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Answer ·
United States Navy (USN)
Why are American anti-ship missiles so terrible?
Virtually all Western antishipping missiles for the last three to four decades are small, slowcoach, subsonic seaskimmers powered by tiny turbojets with lightweight warheads.
Harpoon, Exocet, Sea Eagle, Kormoran, Gabriel, Penguin, RBS-15, etc.
All weigh from 800 to 1,500 pounds, with 300 to 500-pounder warheads, powered by 600-pound thrust turbojets, and have ranges from 30 to 70 miles, improving to around 150 miles for the latest Harpoons and Bofors RBS-15 Mk 3.
Israel’s Gabriel Mk 4 is probably the heaviest at 2,000 pounds.
All coast along at a leisurely 500 to 700 mph, with the Exocet the fastest.
When the Soviet Union first fielded the huge AS-4 Kitchen (Kh-22) over five decades ago, it was virtually the largest, fastest, longest ranged antishipping missile around, with the biggest warhead.
At 13,000 pounds, it was virtually the heaviest airlaunched antishipping missile deployed, with a huge 2,200-pounder warhead.
It could also be fitted with a 350,000 ton nuclear warhead.
The West has no equivalent to this day.
While not a sea skimmer, when launched by the Backfires (and Bears or Blinders) in a high attack profile, it climbs to 80,000 feet, cruises at 2,000 mph (Mach 3) and flies up to 370 miles away.
Approaching the target ship, it dives down on it, reaching a terminal speed of 3,000 mph, Mach 4.6.
You can imagine the kinetic impact of a 13,000 pound missile with its liquid fuel load on an aircraft carrier at that speed, even if the warhead does not explode.
However, its guidance system was primitive and could be easily jammed, as an Aegis system expert on Quora told me earlier.
Bears also carried a smaller version, the 9,000 pound AS-6 Kingfish, with a similar warhead.
The following newer missiles are all supersonic seaskimmers.
The YJ-18 and airlaunched versions of the Club are subsonic with a terminal supersonic profile.
15,000 pound P-700 Granit (SS-N-19 Shipwreck)
P-800 Oniks/Yakhont (SS-N-26 Strobile)
P-270 Moskit (SS-N-22 Sunburn)
3M-54 Club (SS-N-27 Sizzler)
Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton)
India/Russia - Brahmos
China - YJ12, YJ18
China's YJ-18 Supersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile: America's Nightmare?
Russian Tactical Missiles Are Still Among the Best
Along with the above, and the fielding of the AS-4 Kitchen's replacement, the 600-mile range, 130,000 feet Kh-32, the West has fallen way behind in antishipping missile capability.
Locked and Loaded: Russia's Tu-22M3 Bombers to Boast Advanced Cruise Missiles
Invincible Weapon: Russian Long-Range Bombers to Receive New Cruise Missiles
Russia orders new Kh-32 cruise missiles to arm Tu-22M3 bombers
New Russian Cruise Missiles Exceed Mach 4
The Tu-22M3: The Russian Bomber the World Truly Fears
Why America Should Fear Russia's Bombers (And Their Cruise Missiles)
Why China’s Tu-22 bombers would represent a serious threat to U.S. Navy aircraft carriers
The Soviet Navy alone has more than 10 Tu-22M3 regiments organized with five air divisions. The Soviet Air Force had about the same number of the bombers. Each regiment comprised 20 Tu-22Ms capable of hauling 40 or 60 Kh-22 missiles depending on the range to the target, according to Russian Navy historian Dmitry.
A primary target for the Tu-22M3s were US Navy aircraft carrier strike groups. A salvo by a Tu-22M3 regiment would guarantee the elimination of the carrier itself and all of her escorts – cruisers, destroyers and guided missile frigates.
Kh-32 Advanced Cruise Missile Tests Drawing to A Close In Russia
The above info on the Backfire inventory is dated. The Russian Air Force currently has about 60 to 70 operational Backfires, with 30 being upgraded to Tu-22M3M standard.
Overall, Russia has produced 268 such planes. According to the data of The Military Balance magazine, the Russian Aerospace Force operates 62 Tu-22M3 bombers.
Repaired strategic bomber Tu-22M3 re-enters service with Russia’s Aerospace Force
Russia built more than 500 Tu-22Ms of all versions over the decades, but only seven squadrons—each with a nominal strength of 10 aircraft - - remain in service at three bases. Belaya in southeastern Siberia, Shaykovka southwest of Moscow and Ryazan southeast of Moscow.
Analyzing satellite imagery, Butowski concludes that there are 28 aircraft at Shaykovka, 40 at Belaya and 10 at Ryazan. However, not all of these aircraft are operational. The actual number of operational Tu-22M3s is probably closer to 65 or 70.
Russia’s Backfire Bomber Is Back!
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