ of the head institutes of the Ministry of General Machinery and the Ministry of Defense - TsNIIMash and the 4th Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense.

The main purpose of the complex is a retaliatory strike after an enemy nuclear missile attack. Based on this, the most important characteristic of the PBRK was survivability, that is, the preservation of high combat readiness of mobile launchers (MPU) and mobile command posts (PKP) after the enemy’s nuclear impact on the base area. As a result of scientific research and design studies, the main directions for ensuring the required survivability of the complex were determined.

Stealth from technical means of intelligence potential adversary was achieved by disguising the MPU and PKP under the universal unified containers UUK-30, intended for the transportation of national economic goods. Container units had high mobility due to transportation in the process combat duty regular road trains - container ships. MAZ-6422 tractors and MAZ-9389 semi-trailers were used with imitation of the technology of work carried out with UUK-30 containers.

The reduction in the probability of defeat of combat units during a nuclear missile attack was ensured by the dispersal of MPU and PKP in vast inalienable base areas.

In connection with the transition of KB "Arsenal" to the space theme, work on the rocket direction was curtailed.

However, the creation of small-sized ICBMs in the USSR did not stop. By Decree No. 696-213 of July 21, 1983, the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering (MIT) was entrusted with the development of a mobile soil complex with an ICBM "Courier". The task was to increase the survivability of the Strategic Missile Forces grouping by introducing complexes of high mobility and secrecy into its composition. The Kurier missile was several times lighter than the previously created ICBMs and approximately corresponded to American rocket"Midgetman".

The preliminary design of the Kurier missile system was completed in 1984. Several variants of mobile basing were worked out, including in a container version. Nevertheless, according to tradition, for MIT, the automobile version on a light wheeled chassis became the main one.

Work on the topic "Courier" was completed in 1991 in accordance with the political decision of the leadership of the USSR and the United States to stop the creation of this missile and its American counterpart, the Midgetman. Mikhail Gorbachev announced that Soviet Union will no longer conduct tests of small-sized ICBMs.

Undoubtedly, when strategic missiles are deployed in a container, their secrecy increases dramatically, but the question of control of such weapons remains. As you know, the Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START III, New START) is currently in force, which provides for various types of inspections, including on suspicion. Containers with ICBMs would thus undermine the confidence that had been achieved and would disturb stability in the strategic area.

Not subject to restrictions

Another thing is tactical and operational-tactical weapons. Bye international control it practically does not concern him, especially if the missile has a limited firing range, then it does not fall under the ban on the spread of missile technologies. "Club-K" occupies this niche.

The missile system is interesting, but dangerous for a potential enemy. The British The Daily Telegraph is sounding the alarm: "The Russian Club-K missile weapon system will completely change the rules of war and lead to a large-scale proliferation of ballistic missiles." The Reuters news agency circulated a message under the heading "Deadly new Russian weapons can be hidden in an ordinary shipping container." It states: "One of Russian companies is engaged in the marketing of a new combat complex with cruise missiles, which has tremendous destructive power. This installation can be hidden in a sea container, which makes it possible for any merchant ship to destroy an aircraft carrier.” The Daily Telegraph notes that if Iraq had had Club-K missiles in 2003, a US invasion of the Persian Gulf would have been impossible: any cargo ship in the Gulf would have been a potential threat.

It turns out that the ideas to place weapons in standard "civilian" containers are not entirely new. The whole world is moving in this direction in one form or another. These developments have been applied to the latest Club missile weapon system, which is in stable demand among our foreign customers. All this gives certain prospects for military-technical cooperation.

In conclusion, we note that, as reported by the Morinformsystem-Agat concern, on August 22, successful throw tests of the Club-K missile weapon container complex with Kh-35UE anti-ship missiles were carried out. Soon time will pass a similar examination is the Club-K complex with anti-ship missiles 3M-54E and SLCM 3M-14E (for the destruction of ground targets). Thus, the RK Club family has become universal and is now capable of hitting ships and stationary coastal targets at tactical and operational depth.

Club-type missile system / Photo: bastion-karpenko.ru

According to the magazine "Jane's Missiles & Rockets" in the article James Bingham "Innovator reveals new Club system, missile and range details", at the Gulf Defense & Aerospace international defense and space exhibition held in Kuwait in December 2017, Russian (Yekaterinburg; part of) for the first time presented a new ground-based mobile version of its Club missile system (an export version of the Caliber complex), designated Club-T.

