P-800 Oniks Explained

Is Missile:	yes
Yakhont/Oniks missile
Origin:	Soviet Union / Russia
Type:	Cruise missile Air-launched cruise missile Submarine-launched cruise missile Anti-ship missile Surface-to-surface missile Land-attack missile
Used By:	See Operators
Wars:	Syrian Civil War 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine^[1]
Manufacturer:	NPO Mashinostroyeniya
Unit Cost:	$1.25 million^[2]
Propellant:	jet fuel
Production Date:	1987–present
Service:	2002–present^[3]
Engine:	Ramjet
Engine Power:	4 tons of thrust
Weight:	3,000 kg (6,614 lb)
Length:	8.9 m (29.2 ft)
Diameter:	0.7 m (2.3 ft)
Wingspan:	1.7 m (5.6 ft)
Accuracy:	1.5 m^[4]
Speed:	Mach 2.9 (3180 km/h / 1998 mph / 884 m/s)
Vehicle Range:	600km (400miles) (Oniks version for Russia) 800km (500miles) (Oniks-M version for Russia) 120to depending on altitude (Yakhont export version)
Ceiling:	14,000 m (46000 ft)
Altitude:	10 meters (32 ft) or higher
Filling:	national ver. 300 kg semi-armour piercing HE, thermonuclear; for export 200 kg semi-armour piercing HE^[5]
Guidance:	midcourse inertial guidance, active radar homing-passive radar seeker head
Detonation:	delay fuze
Launch Platform:	coastal installations, naval ships, Fixed-wing aircraft

The P-800 Oniks (Russian: П-800 Оникс; English: [[Onyx]]), marketed in export as the Yakhont (Russian: Яхонт; English: [[ruby]]), is a Soviet / Russian supersonic anti-ship cruise missile developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya as a ramjet version of P-80 Zubr. Its GRAU designation is 3M55, the air launched Kh-61 variant was planned but never built. The missile has the NATO codename SS-N-26 "Strobile". Development commenced in 1983,^[6] and in the 1990s the anti-ship missile was tested on the Project 1234.7 ship. In 2002 the missile passed the whole range of trials and was commissioned.^[7] It is reportedly a replacement for the P-270 Moskit, and possibly also of the P-700 Granit.

Description

The Oniks flies aerodynamically using its cropped delta wings mounted in a cruciform at the middle of the missile's fuselage. It possesses a very distinctive launch sequence which it shares with the BrahMos; the missile lifts up from its launch tubes, and engages a stabilizing sequence using brief pulses from rockets in its nosecone. The missile then reorients itself; a pair of more powerful rockets fire sequentially to turn the missile 90 degrees so that it is parallel to the surface, and thus the rocket begins its flight, ditching its nosecone to open its ramjet intake to the air.

In its initial flight, the Oniks utilizes thrust from a solid rocket booster mounted inside the combustion chamber of its ramjet to get up to cruise speed. Once the rocket engine is expended, the air pressure built up in the ramjet's intake kicks the rocket engine out, clearing the combustion chamber and starting the missile's self-sustaining ramjet cycle.

Advantages

• Over-the-horizon firing range
• Full autonomy of combat use ("fire and forget")
• A set of flexible ("low-profile sea-skimming", "high-low") trajectories
• High supersonic speed in all phases of flight
• Full harmonization for a wide range of platforms (surface ships, submarines and land-based launchers)
• Possible use of the missile in electronic countermeasures environment and under enemy fire

Operational history

Syria

In 2010 Sergei Prikhodko, senior adviser to the Russian President, has said that Russia intends to deliver P-800 to Syria based on the contracts signed in 2007.^{[8] [9]} Syria received two Bastion missile systems with 36 missiles each (72 in total).^[10] The missiles' test was broadcast by Syrian state TV.^[11]

In May 2013, Russia continued the contract delivery to the Syrian government supplying missiles with an advanced radar to make them more effective to counter any future foreign military invasion.^{[12] [13]} A warehouse containing the Bastion missiles was destroyed by an Israeli air strike on Latakia on 5 July 2013, but US intelligence analysts believe that some missiles had been removed before the attack.^[14]

Oniks missiles were reportedly used in 2016 against ISIL targets.^{[15] [16] [17]}

Russian invasion of Ukraine

The P-800 was used in the Russo-Ukrainian War. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had used the missile in 1 May 2022; reportedly a number of Oniks missiles were used to destroy military equipment around the city of Odesa.^[18] On 19 July 2023, Oniks missiles were used to target Ukraine's grain storage facility in the Black Sea region.

Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Yurii Ihnat mentioned that the flight profile of the missile is of particular concern: "Onyx missiles are designed to destroy watercraft, and ships, it flies at a speed of 3000 km per hour, that is, very fast,... On the march [cruising], it can rise high, and when entering the target, it can actually fly 10–15 meters above the water to destroy the ship." He concluded that it was "impossible" to shoot them down with available anti-air means, but he mentioned that some success was found when using electronic warfare against them; he mentioned that a missile attack on 23 September 2023 missed a military target and destroyed a "recreational area", adding that "something affected its flight."^{[19] [20]}

Russian sources reported on 27 March 2024 that the missile received a new active homing head in order to hit ground targets more precisely.^[21]

Specifications

• Length: 8.9 m
• Diameter: 0.7 m
• Wingspan: 1.7 m
• Weight: 3,100 kg
• Speed at altitude: 750 m/s (Mach 2.6)
• Surface speed: Mach 2
• Engine: ramjet, weight 200 kg, 4 tons of thrust
• Range: 120–300 km / 600 km for Russian ship/sub deployed non-export model^[22]
• for the combined trajectory (hi-lo) – 300 km
• for low-altitude trajectory (lo-lo) – 120 km
• Flight altitude of 10,000–14,000 m
• Warhead: national version: 300 kg semi-armour piercing HE, thermonuclear; export version: 200 kg HE
• Fuel: jet fuel T-6

Radar homing head

• all-weather monopulse active-passive, with frequency hopping
• Immunity: high, from active spoofing, dipole clouds
• Range: 50 km active^[23]
• Launchable sea state – up to 7 points
• Warm-up time from power on: no more than 2 min
• Current consumption at 27 V circuit: up to 38 A
• Maximum angle of the target search: ± 45 °
• Homing weight: 85 kg

Variants

• 3M55 Oniks – Base version for Russia.
• P-800 Yakhont – Export version of Oniks.
• P-800 Bolid - Submarine-launched version of Yakhont.^[24]
• BrahMos – Co-developed with India, through BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited, since 1998.^{[25] [26]}
• Bastion-P – Coast mobile missile system. Officially it entered service in 2015.^[27]
• Kh-61 - Air launched air to surface version.
• Oniks-M - version of Oniks with improved range (up to 800 km), accuracy and ECCM capabilities.^[28]

Platforms

Naval

Current

• Buyan-M-class corvette
  • (export version)

Future

Land

Standard batteries of the K-300 Bastion-P (Бастион-П-Подвижный):

• 4 self-propelled launchers K-340P with 2 "Yakhont" missiles (crew of 3 persons)
• 1–2 Command and Control vehicles (ASBU) PBRK (crew of 5 persons)
• 1 security alert car (MOBD)
• 4 Transportation and loading vehicles (TLV K342P)

Operators

• Hezbollah – 12 missiles^[29] with diverse launching platforms.^[30]
• – 4 VLS (vertical launching system) mounted on .^[31]
• – 3 "Bastion-P" complexes delivered in 2010, all the complexes taken into service with the Russian Black Sea Fleet's 11th Independent Coastal Missile-Artillery Brigade stationed near Anapa^[32] and the Project 1234.7 Nakat, a one-off Nanuchka IV-class corvette commissioned in 1987 with 2x6 Oniks.^[33] The "Bastion-P" is deployed by Russian forces in Crimea.^[34] One more Bastion-P was delivered in 2015.^[35] 2 Bastion systems are in service with the Northern Fleet and at least one with Western Military District (Baltic Fleet).^[36] Newest class of Russian nuclear-powered attack submarines, Yasen-class submarine, can also launch the missile.^[37] Submarine-launched variant entered service in 2016.^[38] Two Bastion missile systems delivered in 2017 and one more in 2018.^{[39] [40]} Totally 4 Bal and Bastion systems in 2018.^[41] One more system delivered for the Pacific Fleet in early 2019.^{[42] [43]} Totally 3 Bastion systems and 55 Oniks were delivered in 2019.^{[44] [45]} The Russian Defense Ministry concluded a contract at the Army-2020 forum for purchasing cruise missiles 3M55N Oniks.^[46] 3 more delivered during 2021.^{[47] [48]}
• – 4 "Bastion-P" complexes delivered in 2011, 72 missiles.^{[49] [50]}
• – at least 2 "Bastion-P" land-based coastal defense systems delivered with at least 40 missiles.^{[51] [52]}

External links

• SS-N-26 (Federation of American Scientists)
• Sunburns, Yakhonts, Alfas and the Region (Australian Aviation, Sept 2000) (PDF)
• www.dtig.org Russian/Sovjet Sea-based Anti-Ship Missiles (pdf)
• Russia would supply Syria with P-800 Yakhont cruise missiles

