The P-800 Oniks 3M55, also known by its NATO designation SS-N-26 "Strobile," is a Russian supersonic cruise missile developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Designed as a multi-role weapon, it can function as an anti-ship, land-attack, submarine, cruise, air, and surface-to-surface missile. This missile represents the pinnacle of Russian cruise missile technology and has been in service since 2002.
Country users: India, Indonesia, Russia, Syria, Vietnam
Technical Data
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Design
The P-800 Oniks is a robust missile characterized by its aerodynamic design and modular configuration. The missile is 8.3 meters long in its anti-ship variant, while its surface-to-surface variants are slightly longer at 8.6 meters. The missile's diameter remains consistent across all versions at 670 millimeters, with a launch weight of approximately 3,000 kilograms. It is equipped with stabilizing fins and a rocket booster for initial propulsion.
The missile operates in two distinct flight profiles: a high-altitude trajectory, allowing it to reach up to 14 kilometers, and a low-altitude trajectory, maintaining an altitude of 10 to 15 meters during its terminal approach to avoid detection.
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Warheads
The P-800 Oniks supports multiple warhead configurations to adapt to its mission requirements. Its domestic versions feature a semi-armor-piercing warhead weighing 250 kilograms, capable of penetrating heavily armored targets such as warship hulls. Export variants, including the Yakhont, typically use a 200-kilogram high-explosive warhead. Both warhead types ensure devastating effects against naval and ground-based targets.
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Propulsion
The P-800 is powered by a kerosene-fueled ramjet engine, which becomes active after the initial boost provided by a solid-fuel rocket stage. This propulsion system allows the missile to achieve speeds of up to Mach 2.2 (approximately 750 m/s) during high-altitude flight. When operating at lower altitudes or in its terminal phase, the missile achieves a maximum speed of Mach 2 (680 m/s).
The missile's range depends on its flight profile. In a high-altitude trajectory, it can reach 300 kilometers, while in a low-altitude sea-skimming mode, its range is reduced to 120 kilometers.
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Guidance Systems
The P-800 Oniks employs a dual-mode guidance system combining an inertial navigation system for mid-course guidance with an active radar seeker for terminal homing. The missile also features a passive radar seeker to locate and target emitting radar systems.
In 2002, the missile’s terminal seeker was upgraded to include both an active radar seeker and an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker, greatly enhancing its precision and ability to engage small, moving, or low-contrast targets. This system provides the missile with a circular error probable (CEP) of approximately 1.5 meters, ensuring pinpoint accuracy.
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Combat Use
The P-800 Oniks has been extensively deployed across multiple platforms, including naval ships, submarines, fixed-wing aircraft, and land-based systems like the Bastion-P. In combat scenarios, the missile is launched from its platform and boosted to altitude by its rocket stage. The ramjet then takes over, propelling it to supersonic speeds. During the terminal phase, the missile descends to 10-15 meters, employing a sea-skimming approach to evade enemy radar and missile defenses.
The missile’s versatility effectively engages naval formations, amphibious assault groups, and land-based infrastructure. Its high speed, low-altitude capabilities, and advanced evasive maneuvers ensure a high probability of success against even advanced air defense systems.
The P-800 Oniks has demonstrated its combat reliability in conflicts such as the Syrian Civil War and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, further solidifying its reputation as a potent and versatile weapon. Its innovative design continues to influence modern cruise missile development worldwide, underscoring its place as a cornerstone of Russian missile technology.
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