Metel Anti-Ship Complex

RPK-3 Metel (NATO reporting name:SS-N-14 'Silex')
Launcher with SS-N-14 missiles on anUdaloy-class destroyer.
Type	Anti-submarine/ship missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1969–current
Used by	Russia
Production history
Designed	1960s
Specifications
Mass	3,930 kg (8,660 lb)
Length	7.2 m (24 ft) (85R missile)
Warhead	Various ASW torpedoes or nuclear depth charge. Later multi purpose torpedoes and 185 kg shaped charge warhead against ships.
Propellant	solid fuel rocket
Operational range	10 – 90 km for 85RU/URPK-5 Rastrub(versus ship) 5 – 50 km (anti-sub )
Maximum depth	20–500 metres
Maximum speed	Mach 0.95, 290 m/s (650 mph)
Guidance system	Radio command via helicopter or other external guidance plus an IR seeker.
Launch platform	Kresta II,Kara,Krivak1 & 2,UdaloyI,Kirov

MetelAnti-Ship Complex(Russian:противолодочный комплекс «Метель»'Snowstorm';NATO reporting name:SS-N-14 Silex) is a Russian family ofanti-submarine missiles.There are different anti-submarine variants ('Metel') for cruisers and frigates, and a later version with a shaped charge ('Rastrub') that can be used against shipping as well as submarines.

The missile carries an underslung anti-submarine torpedo which it drops immediately above the suspected position of a submarine. The torpedo then proceeds to search and then home in on the submarine. In the case of the 85RU/URPK-5, the UGMT-1 torpedo is a multi-purpose torpedo and can be used against submarines as well as surface ships. The missile has been in operational service since 1968, but is no longer in production; it was superseded by theRPK-2 Viyuga(SS-N-15 'Starfish').

Development

In the early 1960s the Soviet Union introduced theRBU-6000andRBU-1000anti-submarine rocket launchers, which worked on a similar principle to theRoyal Navy'sHedgehogsystem of theSecond World War,propelling small depth charges up to 5,800 metres (6,300 yd) from a ship. However this meant that a ship would still be in range of the submarine's torpedoes and missiles, and depth charges were less accurate than homing torpedoes. In 1963 the US Navy introducedASROC,a missile that flew to the estimated position of the target submarine, and then dropped a torpedo into the water to destroy it. The SS-N-14 was the Soviet response.

In 1993, an upgraded version, designated YP-85, with a range of 250 km (130 nmi), was proposed for export.

Design

The missile is based on theP-120 Malakhit(NATO: SS-N-9 'Siren') anti-shipping missile. The missile itself is radio command guided and is powered by a solid fuel rocket motor. The later 'Rastrub' models of the weapon were "universal" carrying a UGMT-1 multi-purposetorpedoand in addition had 185 kg (408 lb) shaped charge warhead for use against ships guided by radio command and infrared seeker.In anti-submarine mode the missile flew at approximately 400 m (1,300 ft) altitude, and when it was over the estimated position of the target submarine the missile was commanded to release the torpedo or depth charge. In anti-shipping mode the missile flies much lower, at 15 m (49 ft).

Operational history

The URPK-3 entered service in 1969 on theKresta IIandKaraclasses ofcruisers.The URPK-4 was introduced in 1973, and the anti-ship version URPK-5 Rastrub in 1976.The URPK-4 has been used With the first batch of theUdaloy-classdestroyers;theUdaloyII carries the SS-N-15 'Starfish'. The system was installed on thebattlecruiserAdmiral Ushakov(ex-Kirov) but not on hersister ships.

Of these the Krestas and Karas have been retired, along with most of the Krivaks and half theUdaloys; theKirovappears to have been upgraded to theSS-N-16'Stallion' at some point. 100 missiles are estimated to remain in service as of 2006.

According to some unconfirmed reports, this missile has been used in combination with Tupolev Tu-143 Reys observation UAVs and Russian Tu-243 and Tu-300 derivatives, launched from BAZ-135MB truck launch platforms (originally planned for the Redoubt anti-ship missile complex to SS-N-3 Shaddock missile in coastal defense role, onboard infrastructure and general missile container inherited by the SS-N-9 Siren and the cited and Siren-derivate SS-N-14 Silex missiles) by pro-Russian separatist UAV units in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine since 2014, as a ground attack missile system.

The adaptation includes replacement of originally used UGMT-1 multi-purpose torpedo and PLAB-100 naval depth-charge (variant of Soviet-Russian FAB-100 general-purpose aerial bomb) to FAB-50 or FAB-100, ZAB-50, ZAB-100, OFAB-50 or OFAB-100 and AO-50, AO-100 (twin 50 kg or single 100 kg unguided bombs).

Due to the 100 missiles stock left behind after by the successive withdrawal of the last Soviet-origin Kara-class cruisers and Krivak-class frigates in the near Russian Black Sea Fleet depots in Crimea, also by current upgrade of the Udaloy-class destroyers in the Russian service.

Variants

85RU missile in Dubna museum of missiles history, Russia

• 60R - Original version armed with 5 kt nuclear depth charge
• 70R - Original version armed with AT-2U ASW torpedo
• 83R/URPK-3Metel- Cruiser version of the missile using the guidance system from theSA-N-3missile and the KT-106 launcher. Uses AT-1 torpedo (EA-45-70A)
• 84R/URPK-4Metel-U,KT-106U launcher, used onUdaloy-class destroyers. Entered service 1973. Uses AT-2 (AT-2UM) torpedo (E53-72), which has either 100 kg HE warhead or possibly a 5 kt nuclear warhead.
• 85RU/URPK-5Rastrub,KT-100U launcher. Entered service 1975. Carries UGMT-1 (AT-3 Orlan) anti- sub and anti-ship torpedo and is in addition anti-shipping missile with a warhead of 185 kg.
  • 85RUS/URPK-5 Nuclear tipped version of the missile.
• YP-85Proposed long-range version - see above.

Operators

Russia

Soviet Union

Gallery

• 
  SS-N-14 Silex missiles aboard theUdaloy-class destroyerVice Admiral KulakovdepartingPortsmouth Naval Base,United Kingdom, August 2012.
• 
  SS-N-14 Silex missile launchers aboard theUdaloy-class destroyerVice Admiral Kulakovarriving atPortsmouth Naval Base,United Kingdom, August 2012.

Notes and references

• Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems 1997 to 1998
• Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems 2006-2007

External links

• Images of the missiles in the launch tubes at wonderland.org.nz
• Page about the SS-N-14 in Russian
• Manufacturer's page about the URK-5