How the Vietnamese Club-S system destroys targets

With a special launching method, the 3M-54E bullet of the Club-S system on the Vietnamese Kilo ship can destroy many targets and make the opponent unable to defend.

To launch a missile while the submarine is submerged, two stages must be followed. In the submerged stage, the missile will use a high-pressure compressed air engine, allowing it to push itself completely out of the water a few meters, then the engine will start burning fuel to carry out the launch process as usual on land.

This launch mechanism requires updating information about the launch position to the computer system for confirmation before launch, especially in terms of depth because the rocket needs to be completely out of the water before the engine can be ignited.

Missiles of Vietnam's Kilo submarine.

The Russian manufacturer said that the 3M-54E missiles of the Club-S system for Vietnam's Kilo submarines also operate on this principle. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2009, Vietnam signed a contract with Russia to purchase 40 3M-54E Club-S anti-ship cruise missiles.

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.

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.

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.

Given the power of the Club missile system, it is completely understandable that China is worried and opposes Russia selling this missile line to Vietnam. At the end of 2015, the Chinese newspaper "Reference News" cited the American website "Strategy Page" and published an article "China opposes Vietnam buying Club missiles for submarines".

According to the article, China has expressed anger towards the United Nations, Vietnam and Russia over Russia’s sale of Club cruise missiles (launched from submarines) to Vietnam, which has not yet been made public. In 2009, China was angry with Russia for selling 6 Kilo-class diesel-electric submarines to Vietnam.

According to Reference News, the Club-S system's 3M-54E anti-ship cruise missile can also be used to attack land targets, which is really worrying for China. Currently, submarines in India, Algeria and Vietnam all use Club missiles.

Clip of how the Club-S system destroys targets:

According to Baodatviet