Russia Arms Itself with Nuclear Kalibr Missiles: Large Batch Ordered

The Russian Ministry of Defense has ordered 56 3M-14S cruise missiles from the Kalibr family, equipped with nuclear warheads.

This information comes from procurement documents that Militarnyi obtained.

The missiles are deployed on Russian frigates, corvettes, small missile ships, and submarines, and are occasionally launched by the Russian Black Sea Fleet during operations from Novorossiysk.

The contract was awarded to the Russian Research and Design Bureau Novator.

Back in 2022, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Novator Design Bureau was added to the European Union’s sanctions list as a supplier of Kalibr cruise missiles to the Russian armed forces.

The contract for 56 missiles with a “special warhead” (nuclear – ed.) is to be fulfilled during 2024–2026.

The missile features an inertial satellite guidance system and can fly at low altitudes, making it harder for air-defense systems to detect.

The missile is “dual-purpose”: its design and stated specifications allow for either nuclear or conventional warheads, although in practice, conventional charges are usually used.

There are several versions in the family (“K” for submarine-launched, “T” for surface ships, and export versions), which differ in range and warhead.

The presence of such systems increases the fleet’s strike potential and creates additional challenges for the enemy’s early-warning and air-defense systems.

For export, there are reduced-range or modified versions (for example, the 3M-14E) with a range of about 300 km.

The missile’s range for the Russian armed forces is estimated at 1,500–2,500 kilometers.