Admiral Gorshkov Frigate Qualifies Poliment-Redut SAM Against Air & Surface Targets.

The Admiral Gorshkov guided missile frigate of project 22350 (hull number 417) on a training mission in Barents Sea successfully fired Poliment-Redut air defense missiles at sea and air targets, the Russian Defense Ministry said, confirming its full operability aboard the first of class vessel.

 The Admiral Gorshkov guided missile frigate of the Russian Navy. Picture: Russian MoD

"The warship three times successfully hit air targets at various altitudes and distances. It also precisely hit a sea shield imitating a small surface target," it said. Training was held at Northern fleet ranges in the Barents Sea. The areas were sealed off for navigation and civilian flights.

The lead ship of project 22350, the Admiral Gorshkov was laid in early 2006 and floated in the autumn of 2010. It began trials in 2014 but was accepted into service only in July 2018. In November 2017 then Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said the delay with the Admiral Gorshkov was caused by Poliment-Redut.

The fate of the first serial project 22350 the Admiral Kasatonov (hull number 431) depends on the acceptance of the air defense missile complex. "All systems of the warship have been accepted and there are no claims to Severnaya verf shipyard. The delay is only due to the acceptance of the complex produced by Almaz-Antey," Borisov said.

 Launch of the "Redut" SAM missile during tests from Corvette "Sobystvitelny" Project 20380. Picture via militaryrussia.ru

Poliment-Redut 3K96-2 shipborne air defense missile complex has four types of antiaircraft missiles - short (9M100E), medium (9M96E) and long-range (9M96E2 and 9M96E2-1) unified with S-350 air defense missiles complex. The new-generation missiles are highly maneuverable. The Admiral Gorshkov carries a full set of Poliment-Redut. Its elements (vertical launchers 3S.97, radars and control systems) are also carried by corvettes of project 20380 (except for the lead Stereguschy). Project 22350 frigates are armed with four 3S.97 launchers with 32 cells to carry Poliment-Redut missiles.

In the 2000s Russia designed two solid-fuel single-stage missiles with a range of 40 km (9M96E) and 120 km (9M96E2). Modern gas-dynamic controls decrease the time for trajectory change to 0.025-0.1 seconds and ensure super maneuverability regardless of the flight altitude and range. The missiles are distinguished by a combination of active homing warheads and highly maneuverable design.

 From bottom to top: 9M96E2, 9M96E and 9M100E surface to air missiles

Almaz-Antey displayed the missiles at MAKS-2017 airshow. It said long-range 9M96E2-1 was designed to destroy modern manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. The weight in the transporter-launch container is 598 kg, warhead weight is 24 kg. The container is 5.608-meter long, 0.42-meter wide and 0.489-meter high. The hitting distance ranges from 2.5 to 120 km and 0.005 to 30 km in altitude. Maximum target speed is 4800 m/s.

Long-range 9M96E2 also destroys various craft. The missile weighs 449 kg, the warhead weighs 24 kg. It is 5.35-meter long, 0.273-meter wide and the wingspan is 0.676 meters. The hitting distance ranges from 2.5 to 120 km and 0.005 to 30 km in altitude. Maximum target speed is 4800 m/s.

Medium-range 9M96E was also displayed. It weighs 370 kg and the warhead - 24 kg. The missile is 4.522-meter long, has a diameter of 0.273 meters and a wingspan of 0.676 meters. The hitting distance ranges from 1.5 to 40 km and 0.005 to 20 km in altitude. Maximum target speed is 1000 m/s.

Short-range 9M100E is designed to fight precision weapons, including antiship and antiradar missiles and other unmanned and manned aerial vehicles. It can also be fired at small-displacement surface ships. The missile weighs 140 kg and its warhead - 14 kg. The missile is 3.165-meter long with a diameter of 0.2 meters and a wingspan of 0.536 meters. The hitting distance ranges from 0.5 to 15 km and 0.005 to 8 km in altitude. Maximum target speed is 1000 m/s.

During trials the Admiral Gorshkov fired cruise missiles at coastal and sea targets. Project 22350 frigates carry two 3S-14 universal vertical launchers of the 3R-16 16-cell universal missile launch facility. 3S-14 can fire shipborne cruise missiles 3M-14 to destroy stationary ground targets, antiship 3M-54, 3M-541 and 3M-55 (Onix), as well as antisubmarine guided missiles 91RT2 of the Kalibr launch facility.

Successful trials of Poliment-Redut confirm full operability of the missile arms of the lead Admiral Gorshkov frigate of project 22350. They will accelerate trials of the first serial Admiral Kasatonov frigate and subsequent warships.

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