A model of a self-propelled launcher of the Club-T missile system with six 3M14E1 cruise missiles developed by JSC Experimental Design Bureau Novator named after L.V. Lyulyev” at the Gulf Defense & Aerospace exhibition in Kuwait, December 2017 / Photo: James Bingham / Jane "s

Unlike for the first time demonstrated at the MAKS-2007 air show similar ground mobile complex Club-M(equipped with anti-ship missiles of types 3M54KE and 3M54KE1 and cruise missiles 3M14KE), the Club-T complex in its current version is intended only for the use of modified cruise missiles to destroy ground targets 3M14E1. Accordingly, target designation means with the corresponding vehicle were removed from the complex, and only autonomous self-propelled launchers on the MZKT-7930 chassis with an 8x8 wheel formula were left, each of which accommodates six transport and launch containers with 3M14E1 cruise missiles.

What exactly cruise missile version 3M14E1 differs from the previously demonstrated 3M14E / KE rocket, is not disclosed. Although officially OKB "Novator" declares the range of the 3M14E1 missile at 275 km, however, the head of the department external relations"Innovator" Mikhail Pakhomov confirmed at an exhibition in Kuwait that the range can be increased to more than 300 km, which will go beyond the limits of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The mass of the missile warhead in accordance with the limits of the MTCR is declared at 450 kg.

It is reported that the launch of cruise missiles from the Club-T launcher can be made within 15 minutes from the moment of deployment, the missiles are launched at intervals of 5-10 seconds.

Pakhomov said that they were close to completing the integration of the 3M54E and 3M54E1 anti-ship missiles into the Club-T complex (as you can understand, their use is expected according to external target designation).

Also at the exhibition in Kuwait, the Novator Design Bureau presented materials on a new version of the 3M14E sea-based cruise missile, designated 3M14TLE and designed for underwater launch from vertical submarine launchers (Club-S complex).

Club-K missile weapon container complex.

The Russian Club-K missile system not only makes it possible to launch missiles from any ships, trucks and railway platforms, but also makes these launches invisible, as it is disguised as a typical cargo container. Pentagon experts seriously fear that new Russian weapons could completely change the global military balance.

The Club-K missile system, which The Daily Telegraph writes about, was presented by the Russian Design Bureau Novator at the Asian Defense Systems Exhibition, held from April 19 to 22 in Malaysia. The system is equipped with four cruise sea or land-based ballistic missiles. The complex looks like a standard 12-meter shipping container used for shipping. Due to this disguise, it is almost impossible to notice Club-K until it is activated. Russian developers call the missile system "accessible strategic weapons", each container costs about $15 million.

As the British publication notes, the Club-K container missile system is causing real panic among Western military experts, as it can completely change the rules of conduct modern war. The compact container can be mounted on ships, trucks or railway platforms, and due to the excellent camouflage of the missile system, the enemy will have to conduct much more thorough reconnaissance when planning an attack.


The Daily Telegraph argues that if Iraq had had Club-K missile systems in 2003, a US invasion of the Persian Gulf would have been impossible: any cargo ship in the Gulf would have been a potential threat.

Pentagon experts are worried that Russia is openly offering Club-K to anyone who is under threat of attack from the United States. In the event that the missile system enters service with Venezuela or Iran, this, according to American analysts, could destabilize the situation in the world. The United States has previously expressed considerable concern when Russia was about to sell Iran S-300 medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems, which could reflect a potential missile attack on the country's nuclear facilities by the United States and Israel.


“This system allows for the spread of ballistic missiles on a scale that we have never seen before,” Pentagon defense consultant Reuben Johnson assesses the potential of Club-K. - Thanks to careful disguise, you can no longer easily determine that the object is being used as a launcher. First, a harmless cargo ship appears on your shores, and the next minute your military installations are already destroyed by explosions.

The first main element of the system is the Alfa universal rocket, which was demonstrated in 1993 (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.

