A submarine-launched missile is a missile that can be launched from a submarine.
The types of submarine launched missiles that exist include ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, anti-submarine missiles, anti-air missiles. [1]
These missiles can be used for the following missions, such as land attack, anti-ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-aircraft warfare. [1]
The guidance systems of the missiles are varied. They can be guided by GPS, by terrain countour matching, by inertial guidance system, astral guidance systems and infrared guidance. Those systems can be combined for more reliability and precision. [2]
The warheads used by those missile are: [3]
The submarines can launch missiles in various ways:
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyunmoo 4-4 | ![]() | Land attack | Conventional HE warhead | In service | Dosan Ahn Changho class (KSS-III) | [13] |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K-15 | ![]() | Land attack | Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead) | In service | Arihant class | [14] |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JL-1 | ![]() | Land attack | Single warhead | Retired | Modified Golf class SSB Type 092 (retired) | [15] |
JL-2 | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × 1 MT warhead 3-8 × 20/90/150 kT warheads (MIRV) | In service | Type 032 | [16] |
JL-3 | ![]() | Land attack | 1-3 × warhead (MIRV) | In service | Qing class (Type 032) | [17] [18] |
K-4 Kalam-4 | ![]() | Land attack | Single warhead | In service | Arihant class | [19] |
K-5 | ![]() | Land attack | MIRV warhead | Under development | Arihant class | [20] |
K-6 | ![]() | Land attack | MIRV warhead | Under development | Arihant class | [20] |
M1 | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × MR 41 | Retired | Redoutable class (ships Le Redoutable, Le Terrible ) | [21] |
M2 | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × MR 41 | Retired | Redoutable class (ships Le Redoutable, Le Terrible ) | [22] |
M20 | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × TN 60 1 × TN 61 successor warhead | Retired | Redoutable class (ships Le Redoutable, Le Terrible , Le Foudroyant , L'Indomptable , Le Tonnant ) | [23] [24] Aaa |
M4A | ![]() | Land attack | TN-70 (6 × MIRV) | Retired | Redoutable class (ships Le Terrible , Le Foudroyant , L'Indomptable , Le Tonnant , L'Inflexible ) | [25] |
M4B | ![]() | Land attack | TN-71 (6 × MIRV) | Retired | Redoutable class (ships Le Terrible , Le Foudroyant , L'Indomptable , Le Tonnant , L'Inflexible ) | [25] |
M45 | ![]() | Land attack | TN 75 | Retired | Triomphant class (ships Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire, Le Vigilant) | [26] [27] |
M51.1 | ![]() | Land attack | TN 75 (retired, 6 × MIRV) | In service | Triomphant class (ships Le Vigilant, Le Terrible) | [28] [29] [30] |
M51.2 | ![]() | Land attack | TNO ("Tête nucléaire océanique", 4 - 6 × MIRV) | In service | Triomphant class (ships Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire) | [28] [29] [30] |
M51.3 | ![]() | Land attack | TNO ("Tête nucléaire océanique", 6 × MIRV) | Under development | SNLE 3G (future) | [31] |
Pukguksong-1 KN-11 (US designation) | ![]() | Land attack | Single warhead | In service | Sinpo class | [32] |
Pukguksong-3 KN-26 (US designation) | ![]() | Land attack | Single warhead | In service | Sinpo-C class | [33] [34] |
Pukguksong-4 | ![]() | Land attack | MIRV (3 warheads) | Under development | Sinpo-C class | [35] |
Pukguksong-5 | ![]() | Land attack | MIRV (3 warheads) | Under development | Sinpo-C class | [36] |
Pukguksong-6 | ![]() | Land attack | MIRV (3 warheads) | Under development | Sinpo-C class | [38] |
Hwasong-11S | ![]() | Land attack | Single Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead | In service | Sinpo class | [39] |
R-11M SS-N-1B (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (tacttical) | Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead) | Retired | Zulu IV class Golf I class | [40] [41] Submarine variant of the Scud missile. |
R-13 SS-N-4 Sark (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead | Retired | Golf I class | [42] [43] [44] |
R-21 SS-N-5 Sark (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead | Retired | Golf II class | [45] [43] [44] |
R-27 Zyb SS-N-6 Mod1 Serb (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead or MRV (3 × warheads) | Retired | Yankee I class | [46] [47] [48] |
R-27U SS-N-6 Mod II Serb (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead or MRV (3 × warheads) | Retired | Yankee I class | [46] [47] [48] |
R-27U SS-N-6 Mod III Serb (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MRV (3 × warheads) | Retired | Yankee III class | [46] [47] |
R-27K SS-NX-13 (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-ship | Single manoeuvring warhead | Cancelled | — | [49] |
R-29 Vysota SS-N-8 Mod 1 Sawfly (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead | Retired | Delta I class | [50] [51] |
R-29R SS-N-18 Mod 1 Stingray (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead | Retired | Delta III class | [52] [53] |
R-29RK SS-N-18 Mod 2 Stingray (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MIRV (3 × warheads) | Retired | Delta III class | [54] [53] |
R-29RL SS-N-18 Mod 3 Stingray (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MIRV (7 × warheads) | Retired | Delta III class | [55] [53] |
