Chinese Defence Today - 3M-80E (SS-N-22) Ship-to-Ship Missile

The PLA Navy (PLAN) received an unknown number of the Russian Raduga Design Bureau 3M-80E Moskit (NATO codename: SS-N-22 Sunburn) ramjet-powered supersonic anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) along with the purchase of two Project 956 (Sovremenny class) destroyers in 2000~2001. The first test fire of the missile by the PLAN took place in 2001. It was reported that a new version developed especially for the PLAN, the 200km-range 3M-80MBE, will equip the next two Project 956E destroyers scheduled to be delivered to the PLAN between 2005 and 2006.

The 3M-80E Moskit missile was developed for the Soviet Navy during the Cold War-era to defeat the U.S. Navy Aegis air-defence system. Powered by a liquid-fuel ramjet engine and four solid rocket boosters, the missile delivers a 300kg HE warhead or a tactical nuclear warhead to a distance of 90~100km at a speed of Mach 2. The missile is made even more deadly by the capability to perform 15g evasive “S” maneuvers during its terminal stage of flight before target impact in order to evade defensive close-in weapon systems (CIWS).

The 3M-80E is regarded as the most capable anti-ship missile in service with the PLAN. The missile is armed with a conventional 300kg penetrating warhead containing 150kg of high explosive, or (in the Russian Navy) a 200 kiloton nuclear warhead. Even with a conventional warhead, the 3M-80E missile is large enough so that one hit from a single missile could seriously damage or possibly even sink a major surface combatant. A nuclear-armed 3M-80E Moskit could easily destroy an aircraft carrier (and any other nearby ships), even if the warhead detonates at some distance from the target.

When slower missiles, like the French Exocet are used, the maximum theoretical response time for the defending ship is 120~150 seconds. This provides time to launch countermeasures and employ jamming before deploying "hard" defence tactics such as launching missiles and using quick-firing artillery. But the 3M-80E missile is extremely fast and give the defending side a maximum theoretical response time of merely 25~30 seconds, rendering it extremely difficult employ jamming and countermeasures, let alone fire missiles and quick-firing artillery..

The PLAN first tested the missile in 2001. The exact number of missiles delivered from Russia is unknown, but some sources suggest that the first batch may consist of up to 100 missiles. The PLAN is believed to have ordered more missiles from Russia to arm the two improved Project 956EM destroyers which were scheduled to be delivered in 2005~06.

The 3M80 Moskit is a ramjet-powered missile with a slim forward body and sharp nose, and a fatter rear half with four divided air intakes. There are four clipped delta platform wings and four smaller tail surfaces of similar shape organized in cruciform configuration around the fuselage. All the wings and tail surfaces are folded when the missile is in the launcher.

Internally the radar seeker is in the nose with the guidance system, batteries and radio altimeter in the remainder of the front compartment, and the 300kg semi-armour-piercing warhead immediately behind. A fuel tank, presumably with a kerosene-type fuel, occupies the area to the leading edges of the wing and the area almost to the rear edges is occupied by the ramjet. Much of the rear of the missile is occupied by a solid propellant booster through which runs the ramjet nozzle. Actuators are to be found below the tail surfaces.

During its initial flight stage, the 3M-80E uses inertia guidance with update input from the targeting radar onboard a shipborne helicopter or a space satellite. When it is reaching the final stage of its flight, the missile’s Altair-designed multi-channel seeker uses active radar, anti-radiation and home-on-jam modes to ensure that the missile hits the target.

Powered by a liquid-ramjet engine with four solid rocket boosters, The 3M-80E missile has the fastest flying speed among all anti-ship missiles in today's world. The missile is supersonic (Mach 2.1), low-flying (7~20m above the water surface) and performs a terminal ‘S’ manoeuvre (pulling up to 15G) to evade close-in defence at a distance of 5 to 7km to its target. The 3M-80E missile, which is an improved variant of the basic variant 3M-80, has an operational range of 160km.

Length: 9.38m
Diameter: 0.76m
Wingspan: 1.3m
Launch weight: 3,950kg
Warhead: 300kg, containing 150kg of high explosive
Propulsion: Liquid ramjet + solid booster
Max speed: Mach 2.1
Max range: 90km
Flight altitude: 7~20m
Guidance: Inertia with update, final active/pasive radar homing
Single-shot hit probability: 60~80%