The Russian Navy Pacific Fleet’s Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate has launched an Otvet advanced anti-submarine missile, which successfully hit an underwater target. Anti-submarine missiles are launched by ZS-14 universal launchers that make it possible to use the Oniks and Kalibr cruise missiles. After reaching the designated area, the Otvet missile releases a self-guided anti-submarine torpedo on a parachute, which continues to search for enemy submarines using its sonar station. The maximum range of the missile designed for warships is 40 kilometers. The missile’s warhead successfully hit the target.
Otvet will be installed on Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate, Udaloy-class destroyer, Gremyashchiy-class corvette and Admiral Nakhimov heavy nuclear cruiser. In November 2020, Tass reported the completion of the state trials of Russia’s new Otvet anti-submarine complex, which was expected to be brought into service in December 2020 or January 2021. Otvet includes onboard sonar, a submersible helicopter sonar, 3S-14 vertical launcher, antisubmarine missile with 324mm MPT-1UM torpedoes, communication and launch preparation systems. Underwater targets can be detected by both sonars, as well as other warships and submarines, Il-38 and Tu-142 antisubmarine aircraft.
The website Naval News reported that the missile is launched by a ballistic trajectory to the target area. The two-stage solid-fuel missile is 7.65 meters long and the launch weight exceeds two tons. It has an inertial guidance system. Upon the separation of the first stage, the second stage takes the missile by a guided trajectory to the submarine area. Upon the separation of the second stage, MPT-1UM torpedo splashed on a parachute, submerges and automatically searches for the target. It moves by a spiral without starting up the engine, but with operating acoustic homing warhead. The engine starts up after the target is detected. The torpedo approaches and destroys the submarine.
Otvet anti-submarine missile mission time is 1-2 minutes. The distance ranges from 5 to 50 km. The maximum flight speed is Mach 2.5. Four missiles can simultaneously attack one submarine. The kill probability is 0.91 in case of guidance mean square error of 300-500 meters. Otvet will increase antisubmarine capabilities of the Russian Navy. Major surface forces can build up multilayered antisubmarine defense. In the close zone, Paket-NM antisubmarine complex fights submarines and torpedoes. Otvet is in charge of the distance of 5 — 50 km. Torpedoes and depth bombs of Ka-27PL helicopters operate in a 100-km range.