Notes and References

1. Web site: ВС РФ уничтожили гиперзвуковыми ракетами "Кинжал" подземный склад боеприпасов ВСУ - ТАСС .
2. News: Over the weekend, Russia launched missiles worth about $200 million over Ukraine., Росія за вихідні випустила по Україні ракет вартістю близько $200 млн.. Volodymyr . Landa. Konstantin. Gnenny . uk. Forbes. 19 September 2022.
3. Web site: MIC "NPO mashinostroyenia" - History. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140605115327/http://www.npomash.ru/history/en/history.htm. 5 June 2014. live.
4. Web site: P-800 Oniks (SS-N-26 Strobile) – Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. 20 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180321063129/http://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/missile-threat-and-proliferation/missile-proliferation/russia/16962-2/. 21 March 2018. live.
5. Web site: Russia MoD launches supersonic anti-ship "Oniks P-800" cruise missile.
6. Web site: P800 Oniks. militarytoday.
7. Web site: Nakat. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131103044323/http://rusnavy.com/nowadays/strength/surfaceships/nakat/index.php?print=Y. 3 November 2013. live.
8. News: BBC News - Syria crisis: Russia 'sends sophisticated weapons'. BBC News. 17 May 2013. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140531193909/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22565405. 31 May 2014. live.
9. Web site: Despite Israeli protests, Russia won't halt arms sale to Syria. 30 August 2010. Haaretz.com. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924220644/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/despite-israeli-protests-russia-won-t-halt-arms-sale-to-syria-1.310943. 24 September 2015. live.
10. Web site: Bastion missile systems to protect Russian naval base in Syria. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141111163113/http://rusnavy.com/news/navy/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=10315. 11 November 2014. live.
11. Web site: Syria Navy with Yakhont missile.flv. YouTube. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903012914/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwTaOeurbQE. 3 September 2014. live.
12. News: BBC News - Syria crisis: US rues Russian missiles sent to Damascus. BBC News. 18 May 2013. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141125110029/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22578673. 25 November 2014. live.
13. News: Russia Sends More Advanced Missiles to Aid Assad in Syria. Michael R.. Gordon. Eric. Schmitt. The New York Times . 16 May 2013. NYTimes.com. 28 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170307163913/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/17/world/middleeast/russia-provides-syria-with-advanced-missiles.html. 7 March 2017. live.
14. News: Some Syria Missiles Eluded Israeli Strike, Officials Say . Michael R. . Gordon . New York Times . 31 July 2013 . 28 February 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170625151459/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/01/world/middleeast/syrian-missiles-were-moved-before-israeli-strike-officials-say.html?_r=0 . 25 June 2017 . live .
15. Web site: YouTube. www.youtube.com. 18 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170818154935/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veunTV1RUPQ. 18 August 2017. live.
16. News: Russia uses aircraft carrier for big attack on Syrian rebels. Reuters. 15 November 2016. www.reuters.com. 2 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170518060830/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-strikes-idUSKBN13A19Y. 18 May 2017. live.
17. Web site: Russian bombing by aircraft carrier in Syria, hours after Putin-Trump call. Mahmoud. Eskaf. 15 November 2016.
18. News: 2022-05-01 . Russia strikes U.S. weapons at airfield near Odesa, defence ministry says . en . Reuters . 2022-05-02.
19. Web site: Orlova . Alisa . Ukraine's Latest Missile Problem – How to Shoot Down Russia's 'Onyx' . Kyiv Post . 20 July 2023 . 7 October 2023.
20. Web site: Supersonic speed and complex trajectory: Key insights into Oniks missiles and why they are hard to intercept . MSN . RBC Ukraine . 7 October 2023.
21. Web site: Russians announced the development of a new seeker for the Oniks missile . Militarnyi . 2024-03-27 . en . . 2024-03-29.
22. Web site: Russian supersonic missiles behave like wolves. Dmitry. Litovkin. 8 August 2013.
23. Web site: Концерн. Продукция. Продукция военного назначения . www.granit-electron.ru . 3 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20120912062800/http://www.granit-electron.ru/products/mil/complex/yahont_head/ . 12 September 2012 . dead.
24. Web site: P-800 Yakhont 3M-55 P-800 Bolid SS-N-26. www.globalsecurity.org. 17 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190617163413/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/ss-n-26.htm. 17 June 2019. live.
25. Web site: Brahmos Missiles - The Hans India. www.thehansindia.com. 12 August 2015. 2015-11-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20151123080806/http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/search_archivebase/2015-08-12/Brahmos-Missiles-169367. 23 November 2015. live.
26. Web site: P-800 Oniks/Yakhont/Bastion (SS-N-26 Strobile) . 2023-06-19 . Missile Threat . en-US.
27. Web site: ВПК "НПО машиностроения" - Новости. 16 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083741/http://www.npomash.ru/press/ru/podrobnee020915.htm?l=0. 4 March 2016. live.
