Russian Navy Caspian Flotilla Vessels Launched 2nd Cruise Missile Strike Against IS Targets in Syria

: Posted On Sunday, 22 November 2015 16:40

Naval Forces News - Russia

Russian Navy Caspian Flotilla Vessels Launched 2nd Cruise Missile Strike Against IS Targets in Syria

According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu "Russian Navy Caspian Flotilla vessels fired 18 cruise missiles on November 20, 2015 from the Caspian Sea. The Kalibr-NK cruise missiles were launched against 7 terrorist position targets in the Syrian provinces of Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo. All target were destroyed."

Massive strike with cruise missiles Kalibr-NK was made from the water zone of the Caspian Sea against terrorist objects in Raqqah, Idlib and Aleppo provinces. Russian MoD Video

This is the second strike of the Russian Navy against IS targets using Kalibr-NK cruise missiles. The same vessels conducted a smililar missions in early October.

The missiles were launched by the Project 11661 Gepard-class Dagestan guided missile ship and three Project 21631 Buyan-M-class small guided missile ships - the Grad Sviyazhsk, the Uglich and the Veliky Ustyug.

Project 11661K Gepard-class Dagestan frigate launching Kalibr-NK in early October 2015

The Caspian Flotilla includes several Project 21631 Buyan-class guided missile craft and the Project 11661K Gepard-class Dagestan guided missile ship. The ships in these classes carry Kalibr-NK (SS-N-27 Sizzler) VLS missile systems. The Kalibr-NK is equipped with various types of missiles, including the 3M54 antiship and 3M14 land-attack missile families and 91RTE2 antisubmarine missiles as well.

The ammunition load of the Kalibr-NK (NATO reporting name: SS-N-27 Sizzler) missile system comprises a family of the 3M-14 cruise missile, including the baseline missile with a high-explosive warhead, various training missiles and full-scale prototypes.

The 3M14 missile is a derivative of the 3M10 equipping the Granat system - a Russian opposite number of the US-made Tomahawk. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the 3M14 naval version has a range of at least 2,600 km.

The Dagestan carries a 3S-14 VLS launcher with eight Kalibr launch tubes. The Project 21631 ships operated by the Caspian Flotilla have similar eight-tube launchers. The flotilla uses three ships of the class - the Grad Sviyazhsk, Uglich and Veliky Ustyug. Thus, in all probability, the IS targets in Syria have been hit with 3M14 land-attack cruise missiles of the Kalibr family.