Russia Deploys Advanced Cruise Missiles in Major Navy Reboot
- KALIBR-class of weapons used in Syria to be fielded widely
- Office of Naval Intelligence analyzes Russian navy's intent
A Russian Navy captain stands in front of an anti-aircraft system on a Russian missile cruiser as it patrols in the Mediterranean Sea, on Dec. 17.
Source: AFP via Getty ImagesThe Russian military intends to expand deployment of its most sophisticated non-nuclear cruise missiles for attacks at land and sea under a sweeping naval modernization, according to an analysis by the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence.
Plans to install the Russian navy’s new KALIBR-class missiles even on vessels such as corvettes, or small warships, “is profoundly changing its ability to deter, threaten or destroy adversary targets,” the U.S. agency, known as ONI, said in a report posted on its website. “With the use of the land attack missile, all platforms have a significant ability to hold distant fixed ground targets at risk using conventional warheads.”