P-70 Ametist
system
platform
The P-70 Ametist (NATO reporting name: SS-N-7 Starbright, GRAU designation 4K66; Russian: П-70 «Аметист» 'Amethyst') was an anti-ship missile carried by Soviet and Indian Project 670 submarines, as well as the Soviet Project 661 Anchar. It was soon succeeded by the P-120 Malakhit (SS-N-9 'Siren').
Fielded on June 3 1968, it was the first missile system in the world to be launched from a submerged submarine. From 1968 to 1987, a total of 631 missiles were built.
Development
The P-5 Pyatyorka (SS-N-3 Shaddock) missile required the Project 659 submarines carrying them to stay surfaced after firing to send mid-flight guidance updates. This made submarines very vulnerable to enemy attack, so in the 1960s the Soviets started working on a new missile that could be fired whilst submerged, and a submarine would carry it. These became the P-120 Malakhit and Project 670 submarine.
However, problems with the engines of the 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.
Design
The P-15M was fitted with an L band active radar homing sensor and a new radar altimeter both developed for the P-120, but there was no room for a datalink in the smaller P-15M. Folding wings were added to reduce the size of the missile, and the missile could be launched at a maximum depth of 30 m (98 ft).
The short range of the P-70 meant it could rely on inertial navigation and radar-homing, and as such did not need mid-course updates from a radar on the submarine. Consequently, along with the addition of the radar-altimeter (which allowed for a much lower cruise altitude than previous missiles), the novel sub-surface launch capability meant that reaction time for surface targets was minimal.
As a result, the ability to deploy in littoral and close-range combat scenarios without necessitating exposure of the launching submarine more than made up for its lack of range compared to the P-5.
Operational history
The P-70 went into service with the Soviet Navy on the first Project 670, on June 3, 1968.[1] About 200 were produced.
India leased the "Chakra" Project 670 submarine from January 1988 to 1992, to gain experience of operating a nuclear submarine.
Operators
References
- ^ "P-70 Ametist" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
- v
- t
- e
(full list)
- AA-1 Alkali
- AA-2 Atoll
- AA-3 Anab
- AA-4 Awl
- AA-5 Ash
- AA-6 Acrid
- AA-7 Apex
- AA-8 Aphid
- AA-9 Amos
- AA-10 Alamo
- AA-11 Archer
- AA-12 Adder
- AA-13 Arrow
- K-74M2 (R-73M)
- K-77M (R-77M)
- KS-172
to-surface
(full list)
- 10Kh 14Kh 18Kh RV-1
- AS-1 Kennel
- AS-2 Kipper
- AS-3 Kangaroo
- AS-4 Kitchen
- AS-5 Kelt
- AS-6 Kingfish
- AS-7 Kerry
- AS-8 Kokon AT-6
- AS-9 Kyle
- AS-10 Karen
- AS-11 Kilter
- AS-12 Kegler
- AS-13 Kingbolt
- AS-14 Kedge
- AS-15 Kent
- AS-16 Kickback
- AS-17 Krypton
- AS-18 Kazoo
- AS-X-19 Koala
- AS-20 Kayak
- AS-X-21
- AS-22 Kh-59MK2S/69
- AS-4M Kh-32
- AS-23 Kh-38/36
- AS-24 Kh-36
- Kh-45
- AS-25 Kh-50
- AS-26 Kodiak
- Kh-90
- AS-27 Sunburn A Kh-41
- AS-28 Strobile A Kh-61
- AS-29 Sizzler Club A
- Hermes A ATS
- Kh-50
- LMUR Izd. 305
- Iz 85 Kh-MD-E
- Kh-74M2 "GZUR"
- AS-X-36 Stone AH (Kh-76)
- AS-37 BrahMos AL
- Zirkon (Kh-72) ASM
- BrahMos-II
guided
(full list)
- AT-1 Snapper
- AT-2 Swatter
- AT-3 Sagger
- AT-4 Spigot
- AT-5 Spandrel
- AT-6 Spiral
- AT-7 Saxhorn
- AT-8 Songster
- AT-9 Spiral-2
- AT-10 Stabber
- AT-11 Sniper
- AT-12 Swinger
- AT-13 Saxhorn-2
- АТ-14 Spriggan
- АТ-15 Springer
- AT-16 Scallion
- 'Avtonomya' IR FF
- Hermes A/M/K ATS
- LMUR Izd. 305
- Kh-50
- Iz 85 Kh-MD-E
to-air
(full list)
to-surface
(full list)