The Kh-35 anti-ship missiles of the Bal coastal complex now, in the event of a salvo, work on one target, and a significant distance between them allows them to effectively destroy a surface ship. The former chief of staff of the Baltic Fleet, Vice Admiral Alexander Brazhnik, spoke about the features of the complex.
According to him, if several ammunition approach the ship simultaneously from different directions, the target air defense channel will simply be overloaded. This tactic is called the "wolf pack". However, the Kh-35 is also effective against ground targets, Brazhnik noted.
The key role here is played by the homing head adjustment. A ship is a well-distinguishable target on the water surface. Ground objects are more difficult to detect: they merge with the coastline, terrain, and buildings. Therefore, the head needs to be more precisely adjusted for confident recognition of ground targets.
The Vice Admiral added that the accurate guidance of the Kh-35 largely depends on intelligence, which must identify the characteristics of the targets to be hit in advance.
In addition, the Kh-35 was taught to disguise itself against the sea in flight. After launch, the missile descends and flies approximately 3–5 meters above the crest of the wave.
