Vietnam first publicly displays 3M-14E surface-to-surface missile
The 3M-14E Klub-S land-attack cruise missile is currently an extremely powerful attack weapon equipped for the Kilo 636 submarines of the Vietnam People's Navy.
According to information released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute - SIPRI, during the period 2013 - 2016, Russia transferred to the Vietnam People's Navy Klub-S missiles - the underwater launch version to equip Kilo 636 submarines.
What is noteworthy here is that SIPRI said that in addition to the 3M-54E supersonic anti-ship cruise missile version, Vietnam also received an unspecified number of land-attack variants with the designation 3M-14E (NATO code SS-N-30B).
However, apart from the information provided by SIPRI, Vietnam has never officially confirmed that it possesses the powerful land-attack version of the Klub missile line. Even in the live-fire exercise at the end of last year, the type of missile launched was still the anti-ship type.
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| Vietnam's 3M-14E land-attack cruise missile at the Naval Academy |
It was only recently, in the article "Effectiveness of the emulation movement to win at the Naval Academy" published in the Vietnam Navy newspaper, that the fact that we have this powerful weapon in our inventory was officially made public.
In the photo taken at the Practice Room, a lecturer from the Naval Academy's Missile - Artillery Department is explaining the technical and tactical features of the 3M-14E land-attack cruise missile through a cross-section to students.
Currently, teaching and scientific research facilities of leading academies and schools are always given priority in investing in real weapons that key units are using to serve training and research and innovation.
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| 3M-14E Club land-attack cruise missile |
According to Russia's introduction, the 3M-14E is an export version of the 3M-14T prototype used in the country's navy. The missile's range was reduced to 300 km from the original 1,500 km to avoid violating the Missile Technology Control Regime - MTCR.
However, the Russians have now begun to offer the Klub-M coastal missile system equipped with anti-ship and anti-surface missiles with ranges beyond the limits of the MTCR Treaty, and at the same time provide upgrade packages that help customers extend the range of the Klub missile to almost the same level as the domestic version.
Based on the good defense cooperation between Russia and Vietnam, combined with the spirit of learning and overcoming difficulties to master weapons and equipment of Vietnamese military engineers, it would not be too surprising if our 3M-14T missile actually has a range far exceeding 300 km.
