Russia continues to employ one of its most powerful missiles, the Kalibr cruise missile, against Ukraine. A new video reveals this missile's strength, capability, speed, and maneuvering as it flies just 50 feet above the sea at high speed towards Ukraine.
The video, made by fishermen, shows two missiles heading towards Ukraine, the second launching shortly after the first. The missile is a supersonic cruise missile nicknamed 'sea-skimming' because it flies at low altitude over the water, making it difficult for enemy radar to detect. With a speed five times that of sound, Russia's navy has been launching the Kalibr cruise missiles from their warships in the Black Sea.
Source: aajtak
Prior to this, Russia had employed the Kalibr missiles extensively in March. Moreover, on July 10, 2024, these missiles were used in an attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv and other areas.
Let's first understand what the Kalibr cruise missile is. Known also as the 3M-54 Kalibr, this missile was developed by Russia's weapons manufacturer Novator Design Bureau and has been in service with the Russian military since 1994. With various variants ranging in weight from 1300 to 1780 KG, the heaviest being 2300 KG, its length and diameter also vary depending on the type.
Source: aajtak
There are seven variants of the Kalibr cruise missile. These include anti-ship, anti-submarine, submarine-launched, air-launched, land-attack, and a ground-based missile version. Each can carry up to 400 to 500 KG of weaponry.
Different variants cover different ranges. For instance, the 3M-54E variant can reach up to 220 km, and the 3M-14T variant can travel between 1,500–2,500 km. Currently, development for the Kalibr-M promises a staggering 4,500 km range. Typically, these missiles strike from an altitude of around 1000 meters.
Source: aajtak
The speed of the Kalibr missile reaches a maximum of Mach 2.9, which is approximately 3580 km/h. However, the missile used by Russia in the attacks on Ukraine is claimed to be even faster than sound, fivefold, possibly indicating the Kalibr-M missile, currently under development but untested. Even if the target moves within 3 meters of its trajectory upon arrival, it will still be struck, ensuring no escape for the enemy.
