According to Sputnik, in addition to the Russian Navy, Kalibr cruise missiles are currently serving 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 weapon system of the Vietnamese Navy. However, the difference is in the export version of this missile called Klub. |
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| The missiles are used to equip submarines that Russia built under Vietnam's order. In addition, Russia is also ready to install Klub missiles on warships of the "Gepard" project also for Vietnam. |
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| Two warships of this type have arrived in Vietnam, and two more are in the process of being fitted with weapons and are expected to be handed over to the Vietnamese Navy in 2017-2018. "Klub" can also be equipped on the patrol ship "Molniya" built in Vietnam under a Russian license. |
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| Although Sputnik said the Klub missile is in service with the Vietnamese Navy, it did not reveal anything more about the version or the current quantity in Vietnam. However, according to data published by Strategy Page (USA), Russia has provided Vietnam with 50 Klub missile complexes to equip Varshavyanka-class submarines (also known as Kilo-class). |
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| According to the Director of the Center for Analysis of the World Arms Trade, Mr. Igor Korotchenko, the presence of the submarine fleet helps strengthen Vietnam's defense capabilities, in the context of the situation in the East Sea becoming more serious, countries in the region are strengthening their naval forces. |
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| Talking about the advantages of Kilo submarines in the Vietnamese Navy, Mr. Korotchenko said that Russia provides the latest versions of submarines equipped with the Klub missile complex capable of anti-ship and long-range ground attacks. |
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| Although the number of missiles was disclosed, Strategy Page did not say 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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| SIPRI said that Klub-S is a variant of the Klub multi-purpose attack missile system for installation on attack submarines. The Klub-S system is capable of firing ammunition with different destructive power and flight ranges, including: 3M-54E supersonic anti-ship missile with a range of 300 km, Mach 2.9 flight speed, equipped with a 200 kg armor-piercing warhead. In addition, there is the 3M-14E land-attack cruise missile with a range of 275 km, equipped with a 400 kg warhead. The 91RE1 anti-submarine missile has a range of 50 km. The 91RE2 anti-submarine missile has 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 carries a 200 kg warhead. The missile has a range of 300 km at subsonic speeds. However, its final speed in flight can reach over 2,000 km/h. |
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| The 3M-54E missile also has air-launched and ship-launched versions. When the 3M-54E missile attacks a warship, its speed in the final flight phase is accelerated, making this type of missile particularly dangerous. |
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| The final flight phase usually begins when the missile is about 15 km away from the target. Previously, the flight altitude of the missile was kept at about 30 m. This makes the missile relatively difficult to detect. This feature, combined with the very high flight speed of the final phase, means that when the missile completes its final 15 km flight, it takes less than 20 seconds. This makes it very difficult for existing anti-missile weapons to shoot it down. (Photo in the article: Kilo submarine of the Vietnam Navy). |
According to Soha
