P-120 Malakhit

P-120/P-50 Malakhit (NATO reporting name: SS-N-9 'Siren')
P-120 Malakhit medium range cruise missile
Type	Anti-shipping missile
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1972–current
Used by	Russia
Production history
Designer	Zvezda
Manufacturer	OKB-52 MAP (later NPO Mashinostroyeniye)
Specifications
Weight	3,180 kg (7,010 lb)
Length	8.84 m (29.0 ft)
Diameter	76.2 cm (30.0 in)
Warhead	HE-SAP or 200 kt nuclear
Warhead weight	total 840 kg (1,850 lb) HE 500 kg/1102 lb
Wingspan	2.1 m (6.9 ft)
Propellant	Turbojet, solid fuel
Operational range	Sub launched: 110 km Ship launched: 150 km
Speed	Mach 0.9
Launch platform	Nanuchka and Sarancha, Charlie-II and Papa classes

The P-120 Malakhit (Russian: П-120 «Малахит» 'Malachite'; NATO reporting name: SS-N-9 Siren, GRAU designation: 4K85) is a Russian medium range anti-ship missile used by corvettes and submarines. Introduced in 1972, it remains in service but has been superseded by the SS-N-22 Sunburn.

The Echo class submarine required the submarine to spend 30 minutes or more on the surface when firing its P-5 Pyatyorka (SS-N-3A 'Shaddock') missiles. This made the submarine very vulnerable to enemy attack, so in 1963 the Soviets started work on a new missile that could be fired whilst submerged, and a submarine to carry it. These became the P-50 Malakhit and Charlie class submarine. The P-50 was replaced by the P-120 design during development.

However, problems in development meant that the twelve Charlie I submarines were built with the shorter-ranged P-70 Ametist (SS-N-7 'Starbright', an evolution of the SS-N-2C 'Styx') as a stopgap before the introduction of the P-120 Malakhit on the Charlie II.

The P-120 missile was later used as the basis for the SS-N-14 Silex rocket-propelled torpedo.

The L band seeker and radar altimeter originally designed for the 'Siren' were first used on the 'Starbright' whilst the Soviets sorted out the P-120's troublesome engines. However the 'Siren' has space for datalink equipment, allowing mid-course guidance from the launch platform or something else. When fired from a submarine, the missile can be launched at a maximum depth of 50 meters.

The 'Siren' entered service on corvettes of the Soviet Navy on March 17, 1972. It would be installed on Nanuchka-class corvettes. About 500 missiles were produced.