According to Western classification, the rocket received the designation SS-N-27 Sizzler ("hissing", for its characteristic hissing sound at launch). In Russia and abroad, it was designated as Сlub, "Turquoise" (Biryuza) and "Alpha" (Alpha or Alfa). However, these are all export names - this system is known to the domestic military under the code "Caliber". "Caliber", of course, has some differences from the export version - but we'll talk about them later.

The first foreign customer of the Club missile system was India. Surface and underwater missile systems are installed on Project 11356 frigates (Talwar type) and Project 877EKM diesel submarines of the Indian Navy, built by Russian companies. On previously purchased submarines, the Club is installed during repair and modernization work on them. According to media reports, the ZM-54E and ZM-54TE missiles are being installed on Indian submarines and frigates, respectively. The Club missile system is also supplied to China, and agreements have been reached on deliveries to several other countries.

But so far we have been talking about sea-based systems - for surface ships and submarines. Now, the Novator Design Bureau has taken a revolutionary step - it has placed ship-based missiles in a standard container and achieved their autonomous launch. And this radically changes the tactics and strategy of using missiles.

Iran and Venezuela have already expressed their interest in purchasing new items, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

At the same time, Club-K missiles are not formally subject to any restrictions. Their flight range is up to 250-300 km, and they are not even ballistic, but winged. The Americans themselves at one time brought cruise missiles out of the brackets of agreements on restricting the export of missile technologies - and now they are reaping the benefits.

How did Club-K scare the military experts of the Pentagon? In principle, in combat and technological terms, there is nothing super new there - the complex “shoots” with subsonic cruise missiles various modifications(even the 3M54E missile is subsonic - only the last 20-30 km of its shock part passes on 3M supersonic in order to effectively overcome powerful air defense and create a large kinetic effect on a large target). The system allows you to hit sea and ground targets at a distance of 200-300 kilometers from the launch point, including aircraft carriers - but in itself it is not a Wunderwaffe.

The main thing here is different - the whole complex is made in the form of a standard 40-foot sea container. This means that it becomes almost invisible to any kind of aerial and technical reconnaissance. This is the whole “salt” of the idea.

The container may be on board a merchant ship. On the railway platform. It can be loaded onto a semi-trailer and delivered to the area of ​​application by a conventional truck as an ordinary cargo. Truly, how not to remember the railway launchers of ballistic missiles from the times of the USSR! However, if the destruction of the "refrigerators" can be explained by the needs of control over the launches of ballistic missiles, then here you will not drive up on a crooked goat. Cruise missiles, "this is a means of coastal defense" - and that's it!

It goes without saying that during an attack, air defense systems are primarily suppressed, and then coastal defenses are blown to smithereens. But there is nothing to spread here - hundreds, and even thousands, and even tens of thousands of decoys (ordinary containers, which someone aptly called "erythrocytes of world trade") simply will not allow any fluff or dust to be allowed.

This will force aircraft carriers to stay away from the coast, thereby limiting the range of use of aviation from them - this is the time. If it comes to landing, then some of the containers can “open” and let the landing ships sink to the bottom - these are two. But to hell with them, with the ships - but there is also a landing force, the main striking force and equipment, the losses of which are operationally irreparable.

And thirdly, this allows you to keep more serious weapons and reserves closer to the coast. After all, we drove away the aircraft carriers, and their ability to influence the coast is greatly reduced.

Of course, it would be nice to hide coastal air defense systems in such containers. Then for sure - the sea borders will be locked. And of course - to trade, trade and trade these systems again. After all, no one is allowed to defend themselves.

By the way, one of the options for this installation is an anti-ship missile 3M54E , the last stage of which is separated at the final stage of the flight and can be accelerated to supersonic speed corresponding to Mach 3.

« It's an aircraft carrier killer, - emphasized Hewson from Jane's magazine. “If you get hit by just one or two of these missiles, then the kinetic effect will be very powerful .. it's terrible.”

Russia is now the largest arms exporter in the world. Last year, Russia was able to sell a record $8.5 billion worth of weapons, including to countries such as Syria, Venezuela, Algeria and China. The portfolio of orders is estimated at more than $40 billion.


And now let's put the hysteria aside and figure it out - is Club-K really as scary as it is painted?

