Exercises of combat frigates of the Russian Navy bring interesting news, but the maneuvers of the Project 22350 frigate "Admiral Golovko" did not go unnoticed. The Ministry of Defense reported the launch of an "Onyx" missile from the Barents Sea waters at a coastal target at the Chizha training ground.

"Pervy Tekhnichesky" analyzes the difference between the two missiles and explains why information about the launch range can be misleading.

The official release states: "the distance to the target position exceeded 300 km." One might think that this refers to the basic version of the P-800, whose range is precisely limited by this radius, ignoring the modernized "Onyx-M" flying 800 km.

Why these conclusions are erroneous

The geography of the Barents Sea and the location of the Chizha training ground in the Arkhangelsk region physically dictate the firing distance.

The fact that the missile flew "more than 300 km" only indicates the distance to the target, and not the maximum capabilities of the product itself. From the same point, launching a missile 800 km without going into the open ocean is technically impossible.

"Onyx-M" is an expensive modernized weapon, designed for strategic tasks at maximum range. Using the unique potential of a long-range missile for routine testing of materiel is irrational.

Launchers ready for anything

Recall that Project 22350 frigates are equipped with universal shipborne firing systems 3S14. The ship is initially ready to use the entire range - from basic "Onyx" and "Kalibr" missiles to deep modernizations and hypersonic "Zircon" missiles.

For the exercise plan, the basic version of the P-800 is ideal. It provides the same supersonic speed (Mach 2.6) and the same overloads during maneuvering, allowing for a full test of the ship's systems.