P-15 Termit SS-N-2 Styx |
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A P-15M missile (SS-N-2c) being unloaded from a former East German Navy Tarantul class missile boat
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Type | Anti-ship missile |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1960–present |
Production history | |
Manufacturer | MKB Raduga |
Specifications | |
Weight | 2,580 kg (5,690 lb) |
Length | 5.8 m (19 ft) |
Diameter | 0.76 m (2 ft 6 in) |
Warhead | 454 kg (1,001 lb) hollow charge high explosive |
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Engine | Liquid-propellant rocket, solid-propellant rocket booster |
Wingspan | 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) |
Operational
range |
80 kilometres (50 mi) |
Flight altitude | 25 to 100 metres (82 to 328 ft) |
Speed | Mach 0.95 |
Guidance
system |
autopilot (inertial guidance), active radar homing, supplemented in some with infrared homing |
Launch
platform |
naval ships, ground launch |
The P-15 Termit (Russian: П-15 "Термит"; English: termite) is an anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union's Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. Its GRAU designation was 4K40, its NATO reporting name was Styx or SS-N-2. China acquired the design in 1958 and created at least four versions: the CSS-N-1 Scrubbrush and CSS-N-2 versions were developed for ship-launched operation, while the CSS-C-2 Silkworm and CSS-C-3 Seersucker were used for coastal defence. Other names for this basic type of missile include: HY-1, SY-1, and FL-1 Flying Dragon (Chinese designations typically differ for export and domestic use, even for otherwise identical equipment) . North Korean local produced KN-1 or KN-01, derived from both Silkworm variants and Russian & URSS P-15, Rubezh, P-20 P-22 .
Despite its huge size, thousands of P-15s were built and installed on many classes of ships from MTBs to destroyers, as well as coastal batteries and even bombers (Chinese versions). The P-15 was quite successful in the conflicts where it was deployed.
The P-15 was not the first anti-ship missile in Soviet service; that distinction goes to the SS-N-1 Scrubber, and to the aircraft-launched AS-1 Kennel. The SS-N-1 was a powerful but rather raw system, and it was quickly superseded by the SS-N-3 Shaddock. This weapon was fitted to 4,000-ton Kynda class cruisers and replaced an initial plan for 30,000-ton battlecruisers armed with 305mm and 45mm guns. Rather than rely on a few heavy and costly ships, a new weapons system was designed to fit smaller, more numerous vessels, while maintaining sufficient striking power. The P-15 was developed by the Soviet designer Beresyniak, who helped in the development of the BI rocket interceptor.