I must say that the Club family now consists of 5 missiles for various purposes, range and power. The most powerful of them is the winged anti-ship 3M54E, created on the basis of the Granat missile, designed specifically for strikes against aircraft carriers. It flies at Mach 0.8 (0.8 the speed of sound). When approaching the target, it separates from the propulsion engine and accelerates to Mach 3 - over 1 km / s - at a flight altitude of 5-10 m. The high-penetrating warhead contains 400 kg of explosive. The range of the missile is 300 km.

However, such characteristics hardly make it possible to sink an aircraft carrier with one hit (although, of course, they can damage it and disrupt its normal functioning). And by no means do these performance characteristics make the Club-K a strategic missile weapon.

The Club-S (for submarines) and Club-N (for surface ships) missile systems have been offered for export since the 1990s. They were originally intended to fight enemy submarines. It was a breakthrough product in the arms market. anti-submarine guided missile 91RE1 is launched from a 533 mm torpedo tube. The passage of the underwater section, exit into the air and climb are carried out using a solid propellant engine.

Then the launch stage is separated, the engine of the second stage is turned on, and the rocket continues its controlled flight to the calculated point. There, the separation of the warhead takes place, which is a high-speed anti-submarine torpedo MPT-1UME or an APR-3ME underwater missile with a sonar targeting system. She finds the enemy submarine on her own.

Later, the complex also received anti-ship missiles - including the aforementioned 3M54E.

Complexes Club-S diesel-electric submarines pr. 636 "Varshavyanka" intended for export are being armed. In particular, acquired for the Navy of India and China. The same complexes will be armed with six Varshavyanka ordered by Vietnam and two for Algeria. The Club-N anti-ship system adapted for surface ships is being installed on Talwar-class frigates under construction for the Indian Navy.

At the II International Military Exhibition and Conference "DIMDEX-2010", held on March 29-31 in Doha (Qatar), the Russian exposition presented data on new systems of the Club missile family. This Coastal missile weapon complex Club-M, a modular missile weapon system Club U and container complex of missile weapons Club-K. Club complexes have a second name - “ Turquoise and are intended exclusively for export. Their domestic prototypes are called " Caliber».

However, the first display of the Club-K container took place a year earlier at the LIMA-2009 exhibition of aerospace and marine equipment on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia. Then the world media did not pay attention to the complex, although he became a real sensation of that exhibition.

It should be noted that in publications Western media bypasses a number of significant technical factors. For example, Club-K is positioned by its manufacturer - Morinformsystem-Agat Concern OJSC - as a universal launch module, which houses an elevating launcher for four missiles.

But in order to bring it into combat condition and launch missiles, two more of the same 40-foot containers are required, which contain the Combat Control Module and the Power Supply and Life Support Module. These two modules provide day-to-day maintenance and routine missile checks; reception of target designation and commands for firing via satellite; calculation of initial shooting data; carrying out prelaunch preparation; development of a flight mission and launch of cruise missiles.

It is clear that this requires a trained combat crew, a centralized command post, satellite navigation and communications. It is unlikely that this is available to terrorists, even if they are from Hezbollah. They do not have their own satellites, Club-K, of course, is tied to the Russian space constellation and the corresponding control.

The real purpose of the container complex is arming mobilized civilian ships during the threatened period. In the event of possible aggression, a coastal state can quickly receive a small fleet designed to fight a potential enemy's naval strike force. The same containers located on the coast will cover it from approaching landing craft. Containers are easy to maneuver in the presence of roads.

In principle, placed on road and rail platforms, they turn into mobile anti-ship systems, guaranteed to stop the enemy at a distance of 150-200 km from the coast. That is, it is a very effective weapon of defense. At the same time, it is very cheap - about 15 million dollars for a basic complex (three containers, 4 missiles). This is an order of magnitude lower than the cost of a frigate or corvette, which are usually used to defend the coastline.

Club is able to replace the fleet and naval aviation. For poor countries with a long coastline, this is a serious alternative to purchasing expensive equipment, which is usually purchased in Western Europe. Spanish frigates, German submarines, French missile systems, Italian helicopters and other weapons, components for which are manufactured in a dozen countries, may lose a fair sector of the market.

When even such a solid buyer as the United Arab Emirates began to look at Russian universal containers, the London media howled like a siren.

That's where the dog rummaged, comrades. Bubble, just loot.

