Missile RPK-3 Metel (SS-N-14 Silex)

The Metel anti-submarine complex (NATO reporting name SS-N-14 'Silex') is a Soviet family of ship-launched anti-submarine missiles, later developed into a dual-role anti-submarine and anti-ship weapon under the designation Rastrub. The figures in the specification table describe the 85RU Rastrub round, the variant the published sources document in most detail.

Development followed the introduction of the RBU-6000 and RBU-1000 rocket launchers in the early 1960s. Those systems delivered unguided depth charges at distances that still left the launching ship within reach of submarine-launched torpedoes and missiles, and their accuracy was inferior to that of homing torpedoes. The United States Navy fielded ASROC in 1963, a missile that carried a torpedo to the estimated position of a submerged target and released it. The SS-N-14 was the Soviet answer to that concept. In 1993 an extended-range variant designated YP-85 was offered for export.

The airframe derives from the P-120 Malakhit anti-ship missile. Propulsion is by a solid-fuel rocket motor and the missile is radio command guided, with target data supplied by the launching ship, a helicopter, or another external source. Later Rastrub variants added an infrared seeker for the anti-ship role. In anti-submarine mode the missile cruises at roughly 400 metres altitude and releases its payload on command when over the estimated target position; in anti-ship mode it flies at about 15 metres. Cruise speed is Mach 0.95. Payload options cover engagement depths between 20 and 500 metres.

Payloads vary by variant. The 60R carried a 5 kt nuclear depth charge. The 70R was armed with the AT-2U torpedo. The 83R/URPK-3 Metel, the cruiser configuration, used the KT-106 launcher, borrowed guidance components from the SA-N-3 surface-to-air system, and carried the AT-1 torpedo. The 84R/URPK-4 Metel-U used the KT-106U launcher and the AT-2/AT-2UM torpedo, fitted with either a 100 kg high-explosive warhead or a 5 kt nuclear warhead. The 85RU/URPK-5 Rastrub used the KT-100U launcher and carried the UGMT-1 (AT-3 Orlan) multi-purpose torpedo effective against both submarines and surface ships, supplemented by a 185 kg shaped-charge warhead for direct attack on shipping. A nuclear-armed Rastrub, the 85RUS, was also produced.

The URPK-3 entered service in 1969 aboard Kresta II and Kara-class cruisers. The URPK-4 followed in 1973 and equipped the first batch of Udaloy-class destroyers; the URPK-5 Rastrub entered service in the mid-1970s. The system was installed on the missile cruiser Admiral Ushakov, formerly Kirov, but not on her sister ships; that vessel was subsequently rearmed with the SS-N-16. Udaloy II ships carry the SS-N-15 instead. Production has ended and the type was superseded by the RPK-2 Viyuga.

Operators are the Soviet Union and Russia. The Kresta II and Kara classes have been withdrawn, along with most Krivak-class frigates and a portion of the Udaloy class, leaving the surviving Udaloy I destroyers as the principal carriers.