According to Sputnik, in addition to the Russian Navy, Kalibr cruise missiles are currently in service on Russian warships built for the Vietnamese Navy.
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| According to this source, the Kalibr cruise missile is not only equipped for the Russian armed forces but is also present in the weapons system of the Vietnamese Navy. However, the difference is that the export version of this missile is called Klub. |
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| The missiles are intended for equipping submarines that Russia is building under order from Vietnam. In addition, Russia is also prepared to install Klub missiles on warships of the "Gepard" project, also intended for Vietnam. |
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| Two warships of this type have arrived in Vietnam, with two more currently undergoing weapons installation and expected to be handed over to the Vietnamese Navy in 2017-2018. The "Klub" class can also be equipped on the "Molniya" patrol boats built in Vietnam under license from Russia. |
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| Although Sputnik reported that Klub missiles are in service with the Vietnamese Navy, it did not disclose any further details about the version or the number currently in Vietnam's possession. However, according to data published by Strategy Page (USA), Russia has supplied Vietnam with 50 Klub missile systems to equip its Varshavyanka-class (also known as Kilo-class) submarines. |
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| According to Igor Korotchenko, Director of the Center for World Arms Trade Analysis, the presence of the submarine fleet strengthens Vietnam's defense capabilities, especially as the situation in the South China Sea is becoming more serious and countries in the region are reinforcing their navies. |
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| Speaking about the advantages of Kilo-class submarines in the Vietnamese Navy, Mr. Korotchenko stated that Russia provides the latest versions of submarines equipped with the Klub missile system, capable of anti-ship and long-range ground attack. |
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| While revealing the number of missiles, Strategy Page did not specify which version of the Klub system Vietnam ordered. However, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2009, Vietnam signed a contract with Russia to purchase a batch of 3M-54E Klub-S anti-ship cruise missiles. |
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| According to SIPRI, Klub-S is a variant of the Klub multi-purpose attack missile system designed for installation on attack submarines. The Klub-S system is capable of firing various types of missiles with different destructive power and ranges, including: the 3M-54E supersonic anti-ship missile with a range of 300 km, a speed of Mach 2.9, and a 200 kg armor-piercing warhead; the 3M-14E land-attack cruise missile with a range of 275 km and a 400 kg warhead; the 91RE1 anti-submarine missile with a range of 50 km; and the 91RE2 anti-submarine missile with a range of 40 km... |
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| The 3M-54E anti-ship missile weighs 2 tons, is launched from a 533 mm torpedo tube, and is fitted with a 200 kg warhead. This missile has a range of 300 km and travels at subsonic speeds. However, its speed in the final moments of flight can exceed 2,000 km/h. |
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| The 3M-54E missile also has air-launched and surface-ship-launched versions. When the 3M-54E missile attacks a warship, its speed is increased during the final flight phase, making this type of missile particularly dangerous. |
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| The final flight phase typically begins when the missile is about 15 km from its target. Before that, the missile maintains an altitude of around 30 meters. This makes the missile relatively difficult to detect. This characteristic, combined with the very high speed of the final flight phase, means the missile completes its final 15 km flight in less than 20 seconds. This makes it very difficult for existing anti-missile weapons to shoot it down. (Image in article: Kilo-class submarine of the Vietnamese Navy). |
According to Soha
