Russia ups missile arsenal on Black Sea submarines
Russia has increased the number of Kalibr missiles on its submarines from four to six, reports the Ukrainian agency Unian. The Ukrainians describe this increase as an "alarming change."
Russian submarines in the Black Sea have been equipped with more Kalibr missiles. According to the Unian agency, one of the submarines now has six of these missiles, which is an increase from the previous four.
More Kalibrs on board
Dmytro Pletenczuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian navy, explained that these changes might be due to the redesign of submarines conducted by the Russians. "You can notice the difference now as it can carry up to six missiles at once," said Pletenczuk regarding one of the submarines that underwent modernization. This suggests that the Russian Federation may have made similar modifications to other vessels.
Unian reports that as of April 21, there was one Russian submarine in the Black Sea, equipped with six Kalibr missiles. This represents a significant change in the Russian navy's strategy.
It is also worth noting that Russia is building the largest universal landing ship, Project 23900 Ivan Rogov, in the occupied Crimea. Its deck will be able to accommodate up to 20 helicopters and 1,000 soldiers.
Kalibr missiles
Kalibrs are a type of munition available in different variants, such as 3M14 and 3M54. The Kalibr is valued for its long-range capability; for instance, the 3M14 variant can cover a distance exceeding 1,450 kilometres, while the anti-ship 3M54 variant can reach nearly 690 kilometres.
Kalibrs use advanced guidance technologies, combining inertial navigation with an active radar homing system, as well as satellite navigation and DSMAC. An important aspect of this Russian weapon system, developed in the 1990s, is its ability to carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.
