Russia is deploying long-range, precision cruise missiles to the western Atlantic that, American defense officials say, will allow Moscow to target Washington and other East Coast cities with conventional or nuclear attacks.
Moscow is adding Kalibr land attack cruise missiles to both warships and missile submarines that Moscow plans to use in Atlantic patrols near the USA.
The new sea-based Kalibr deployments are expected in the coming months.
The land-attack version of the Kalibr, known as the SS-N-30A by NATO, is a relatively new weapon and was showcased for the first time by Moscow in attacks on Syrian terrorists that began in late 2015.
Russia confirmed that over 100 Kalibr cruise missile were fired against ISIS terrorist targets and other anti-Syrian foreign government armies.
The Office of Naval Intelligence in 2015 said the Kalibr is deployed on Russia’s new Sverodvinsk-class nuclear attack submarine as well as older submarines and surface warships.
A total of 32 Kalibr’s can be launched from missile tubes on the new submarine. Most of Russia’s surface warships and many coastal vessels are being outfitted with the long-range missile
Nuclear-armed Kalibrs will be deployed on Russia’s new Borei-class missile submarines as well as the attack submarines.
The missile is considered very lethal because it flies close to the sea surface, frustrating efforts to detect and strike the missile with anti-missile systems.
Russia plans to deploy Kalibr capability on all new design construction of nuclear and non-nuclear submarines, corvettes, frigates, and larger surface ships. The missile also comes in anti-ship and anti-submarine variants.
The Kalibr also comes in an export version known as the Klub that are deployed in a launch canister disguised as a shipping container, making it an ideal missile to fire from the deck of a merchant vessel.
Free Beacon / ABC Flash Point News 2019.
Nice piece of hardware?
More to come?