MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia’s new Kalibr (SS-N-27 Sizzler) cruise missile systems provide expanded defense capabilities to the Russian Navy, the latest unclassified US Navy intelligence report reveals.
"The new technologically advanced Russian Navy, increasingly armed with the KALIBR family of weapons, will be able to more capably defend the maritime approaches to the Russian Federation and exert significant influence in adjacent seas," the December Office of Naval Intelligence report said.
It quoted an unnamed high-ranking Russian defense industry official as saying in 2011 that the Kalibr family "provides even modest platforms, such as corvettes, with significant offensive capability." The official went on to say the capability to hold distant fixed ground targets at risk using conventional warheads expands Russia’s ability to deter, threaten or destroy adversary targets.
Last week, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov disclosed plans to fit two next-generation Project 22800 corvettes with new Kalibr systems. The Uragan and Taifun small missile ships are expected to join the national fleet in 2017-18.
The system, including anti-ship, anti-submarine and land attack cruise missiles with a reported operational range of 160 miles to 930/1,550 miles, was last deployed against terrorist targets in Syria early in December.
Russia is underground a major five-year rearmament program to modernize nearly three-quarters of its military by 2020.