Let's consider the missiles of the complex in more detail. Let's start with 3M14E (subsonic KR, relatively simple and cheap - suitable for wet transport ships and ground targets):


The ZM-14E cruise missile does not differ much from the ZM-54E1 missile in terms of its design and performance data. The difference lies in the fact that the ZM-14E missile is designed to destroy ground targets and has a slightly different control system. In particular, its control system includes a baroaltimeter, which provides greater secrecy of flight over land due to the precise maintenance of altitude in the terrain envelope mode, as well as a satellite navigation system that contributes to high pointing accuracy.



This is anti-submarine torpedo missiles 91RE1 And 91RE2:


And this is the same 3M54E, "aircraft carrier killer" - shows the option of launching surface and underwater:

Cruise anti-ship missiles ZM54E and ZM54E1 have a similar basic configuration. They are made according to the normal winged aerodynamic scheme with a drop-down trapezoidal wing.

The main difference between these rockets is the number of stages. The ZM-54E rocket has three stages: a solid propellant launch stage, a propulsion stage with a liquid propellant engine, and a third solid propellant stage. The launch of the ZM-54E missile can be carried out from the universal vertical or inclined launchers ZS-14NE of a surface ship or a standard 533 mm torpedo tube of a submarine.

The launch is provided by the first solid fuel stage. After gaining altitude and speed, the first stage separates, the ventral air intake extends, the second-stage main turbojet engine starts and the wing opens. The missile flight altitude is reduced to 20 m above sea level, and the missile flies to the target according to the target designation data entered into the memory of its onboard control system before launch.

On the marching section, the rocket has a subsonic flight speed of 180-240 m/s and, accordingly, a long range. Targeting is provided by the onboard inertial navigation system. At a distance of 30-40 km from the target, the rocket makes a “hill” with the inclusion of an active radar homing head ARGS-54E, created by the St. Petersburg company Radar-MMS. ARGS-54E detects and selects surface targets (selects the most important ones) at a distance of up to 65 km. The missile is guided in the sector of angles in azimuth -45°, and in the vertical plane in the sector from -20° to +10°. The weight of the ARGS-54E without the hull and fairing is no more than 40 kg, and the length is 700 mm.

After the target is detected and captured by the homing head of the ZM-54E missile, the second subsonic stage is separated and the third solid propellant stage begins to operate, developing supersonic speeds up to 1000 m/s. In the final flight segment of 20 km, the rocket descends to a height of up to 10 m above the water.

At a supersonic speed of a rocket flying over the crests of waves in the final section, the probability of intercepting a rocket is small. Nevertheless, in order to completely exclude the possibility of interception of the ZM-54E missile by air defense systems of the target, the onboard missile control system can choose the optimal route for reaching the attacked ship. In addition, when attacking large surface targets, a salvo launch of several missiles can be carried out, which will reach the target from different directions.

The subsonic cruising speed of the rocket allows you to have a minimum fuel consumption per kilometer, and supersonic speed should provide little vulnerability from anti-aircraft weapons close self-defense of the enemy ship.

The main difference between the ZM-54E1 cruise missile and the ZM-54E missile is the absence of a third solid-fuel stage. Thus, the ZM-54E1 missile has only a subsonic flight mode. Rocket ZM-54E1 shorter than 2 meters than ZM-54E. This is done in order to be able to place it on ships of small displacement and on submarines with shortened torpedo tubes manufactured in NATO countries. On the other hand, the ZM-54E1 rocket has almost twice the warhead than the ZM-54E. The flight of the ZM-54E1 rocket takes place in the same way as that of the ZM-54E, but without acceleration in the final section.

And finally, the most secret of the products - 3M51:


Next to him - 3M54E for comparison.

It is clearly seen that 3M51 can no longer be launched from 533-mm tube installations (and even more so from torpedo tubes). It was originally developed for use from aircraft - however, it is believed that a ground launch is also possible.

One of the meanings of the English word Club is "club". And this is a very appropriate name for the Russian Club-K missile weapon container complex. Appearing out of nowhere, the Russian "club" can quickly calm down any unbridled aggressor.

