P-1000 Vulkan

May 2017 by Mark Vermylen

Facts

Russian Designation P-1000 Vulkan
Variants P-500 Bazalt 
Mobility and Role Ship and Submarine-based/Surface-to-Surface Anti-Ship Cruise Missile
Designer/Producer NPO Mashinostroyenia Chelomey
Range 550-700 km
Warhead Type and Weight

1000 kg HE semi-armor piercing

500 kg conventional warhead

350 kT Nuclear Warhead

Yield/MIRV Single Warhead; missiles fired in salvo of four
Guidance System/Accuracy Mid-flight autopilot; terminal active-radar seeker
Cruise Altitude

Scout flies between 5000-7000m

Salvo flies between 2000-3000m

All missiles lower to 10-40m at terminal stage

Propellant

Solid-fuel booster; liquid-fuel sustainer

Turbojet engine

Max speed of 935 m/s

IOC/Retirement Development began in 1979; accepted for service in 1987
Status/Number of Units N/A
Launch Vehicles Echo II Class Submarines (retired); Slava Class Cruisers (12 per ship)

Overview

Based on the P-500 Bazalt, the P-1000 Vulkan has been a part of Russia’s effort to modernize its navy’s missile capabilities. The P-1000 Vulkan features titanium armor and parts, instead of the heavier steel components comprising its predecessor. The missile was designed to be faster thanks to reduced weight of its components, as well as a more powerful booster and fuel-efficient turbojet. Active since 1987, it was the last Russian cruise missile to require submarines to surface to launch. The P-1000 Vulkan is launched in a salvo, where one missile acts as a scout to discriminate targets, and can prioritize the largest ship in a fleet. The scout seeker missile flies at an altitude between 5000-7000m to identify targets, while the other three maintain mid-level altitude. All four missiles in the salvo then go silent and lower to about 10-40 meters above sea-level to avoid radar detection. Once they reach the radar horizon, the missiles lock on to their targets and attack.

Strategic Implications

The P-1000 Vulkan missile system is a comprehensive anti-ship weapon with advanced targeting technology capable of flying at mach 2. It is designed to engage highly defended enemy surface units and hit its target, avoiding radio-electronic countermeasures or counter fire. Its targets are discriminated by one of the missiles in the salvo, meaning that a counter-attack on the launch point will not stop the missiles from reaching their target. The extended range of these missiles allows for Russian cruisers to strike from safe distances, outside a defensible perimeter. The P-1000 was designed to counter American navy ships, and Russia claims the missiles can sink an aircraft carrier with one strike. The American analogue to the P-1000 is the UGM-84 Harpoon missile, which is much lighter and does not pack the same firepower. The Russians have succeeded in developing a supersonic cruise missile that the U.S. has struggled to match.


Sources:

http://www.testpilot.ru/russia/chelomei/p/1000/index.htm (Translated)

http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201601050731-ddon.htm (Translated)

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/complete-information-on-p-1000-vulcan-ss-n-12-mod-2-sandbox.383355/

http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Rus-Cruise-Missiles.html#mozTocId225318

Missile Threat and Proliferation