Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa

S Unnithan · Post by **S Unnithan** » 06 Aug 1999 11:08

Friends, Since the post on the Sindhushastra has disappeared, I'm reposting all the material I have on the Alfa / Klub. The missile will enter naval service designated as the Klub. Missile: Novator P10 Alpha Launch Weight:2500kg Range:hi-lo profile 250km Speed: 0.7 cruise - 2.5 terminal run Sub launched: 533mm tubes India To Buy Russian Cruise Missile By DOUGLAS BARRIE and SIMON SARADZHYAN MOSCOW -- In a move marking a significant increase in its capability, the Indian Navy will become the first export customer for one or more variants of Russia's Novator Biryuza supersonic cruise missile, according to Russian sources. The Ekaterinburg-based missile design house is developing the Biryuza (NATO designation SS-NX-27) for the Russian Navy as a successor for several surface- and submarine-launched missiles. The missile, export derivatives of which are known as Klub and Klab-N, is to be provided as part of the weapon package for the three 11356-class frigates India has ordered from Russia. Delivery of the first of the ships is due by 2004. A senior official from the Severnoye Design Bureau, St. Petersburg, told Defense News Nov. 12 that the Indian-version of the missile is being developed by Novator. "There are only models, no full-fledged missiles have been made yet," he said. He added that the Indian government regularly is checking on the status of the contract. The Severnoye Design Bureau is the designer of the frigates slated to be equipped with the new cruise missiles. Test firings of the Biryuza, have been carried out, according to Russian officials. The first variant of the missile system is intended to equip Amur-class diesel submarines now being developed in Russia, and as a possible retrofit to Kilo-class submarines. For the 11356 frigates, the missile will be vertically launched. The Kilo-class submarine widely has been exported, including to India. Officials at the Rubin Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering, St. Petersburg, previously have confirmed that the cruise missile armament is available for both classes of diesel submarine. In October 1997, the Indian government approved the purchase of three upgraded Kilo-class submarines for $800 million, as well as a buy of the three frigates. It is likely these submarines also will be fitted with the Novator missile, which can be fired from a standard 533mm torpedo tube, according to defense experts. A senior Novator official declined Nov. 13 to discuss the project, saying only that the program remained secret. Brig. Gen. Devraj Singh, military attaché at the Indian Embassy here, and Commodore P.S. Sahion, naval attaché, both were vacationing the week of Nov. 23 and could not be reached for comment. Indian Navy officials in New Delhi said Nov. 23 Russia has offered the service the Biryuza cruise missile, but added the Navy will not make a final decision about buying it until after it can be tested by Navy experts. A spokesman at the Indian Ministry of Defense, by contrast, said the same day that the missiles are not part of India's shopping list for Russian equipment. The new missile has a supersonic capability in the final phase of engaging its target, a crucial difference between it and its predecessor, the SS-N-21 Sampson. While for most of the engagement the missile cruises subsonically using a turbojet power plant, for the final stage its forward section separates, and accelerates to supersonic speed using a solid booster. This, combined with an attack altitude of around 15 feet, makes the missile a difficult target for ship self-defense weapons to engage, according to defense experts. Novator began development of the Biryuza in the mid-1980s, according to Russian officials. The design was in competition with the NPO Mashinostroenia, Reutov, rocket-ramjet antiship missile called Onix. While in the early 1990s the Russian Navy favored the Onix (SS-NX-26), the tables now have been turned, these officials said. No performance details of the conventionally armed Biryuza have been released by the design bureau, but its range is expected to be in excess of 300 kilometers. Novator showed a shore-defense version of the Biryuza, dubbed the Alfa, in the early 1990s with a claimed range of 200 kilometers. Correspondent Vivek Raghuvanshi contributed to this report from New Delhi. All times are ET (US)next newest topic | next oldest topic FROM STEVEN J ZALOGA's REPORT IN JIR FEB 1998:Although designed from the very outset as a universal missile with applications for aircraft, so far an air-launched version of the Oniks/Yakhont has not been displayed. NPO Mashinostroynie has also been promoting another anti-ship missile the Alfa, which uses turbo-jet engine. This configuration offers lower speed, but better fuel economy than the Matryoshka engine used in the Oniks. Mock-ups of the Alfa have been shown under the wing of the new Su-32FN naval strike aircraft. This is all the more puzzling as the Alfa appears to be much further away from potential production than the Oniks/Yakhont. Indeed, there has not even been any evidence to suggest that the Alfa has reached the stage of flight trials This suggests that it will not be ready until the beginning of the next century at the earliest In light of this, it is not clear why an air-launched version of the Oniks has not appeared It is possible that the Russian Navy's dire financial problems have not permitted such a variant to be funded.

