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P-70 Ametist (NATO reporting name: SS-N-7 'Starbright') |
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| Type | Anti-shipping missile |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1968-1995 |
| Used by | Russia, India |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | NPO Mashinostroyeniye (Chelomei) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7,700 lb (3,500 kg) |
| Length | 23.0 ft (7.0 m) |
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| Warhead | HE or 200kt nuclear |
| Warhead weight | 1,170 lb (530 kg) |
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| Propellant | Solid fuel |
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Operational range |
65 km (35 nmi) |
| Speed | Mach 0.9 |
| Launch platform |
Charlie-I class SSGNs |
The P-70 Ametist (NATO reporting name SS-N-7 Starbright, GRAU designation 4K66; Russian: П-70 «Аметист» 'Amethyst') was an anti-shipping missile carried by Soviet Charlie-I submarines. A sub-launched version of the SS-N-2 'Styx', it was soon succeeded by the P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 'Siren').
Contents |
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 the 1960s the Soviets started work on a new missile that could be fired whilst submerged, and a submarine to carry it. These became the P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 'Siren') and Charlie class submarine.
However problems with the engines of the supersonic P-120 Malakhit forced the Soviets to design a sub-launched missile based on the P-15M Termit (SS-N-2C 'Styx') as a stopgap measure for the first batch of Charlie submarines. This became the P-20L, later renamed the P-70 Ametist.
The P-15M was fitted with an L band sensor and a new altimeter radar both developed for the 'Siren', but there was no room for a datalink in the smaller 'Styx'. Folding wings were added to reduce the size of the missile.
The short range of the P-70 meant that it did not need mid-course updates from a radar on the submarine, so it could be fired whilst submerged. This more than made up for its lack of range compared to the 'Shaddock'.
The P-70 went into service with the Soviet Navy on the first Charlie I, on June 3, 1968.[1] About 200 were produced.
India leased the Chakra, a Soviet Charlie I submarine from January 1988 to 1992, to gain experience of operating a nuclear submarine.
   | Global Security.org - SS-N-7 |
| | MARITIME STRIKE The Soviet Perspective - MARITIME STRIKE - The Soviet Perspective |
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