A New Most Over Rated Anti-Ship Missile Contender

I have made the argument in the past that the SS-N-22 Sunburn (a.k.a. 3M-82 Moskit a.k.a. P270 Moskit) is the most overrated anti-ship missile you will ever read about. That still may be true, but it appears there is a new contender for the most overrated anti-ship missile on the market.

After the bitter spat over the acquisition of the Russian aircraft carrier Gorshkov, the Indian Navy is now going public with another sore issue-- the Klub cruise missile.

Inducted to be the main strike weapon of India's submarine arm between 2001 and 2006, this anti-ship cruise missile has never hit a target.

Seven of India's 10-kilo class submarines and the three Talwar class stealth frigates have been fitted with this weapon.

There are three more frigates under construction in Russia similar to the Talwar, but it was noted early on these frigates would not have the Klub, instead they would have the Brohmos. Now we know why.

"There are problems that we have overcome but we are having dialogues,” says FOC-in-C, Eastern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral PS Suthan

India is reported to have acquired over 200 Klubs at a cost of several thousand crores. And the missiles have never reached anywhere close to the stated range of 300 km.

The failure of the Klub cruise missiles has raised fresh doubts about the reliability of Russia as an arms supplier.

The naval top brass now concedes that it may have to reconsider the entire upgrade programme for the Kilo class submarines.

“We will look into other missiles,” says Vice-Admiral Puthan.

I love the way the Indian press covers defense, they are brutal and demand transparency from the Navy, who themselves are often very quiet about things. Clearly the relations between India and Russia are getting ugly, this report is terrible timing for Russia who is in Malaysia as we speak marketing the Amur class submarine and the superiority it provides on the cheap thanks to none other than, the Klub missile.

Until this report I have argued in the past in various places that missiles like the Klub appear impressive. Clearly I was wrong. This information does help explain some of the decisions made by China and India lately when buying Russian Naval equipment though, and opens the possibility that the 'latest and greatest' Russian military equipment being sold is more bark than bite.

Still think the Kitty Hawk can be easily dismissed? India isn't our enemy, although they also aren't our friend, there is potential for adjusting the relationship here. It will be interesting to see if the US makes a push.