Imagine an early summer morning somewhere on the coast of Latin America, or Southeast Asia. Or Africa. A light breeze from the ocean, unhurried waves, lush greenery, an old steamer, which just as leisurely sips somewhere along the coast with several shabby containers on board ... But this idyll is suddenly disturbed by a group of ships of an unexpected aggressor who, predatory and treacherously, decided to attack civilians and friendly Latin American (African, etc.) workers, whose entire “fault” was that uranium, diamonds, oil, gas, or something like that was found on their lands. And to protect this "good" they recently bought some Kalashnikov assault rifles (AK) from old friends in a distant northern country ... .. Have you imagined? Now imagine that the enemy ships are getting closer and closer. And it seems that nothing - not even AK - can save a small but proud country from the inevitable enslavement of mercenaries sharks of world imperialism! But what is it?! The shabby containers on the deck of an old steamship suddenly open and from there, in a few moments, cruise missiles start, which swiftly rush over the surface of the water to the enemy fleet, which has come to believe in its impunity. And while he, stunned by the suddenness of the attack, frantically tries to intercept the missile "slap" from the old vessel, another swarm of anti-ship missiles rises from the shore - from those containers where, according to enemy intelligence, local fishermen lived yesterday. Aggressor in a panic! His fleet is sinking fast! The admiral is still trying to deploy his flagship, half-dead from a missile attack, in order to get away from these inhospitable shores. But at this moment, the flagship of the adversary receives a couple of torpedoes on board from a submarine that has come from nowhere and who knows whose, and this is where it all ends. The enemy fleet has been destroyed. The peaceful and hardworking people of a small but proud southern country fish out the aggressor's sailors and paratroopers from the ocean, and glorify the wisdom of their leaders, who quietly bought from their big northern brother not only Kalashnikov assault rifles, but also container missile systems Club-K.

Making a "club" A battle like the one described above has never happened. Just as there was no unidentified submarine, which, which put the final point in the attempt of a hypothetical aggressor to attack a hypothetical peaceful country. But the Club-K missile weapon container complex itself, of course, exists. And it works approximately as described at the beginning of this material. Adjusted for the fact that the Kh-35UE anti-ship missile included, for example, is designed to hit surface targets with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons. That is, the aircraft carrier "George Bush" with a displacement of 99,000 tons, of course, is unlikely to be seriously hooked, even if it breaks through. But the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate is guaranteed to destroy. But about everything in order. For the first time, the new Russian missile system Club became publicly known at the beginning of this century. And this was due to the creation of the Novator Design Bureau (Yekaterinburg) of a new Russian winged tactical missile according to ROC "Caliber".

In fairness, it must be said that the rocket itself, called Alpha, was presented back in 1993 at the Moscow Aviation and Space Salon and at the arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi. But one-piece missile systems to destroy various kinds ships and ground (coastal) structures Club-N (based on surface ships), Club-S (based on submarines), Club-M (self-propelled launcher on land), Club-U (possibility of placement on ships of small displacement) appeared at the end of the past - the beginning of the present centuries. Their development was the Club-K container missile weapon system, the concept of which was first shown to the general public in the export version at the LIMA-2009 weapons show. Two years later, the Russian concern Morinformsystem-Agat presented a full-scale model at exhibitions and is now ready to mass-produce this missile system. The combat capabilities of the Club-K are, in fact, the quintessence of the entire family missile systems Club, developed in Russia. It is designed to destroy both surface ships of various classes and types, as well as ground and coastal targets.

The main element of the new missile system is a universal launch module, made in the form of a standard 20 or 40-foot sea container. It contains 4 missiles. For missiles 3M-54KE, 3M-54KE1, 3M-14KE, a vertical launch launcher is provided, for Kh-35UE missiles - an inclined one. The launch module is completely autonomous and is already an independent combat unit. However, the complete set of the Club-K complex, in addition to containers with missiles, consists of three more containers, one of which houses the fire control system, the other contains combat control, communications and navigation equipment, and the third contains power supply, life support and fire extinguishing systems. So, what can she do, this Russian "container club"? The 3M-54TE and 3M-54TE1 missiles developed by Novator are used against surface ships of all classes and types, both single and as part of a group, in conditions of strong electronic and fire resistance. The firing range of the first missile is up to 220 km, the second - up to 300 km (all performance characteristics are given according to open sources, which are published on the export versions of these missiles). 3M-54TE1 carries a high-explosive charge of 400 kg, but moves at subsonic speed. The 3M-54TE has half the charge, but on the way to the target it develops a speed that is almost three times the speed of sound. The onboard control system for 3M-54TE/3M-54TE1 missiles is based on an autonomous inertial navigation system. Pre-launch preparation, formation and input of the flight task are carried out universal system management. Guidance on the final section of the trajectory - with the help of an anti-interference active radar homing head (ARGS-54), which has a maximum range of up to 65 km.

