RK-55

In the late 1960s, the "Ekho" study conducted by the GosNIIAS institute concluded that it would be more effective to deploy many small, subsonic cruise missiles than the much more expensive supersonic missiles then in favour.{{citation|url=http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2922.html |title=Kh-55/RKV-500A, Kh-55SM/RKV-500B, Kh-555 and Kh-65SE (AS-15 'Kent') |journal=Jane's Air-Launched Weapons |date=2008-08-01 |access-date=2009-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604084422/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jalw/jalw2922.html |archive-date=June 4, 2009 }} In 1971 Raduga began working on the air-launched Kh-55, which first flew in 1976. That same year, RK-55 first flew. NPO Novator would work on the submarine- and ground-launched versions. In 1993 Novator exhibited the Sizzler series weapons, which appears to be based on the RK-55. It is a two-stage design, which goes supersonic during its final approach to the target.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}

The S-10 is launched through 533 mm torpedo tubes.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}

Fewer than 100 RK-55s had been deployed by the end of 1988.{{citation | url=http://docs.nrdc.org/nuclear/files/nuc_89010101a_86.pdf | title=SIPRI Yearbook 1989: World Armaments and Disarmament | last=Norris, Cochran | year=1989 | page=21 | display-authors=etal | access-date=2009-02-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209055524/http://docs.nrdc.org/nuclear/files/nuc_89010101a_86.pdf | archive-date=2008-12-09 | url-status=dead }} The new {{sclass|Akula|submarine|4}} was the first class to receive the new missile.{{citation|title=SS-N-21 'Sampson' (P-1000 3M70 Vulkan/3K10 Granat) |url=http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jnws/jnws0154.html |journal=Jane's Naval Weapon Systems |date=2009-01-08 |access-date=2009-02-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915061503/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jnws/jnws0154.html |archive-date=September 15, 2008 }} It was later fitted on the Sierra I/II and Victor III classes and the new {{sclass2|Yasen|submarine}}s.

Four {{sclass2|Yankee|submarine}}s deployed in 1988 are of a design of particular note, replacing the missile compartment with additional torpedo tubes for 35-40 land attack cruise missiles. They were probably nuclear-tipped S-10s during the Cold War, and then converted to use conventional warheads after the START I treaty restricted sub-launched nuclear cruise missiles. The US Navy has done the same on a grander scale with the SSGN conversions of four {{sclass|Ohio|submarine|1}}s. It has been suggested that S-10's could in future be fitted to converted {{sclass2|Delta|submarine}}s, or to surface ships, but these have not been confirmed.

• RK-55 (SSC-X-4 'Slingshot') – ground-based version{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
• S-10 (SS-N-21 'Sampson') – submarine-launched version{{Cite web |date=August 2, 2021 |title=RK-55 Granat (SS-N-21) |url=https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/ss-n-21/ |website=Center for Strategic and International Studies}}
• 9M728 and 9M729 (SSC-7 and SSC-8 'Screwdriver') – ground-based version, assessed range {{convert|480|-|5500|km|abbr=on|-1}}, nuclear capable{{cite news|title=U.S. Accuses Russia of Deploying Cruise Missile in Threat to NATO|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-accuses-russia-deploying-cruise-172955458.html|access-date=10 March 2017|agency=Newsweek|date=March 8, 2017}}{{cite news|title=Russia Test Fires SSC X-8 Cruise Missile|url=http://www.defenseworld.net/news/14175/Russia_Test_Fires_SSC_X_8_Cruise_Missile|access-date=10 March 2017|agency=defenseworld.net|date=September 28, 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/ssc-8.htm|title=9M729 - SSC-X-8|last=Pike|first=John|website=www.globalsecurity.org|access-date=2018-10-22}}

Conventional unitary High Explosive (HE) warhead and submunition warhead versions of the RK-55 have probably been developed, to justify the continuing service of the submarines that carry them.

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2021}}

• {{RUS}}

• {{USSR}}
• {{BLR}}
• {{UKR}}

• {{IND}}
• {{IRN}}
• {{PRK}}
• {{PRC}}
• {{PAK}}
• {{UKR}} Korshun (Luch Artem - KhAZ - Vizar ZhMZ - Yuzhnoe Pivdenmash) with MS400 (Ivchenko Progres Motor Sich) engine.

• Ground Launched Cruise Missile (BGM-109G Gryphon) - land-based Tomahawk with tactical nuclear warhead of 10-50 kt and 2000–2500 km range
• Pershing 1b and Pershing II RR - 740 km range ballistic missile also in testing at the time of the INF Treaty.
• Raduga Kh-55 - originally thought in the West to be an air-launched version of the RK-55, now has tactical versions such as the Kh-555 and the stealthy Kh-101.
• UGM-109 Tomahawk - the Capsule Launch System allows Tomahawks to be fired from torpedo tubes or dedicated submarine launch tubes

• Intermediate-range ballistic missile

{{reflist}}

• {{citation | url=http://www.lanl.gov/history/hbombon/pdf/00416713.pdf | title=A Guide to the Nuclear Arms Control Treaties LA-UR-99-3173 | first=David B. |last=Thomson | publisher=Los Alamos National Laboratory | date=July 1999 }}

• {{Commonscat-inline}}
• [http://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/rk-55/ Missile Threat - SS-N-21 (RK-55)] at CSIS
• [https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/ssc-8.htm SSC-X-8] at GlobalSecurity.org

{{Russian and Soviet missiles|SSM}}

{{Russian and Soviet military designation sequences}}

RK-055

Category:Surface-to-surface missiles of Russia

Category:Surface-to-surface missiles of the Soviet Union

Category:NPO Novator products

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s

Category:Cruise missiles of the Cold War