Badar · Post by **Badar** » 07 Aug 1999 09:26

Hi,Schwarzkopf, AFAIK the navy is set against the Gorshkov. It is the MoD babu's who seem keen to ram it down the IN's throat.

Badar · Post by **Badar** » 07 Aug 1999 09:28

Hi,BTW, what happened to the 4 Il-78's we ordered from Khazakistan a couple of years back?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 08 Aug 1999 09:11

Thanks Sandeep for the info on the Biryuza/Alfa.Incidentally the Alfa/SS-N-27 has already been fired from Iranian Kilos in Russia.There is no reason why they could not have been/will be fired from Indian refitted Kilos.As the report says there was competition between the Yakhont and the Alfa/SS-N-27 for some time.The Alfa uses std. tubes for firing from subs unlike the Yakhont which is larger.One report in a Russian journal a few months ago had the Yakhont aboard the Gorshkov for India(!)There has ben so much of kite flying from Russia that waiting and confirming things for ourselves remains the best option.The report also talks of "three' Kilo subs.As far as we know only two extra Kilos were ordered from Russia.The Sindhu Rakshak a hull meant for the Russian navy,probably an improved Kilo and the new Kilo the Sindhu Rashtra expected next year.What is the third sub therefore.Does it maean that we might lift the second Amur?Other info on the SS-N-27 is that it has a cruise speed of 0.7 Mach,terminal speed of 2.5 mach and has a warhead of 200kg.range is expected to be in excess of 300kn ,with an active radar search of about 100 nm.The 300 km range is probabl meant to conform to MTCR regulations and it could have a far greater range than the brochures state.Whatever the truth of these details,the Alfa represents a quantum jump in the IN's capabilities something that we should've long possessed considering the fact that pakistan has had sub launched missile capability for over a decade.

S Unnithan · Post by **S Unnithan** » 08 Aug 1999 10:01

Rakesh,The Defense News article appeared in the issue dated 30-11-98. BTW since I though there were just 2 Russkie AShM missile design bureaus, NPO and Raduga, is there any consolidated info about Russian MDBs? For instance where did Novator spring from??Philip,Despite the best efforts of our friends in Russia, trying to foist the Amur prodn line on us, replacing the HDW, we are unlikely to buy it. The Russians haven't found a buyer for the 2nd Amur and all Rosvoorouzhenie talk of it being built for an `undisclosed export customer' is rubbish. Even the St Petersburg seems unlikely to enter Russian Navy service. The IN is firm on wanting only the Kilos and the Type 1500s and not take chances with an untested sub like the Amur. The Collins class experience seemed to have helped.Sandeep.

S Unnithan · Post by **S Unnithan** » 09 Aug 1999 13:08

Philip,Gulp! Alfas test fired from Iranian subs? When did this happen? Was it the Taregh, Noor , the Yunus-3 or all of them? Could I have more info on this? And why is the foreign media generally silent on this new Russian cruise missile?Sandeep.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 09 Aug 1999 23:53

This was revealed by the USN some time ago,probably when the first sub/subs were in Russia prior to delivery to entice them into buying the Kilos.

Bharat Rakshak

Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa

Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa

Re: Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa

Re: Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa

Re: Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa

Re: Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa

Re: Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa

Re: Info on the Novator Biryuza / Alfa