Since the combat stage of the 3M-54TE missile is reduced to a height of up to 10 m in the final flight section of about 20 km, the ARGS-54 can operate with sea waves up to 6 points. The 3M-14TE missile is, in fact, an analogue of the 3M-54TE1 missile. But it has a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 450 kg, therefore it is designed to destroy command and control equipment, air defense systems, airfields, military equipment and manpower in areas of concentration, naval bases and other important objects of military and civilian infrastructure at a distance of up to 300 km. After launch, it flies along a predetermined route, built taking into account intelligence data on the position of the target and the presence of enemy air defense systems. The missile is capable of overcoming the zones of a developed enemy air defense system, which is ensured by low flight altitudes (20 m - above the sea, 50-150 m - above the ground) with terrain envelope and guidance autonomy in the "silence" mode in the main area. Correction of the flight trajectory on the cruising section is carried out according to the data of the satellite navigation subsystem and the terrain correction subsystem. Guidance on the final section of the trajectory - 20 km, is also carried out using an anti-interference active radar homing head (ARGS-14E), which effectively highlights low-profile small targets against the background of the underlying surface. In 2011, at the IMDS-2011 exhibition, Russian companies also demonstrated the Club-K variant with Kh-35 missiles, which were developed by the Zvezda Design Bureau to replace the obsolete Termites and are now successfully used as part of the Uran ship complexes (SS- N-25 "Switchblade") and coastal missile systems "Bal" (SSC-6 "Sennight"). Of course, the mass of its warhead - 145 kg, is significantly inferior to the mass of warhead missiles 3M-54KE, 3M-54KE1, 3M-14KE. But it will be enough to sink not only the frigate, but also some of the destroyers. In addition, a modification of this Kh-35UE missile now flies to a range of 260 km, although the length of the missile in the ship version is still less than 4.5 meters. Therefore, a 20-foot container is enough to accommodate it in a container version. And although this missile is still subsonic, its new homing head will allow it to capture targets at a distance of 50 km. Asymmetric response The main advantage of the new Russian Club-K missile system is stealth and surprise. Today, in all corners of the world, billions of standard 40 and 20-foot containers move hourly and daily in various directions. Only transport companies in China have more than 100 million units.

And in appearance, containers with Club-K are no different from others. They don’t even “glow”, so you can detect the rocket “stuffing” only if you open such a container or it starts working. And you can place this weapon anywhere - on a car trailer, on a railway, on any cargo ship, just in a warehouse on the shore. Therefore, the appearance of such weapons caused an explosion of emotions in the Western press. "The Russian Club-K missile system will completely change the rules of war and lead to a large-scale proliferation of ballistic missiles," British The Daily Telegraph said. “One of the Russian companies is marketing a new weapon system with cruise missiles, which has a huge destructive power. This installation can be hidden in a sea container, which makes it possible for any merchant ship to destroy an aircraft carrier,” Reuters echoed. In fact, the idea of ​​camouflaging missiles is certainly not new. For example, Soviet engineers successfully camouflaged Scalpel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with a firing range of more than 10,000 km under the guise of an ordinary cargo-passenger train (the famous Soviet combat railway missile systems Molodets, whose production is now being revived in Russia). In the early 80s of the last century, experiments were also carried out in the Soviet Union on basing Ka-27 helicopters and Yak-38 attack aircraft not only on ships, but also on civilian ships. At the same time, the Moscow Institute of Thermal Engineering began to work on the idea of ​​placing a small-sized Kurier ICBM in a cargo container, but this work was stopped under pressure from the United States in 1991, and the then leader of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev announced that the Soviet Union would no longer work on the creation of small-sized intercontinental ballistic missiles. But the followers of the Soviet engineering school were still able to place the missiles in a standard shipping container. And even though this is not an ICBM, but a tactical cruise missile (more precisely, there are 4 of them in each container), the success from this does not become less. Moreover, in this form, Russian missiles will quickly find their buyer.

