ships Russian Navy make long hikes, but their main task is to protect native shores.For decades, the Soviet and then the Russian fleet did not have offensive potential.The consequence of this situation became relatively small efforts made by Western countries to create anti-systems.
Russian defense ministry, on the other hand, was concerned with the problem effectively counter a possible attack from the sea.The answer to the exaggerated development of navies, traditionally considered likely opponents, proved asymmetric.Instead of achieving parity costly ships Russian machine-building NGOs have developed a number of systems which allow to deal with surface targets, among which the most popular is the cruise missile "Yakhont".
not to say that American or European designers all previous decades sat on their hands.They created many examples of anti-ship missiles, the best of which is considered the "Harpoon".It may be adjusted to the target at low altitude and with a decent speed - 865 km / h, it is difficult to detect by radar.
missile "Yakhont" has a somewhat better performance.It is able to fly at a height of five meters (unless, of course, the excitement allows), and its rate of more than 3000 km / h.On the approach to the target missile makes a "hill" and falls on her, speeding up to 750 m / sec.The weight of the battery compartment of combat at least 300 kg.Thus, with minimal time spent on finding time to do something impossible.For comparison: an artillery shell after the shot flies at a speed of up to 350 m / s, and reject it on purpose so far nobody has been able.
anti-ship missile "Yakhont" can be run from a variety of media, such as aircraft, diesel submarines, missile boats, mobile ground installations.According to military experts, peers in the next decade the Western designers will not be able to create, not to mention the mass production of such systems.Moreover, none of the existing missile defense is unable to resist the Russian mob.
One missile "Yakhont" can bring to the bottom of the ship average tonnage (frigate or corvette) and seriously damage a large vessel, and will do it, if necessary, with an absolute guarantee.
However, not only the high-speed features a new Russian weapons from Western models.The designers paid special attention to low-flying stealth targets.Extremely reduced thermal footprint, making it difficult to diagnose the launch of the satellite and calculating the trajectory and reliable superfast computing unit provides a high degree of stabilization ultra low altitude.
missile "Yakhont" was designed for the Russian armed forces, but it turned out that it has a high export potential.With certain structural changes in small consignments of arms were supplied to Vietnam, Indonesia and Iran.
success of the recent peace settlement in the Middle East, in addition to the high authority of President Putin, there is another possible explanation.Perhaps the secret services of NATO, it became known that the missile "Yakhont" in Syria is.