28. Web site: Russia develops seaborne cruise missile with increased range capability — sources . 25 September 2019. Tass. 25 September 2019.
29. Web site: Missiles and Rockets of Hezbollah. Missile Threat . https://web.archive.org/web/20200426050730/https://missilethreat.csis.org/country/hezbollahs-rocket-arsenal/. 26 April 2020.
30. Amos Harel and Gili Cohen: Hezbollah: From terror group to army, Haaretz, 12 July 2016. Quote: "Hezbollah now [as compared to 2006] has Yakhont missiles with a longer range, better precision and diverse launching options." http://www.haaretz.com/st/c/prod/eng/2016/07/lebanon2/ . Retrieved 13 July 2016.
31. Web site: Indonesia's Anti-ship Missiles: New Development In Naval Capabilities – Analysis. Koh Swee Lean Collin. 31 May 2011. Eurasia Review. 11 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140311192933/http://www.eurasiareview.com/31052011-indonesia%E2%80%99s-anti-ship-missiles-new-development-in-naval-capabilities-analysis/. 11 March 2014. live.
32. Web site: Ракетный комплекс "Бастион" будет защищать берега Анапы. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141103113724/http://news.rufox.ru/texts/2011/01/18/197401.htm. 3 November 2014. live.
33. Book: Wertheim, Eric . The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems . 625 . Naval Institute Press . 2007 . 9781591149552 . 22 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161023062632/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TJunjRvplU4C&pg=PA625 . 23 October 2016 . live .
34. Web site: Russia parades Bastion-P in Crimea. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141103113508/http://www.janes.com/article/37829/russia-parades-bastion-p-in-crimea. 3 November 2014. dead.
35. Web site: ЦАМТО / Новости / В Национальном центре управления обороной страны под руководством С.Шойгу прошел Единый день приемки военной продукции. 13 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123330/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2015/1009/145031589/detail.shtml. 4 March 2016. live.
36. Web site: Russian Navy received more than 100 Kalibr, Onix missiles in 3rd quarter. 26 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161025110435/http://tass.com/defense/907916. 25 October 2016. live.
37. Web site: Russia's First Yasen-Class Submarine is Combat-Ready. 13 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160419155723/http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/russias-first-yasen-class-submarine-is-combat-ready. 19 April 2016. live.
38. Web site: Advanced anti-ship cruise missile systems enter service with Russian Navy. 18 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170319022856/http://tass.com/defense/936090. 19 March 2017. live.
39. Web site: National Centre for State Defence Control hosts Military Acceptance Day chaired by Russian Minister of Defence : Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation . Eng.mil.ru . 2018-01-31 . 2019-06-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180203181619/http://eng.mil.ru/en/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12160216@egNews . 3 February 2018 . live .
40. Web site: Russian Navy takes delivery of 49 cruise missiles. TASS. 17 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190617163416/https://tass.com/defense/1014216. 17 June 2019. live.
41. Web site: В Москве под руководством Верховного Главнокомандующего Вооруженными Силами России Владимира Путина прошло расширенное заседание Коллегии Минобороны : Министерство обороны Российской Федерации . Function.mil.ru . 2018-12-18 . 2019-06-17 . https://archive.today/20190126062637/https://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12208613@egNews . 26 January 2019 . live .
42. Web site: Russia's Pacific Fleet receives new divisional set of Bastion mobile coastal defence missile system - Jane's 360. www.janes.com.
43. Web site: ЦАМТО / Новости / Тихоокеанский флот получил новый дивизионный комплект подвижного берегового ракетного комплекса "Бастион". www.armstrade.org.
44. Web site: Russia's Strategic Missile Force receives 9 ballistic missile systems since year start.
45. Web site: A total of 55 Oniks missiles shipped to Russian Navy in 2019.
46. Web site: Defense Ministry concludes contract for purchasing cruise missiles Onix at Army-2020 forum.
47. Web site: Over 200 weapon systems arrive for Russian troops in 2021 — defense chief.
48. Web site: Russian troops receive over 5,000 advanced weapon systems in 2021 — defense chief.
49. Web site: Lenta.ru: Наука и техника: Россия поставила Сирии противокорабельные комплексы "Бастион". 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141103174019/http://lenta.ru/news/2011/12/01/bastion. 3 November 2014. live.
50. News: Report: Russia delivers supersonic cruise missiles to Syria. Haaretz. Haaretz. 1 December 2011. 1 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111202034116/http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-russia-delivers-supersonic-cruise-missiles-to-syria-1.399048. 2 December 2011. live.
51. Web site: / / . 24 October 2011. 23 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141103112625/http://www.armstrade.org/includes/periodics/mainnews/2011/1024/100910082/detail.shtml. 3 November 2014. live.
52. Web site: Indonesia's Anti-ship Missiles: New Development In Naval Capabilities - Analysis. Eurasia Review. 23 December 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606082603/http://www.eurasiareview.com/indonesia%E2%80%99s-anti-ship-missiles-new-development-in-naval-capabilities-analysis-31052011/. 6 June 2011. dmy-all.