First of all, among those countries that cannot, are not ready or do not want to spend a lot of money on creating large armed forces and adhere to a defensive strategy. Because the Club-K complex is, first of all, a means not of attack, but of defense. Of course, it is possible to use this complex as a weapon for an attack, but for this type of hostilities there are much cheaper and effective means. But to repel an enemy attack, using the advantage in stealth and surprise - this is just right for Club-K. Because even a superior opponent will first think about whether he should attack at all if he can suddenly get hit in the ear with a “club” that has arrived from nowhere. “Starting the development of the Club-K missile system, we proceeded from the understanding that not all states have the ability to maintain such expensive “toys” as corvettes, frigates, destroyers, cruisers and other powerful, well-equipped missile weapons in their fleet. ships.

However, no one has the right to deprive them of the opportunity to ensure their sovereignty. At the same time, a potential aggressor must really understand that he can receive unacceptable damage for himself, ”the Morinformsystem-Agat concern at one time outlined the ideology of creating this missile system. Of course, Club-K does not completely replace Navy and naval aviation. But for poor states with a long coastline, it allows you to build an optimal and highly effective defense system that can change its configuration very quickly, flexibly, and most importantly, unnoticed by a potential enemy. And none of the world's weapons manufacturers, except for our gunsmiths, can now offer such a defense option.

The so-called throw tests of the Kh-35UE missile, fired from launchers placed in a standard cargo container of the Club-K complex, have successfully passed. The launch was carried out on August 22 at one of the specialized training grounds.

The Kh-35 anti-ship missile is notable for low visibility and flight to the target at a height of no more than fifteen meters, and on the final part of the trajectory - four meters. A combined homing system and a powerful warhead make it possible to destroy a warship with a displacement of 5,000 tons with one missile.

Throw tests are the first stage of testing any missiles. It turns out: are the launch preparation algorithms developed correctly, how the product itself reacts to the commands given, and in general - is the rocket capable of leaving the launcher without any problems.

Unfortunately, we have a strange practice. Tanks, missiles, planes are still in the drawings, and it is already being announced that they will definitely be put into service with an indication of a specific date. All dates pass, years fly by, but the promised miracle weapon still does not exist. So the belated message about the successful launch of the rocket from the Club-K container gives hope that the work is going on schedule and in the right direction. That is, there was a thorough check of the results obtained, and only after that the success was publicly announced.

Video: Sergey Ptichkin / RG

For the first time, a mock-up of this missile system was shown at a military-technical show in Malaysia in 2009. He immediately made a splash. The fact is that Club-K is a standard cargo 20- and 40-foot containers that are transported by sea, by rail or by trailer cars. Inside the containers are command posts and launchers with multipurpose missiles of the Kh-35UE, 3M-54E and 3M-14E types, capable of hitting both surface and land targets.

Any container ship carrying a Club-K is essentially a missile carrier with a devastating salvo. And any echelon with such containers or a convoy of heavy container vehicles - powerful missile units capable of appearing where the enemy does not wait.

Nothing like it in the US Western Europe did not develop. At first, the adherents of the world order were even indignant, expressing fear that such containers with missile surprises could fall into the hands of terrorists, which is unacceptable. Then, however, they calmed down, which is natural - Russia does not trade weapons with terrorists.

On the other hand, there were allegations that the developers of the original missile system were simply bluffing, trying to push a dummy onto the world market. According to Western engineers, it is physically impossible to place four launchers and a control cabin in the limited space of a cargo container, and the Russians are definitely not capable of it.

The tests that successfully passed on August 22 showed that Club-K is not a fiction, but a real one combat system. As it became known to RG, similar tests are being prepared with 3M-54E and 3M-14E missiles. By the way, the 3M-54E missile is capable of destroying even an aircraft carrier. Moreover. It is planned that Club-K mobile missile systems will take part in the large-scale exercises "Kavkaz-2012", that is, their military tests begin.

By the way, English wordСlub has several Russian synonyms: club, container and cudgel. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the new "Dubina" turned out to be not at all a primitive weapon, but one of the most high-tech missile systems in the modern world.