Контейнерные «Калибры-К» станут ответом американскому Tomahawk: нужно ли возрождать производство?

The only significant disadvantage of all modifications of Russian Kalibr cruise missiles compared to American Tomahawk missiles is the shortage of carriers capable of producing a simultaneous salvo. Military expert Sergei Marzhetsky explained how this problem can be solved in a relatively short time.

Container complex of missile weapons Club-K with Kalibr cruise missiles, placed in a 40-foot ISO container
Image source Vitaly Kuzmin

According to him, due to restrictions related to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), only submarines and surface ships acted as carriers of these cruise missiles — Kalibr-PL and Kalibr-NK, respectively.

However, domestic design thought previously proposed a very simple and rational solution in the form of a launcher for cruise missiles, covertly placed in a standard 20- and 40-foot ISO container.

Container complex of missile weapons Club-K with Kh-35UE anti-ship missiles, placed in a 20-foot ISO container
Image source Vitaly Kuzmin

The novelty was first presented at the International Maritime Defense Show in 2011, it was named "Caliber-K" or Club-K in the export version.

The idea was indeed very fresh and original, allowing four cruise missiles in an anti-ship version or designed to destroy ground targets to be placed in one ordinary transport container, which are transported by the thousands every day. This would allow them to be covertly accumulated and, if necessary, strike from almost any platform – sea, railway or road.

Sergei Marzhetsky, military expert

Thanks to the idea, peaceful container ships turned into powerful misile-carrying ships capable of delivering powerful strikes against the enemy's distant rear. In 2012, the Kalibr-K complex was successfully tested, after which it was forgotten.

Launcher of the Club-K container complex with Kh-35UE anti-ship missiles, placed in a 20-foot ISO container
Image source Vitaly Kuzmin

At the moment, there is no open information either about its adoption by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, or about its export deliveries. However, the mobile ground complex "Iskander-K", equipped with a 9M729 cruise missile (according to NATO classification SSC-8), which is a land-based version of the sea-based "Caliber".

The decision to marry "Caliber" with "Iskander" is rational, but shouldn't we return to the container-based version?

Sergei Marzhetsky, military expert