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The SS-N-22 “Sunburn” is a short-range, ship-launched, ramjet powered, single-warhead, surface-to-surface, anti-ship cruise missile developed and manufactured by Russia.

Russia began to develop the SS-N-22 in the early 1970s as a replacement for the ship-launched SS-N-9 “Siren” cruise missile. The SS-N-22 was designed specifically as a supersonic weapon that could defeat U.S. Navy Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers. Two versions currently exist, the 3M80 (P-80 Zubr) and the longer range 3M82 (P-270 Moskit).

The 3M80 is 9.39 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.76 m, and a launch weight of 3,950 kg. It is guided by an inertial navigation system (INS) with command updates in the midcourse phase, and by an active/passive radar in the terminal phase. Sources indicate that the missile can make evasive maneuvers during the terminal phase, to avoid defensive missile and gun systems. The 3M80 is powered by a solid propellant boost motor and a ramjet engine. It has a high level cruise speed Mach 2.5, has a maximum range of 90 km, and carries a 300 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing or 200 kiloton nuclear warhead.

Reports indicate that the 3M80 entered service with Russian Navy in 1980 and is deployed on “Sovremenny” (Project 956) and “Udaloy 2” (Project 1155.1) class destroyers, “Tarantul 3” (Project 1241.1) class missile corvettes, and “Dergach” (Project 1239) class fast attack craft.

In 1992, Russia began developing an improved version known as the 3M82 (P-270 Moskit). The 3M82 is 9.74 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.76 m, and has a launch weight of 4,500 kg. It has an extended range of 160 km, and carries an improved 320 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing. The 3M82 is believed to have entered service in 1993, and may still be in production. A related air-launched version has been offered for export under the Russian designation Kh-41.

In 1995, a ground-launched coastal defense version of the SS-N-22 known as the 3M80E was announced, which deployed two or three missiles per launch vehicle. In 1998, a low cost improvement was proposed for the SS-N-22, increasing the range to 150 km. A further range increase of 200 km was proposed by adding an extra tank to hold additional fuel.

In 2001, reports indicated that China and Russia were jointly developing an improved SS-N-22 missile system, possibly with the name Rizhi, to be deployed on the Chinese “Sovremenny” (Project 956EM) class destroyers. The missile has been designated 3M80MBE and is believed to have a range of 200 km.(1)

Footnotes

1. Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 42 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, July 2005), 180-181; GlobalSecurity.org, “Moskit / SS-N-22 Sunburn,” available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/moskit.htm, accessed on August 1, 2006.