R-29RM Shtil SS-N-23 Skiff (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MIRV (4 - 10 × warheads) | In service | Delta III class | [56] [57] |
R-29RMU2 Sineva SS-N-23A Skiff (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MIRV (4 - 10 × warheads) | In service | Delta IV class | [58] [59] |
R-29RMU2.1 Layner | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MIRV (4 - 10 × warheads) | In service | Delta IV class | [60] |
R-30 Bulava SS-N-32 (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MIRV (10 × warheads) | In service | Typhoon class (for testing) | [61] |
R-31 SS-N-17 Snipe (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead | Retired | Yankee II class | [62] |
R-39 Rif SS-N-20 Sturgeon (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MIRV (10 × warheads) | Retired | Typhoon class | [63] [64] [65] |
R-39M Grom SS-N-28 (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | MIRV (10 × warheads) | Retired | Typhoon class | [66] |
UGM-27A Polaris (A1) | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × W47 Y1 | Retired | Ethan Allen class [67] | [69] [70] |
UGM-27B Polaris (A2) | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × W47 Y1, or 1 × W47 Y2 | Retired | Ethan Allen class [67] | [72] [73] [74] [75] |
UGM-27C Polaris (A3) | ![]() | Land attack | W58 (3 × MIRV) | Retired | Benjamin Franklin class [76] | [78] [79] [75] [80] |
UGM-27C Polaris A-3 | ![]() | Land attack | ET.317 (3 × same target area) | Retired | Resolution class | [81] |
UGM-73A Poseidon (C3) | ![]() | Land attack | W68 (10 × W68 warheads with Mk3 MIRV) | Retired | Benjamin Franklin class [82] | [85] [86] |
UGM-96A Trident I (C4) | ![]() | Land attack | W76-0 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4 MIRV) | Retired | Benjamin Franklin class [82] | [88] [89] |
UGM-133A Trident II (D5) (US variant) | ![]() | Land attack | W76-0 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4 MIRV), or W88 (up to 8 × W88 warheads with Mk5 MIRV) | In service | Ohio class [90] | [91] [92] [93] |
UGM-133 Trident II (D5) | ![]() | Land attack | Currently: up to 8 × Holbrook warheads with Mk4/A MIRV. | In service | Vanguard class | [94] American missile with British warheads. |
Future: up to 12 × A21 Astraea warheads with Mk-7 MIRV. | Dreadnought class (future SSBN) | |||||
UGM-133 Trident II (D5LE) (US variant) | ![]() | Land attack | W76-1 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4A MIRV), or W76-2 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4A MIRV), or W88 (up to 8 × W88 warheads with Mk5 MIRV), or W93 (under development; up to 7 × W93 warheads with Mk7 MIRV) | In service | Columbia class | [96] [97] [98] [99] |
UGM-133 Trident II (D5LE2) (US variant) | ![]() | Land attack | W93 (under development; up to 7 × W93 warheads with Mk7 MIRV) | Under development | Columbia class | [96] [100] [99] |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atmaca | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE penetrating warhead | Under development | Reis class (Type 214) | [101] |
BrahMos | ![]() | Land attack / | Conventional (HE, submunitions) | In service | Project 75(I) (in selection) Project 76 (under development) Project 77 (under development) | [102] |
Exocet SM39 | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE fragmentation warhead | In service | Agosta class Kalvari class (Scorpène variant) Redoutable class (retired) S-80 Plus class (as an option) | [103] |
Exocet SM40 | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE fragmentation warhead | Under development | Potentially on: | [104] |
FC/ASW Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon | ![]() | Land attack / | HE warhead | Potential submarine variant | Potentially on: | [105] |
GEZGİN | ![]() | Land attack | — | Under development | Reis class (Type 214) | [106] |
Haeseong III | ![]() | Land attack | HE warhead | In service | Dosan Ahn Changho class (KSS-III) | [107] |
Hyunmoo-3 C | ![]() | Land attack | HE warhead | In service | Son Won-il class (Type 214 / KSS II) | [108] |
Jask-2 | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE warhead | In service | Fateh class | [109] [110] Small anti-ship missile |
Jask-3 | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE warhead | Under development | Fateh class | [110] |
MdCN Missile de Croisière Naval | ![]() | Land attack | HE warhead | In service | Scorpène class | [111] [112] |
NASM-MR | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE warhead | Under development | Project 75(I) (in selection) | [113] |
NSM-SL Naval Strike Missile - Submarine Launched | ![]() | Land attack / | HE fragmentation warhead | Under development | S-80 Plus class Orka submarine programme Poland [114] | [115] [116] |
P-900 Alfa (3M51) | ![]() | Land attack / Anti-ship | HE warhead | In service | Yasen class | [117] |
UGM-84 Harpoon | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE warhead | In service (some variants retire) | Churchill class (retired) Hai Lung class (variant of the Zwaardvis class) [119] Harushio class (retired) Jang Bogo class (Type 209 / KSS I) Shishumar class (variant of the Type 209/1500 ) [121] Sohn Won-yil-class ( Type 214 ) Swiftsure class [123] (retired) Upholder/Victoria class (capacity lost) Yūshio class (retired) | [126] [127] Exists in multiple variants, not all are used on all submarines, and some are already retired. |
UGM-109 Tomahawk | ![]() | Land attack / | HE warhead, or submunitions warhead | In service (some variants retired, some in development) | Astute class [128] Blekinge class (option) [129] Ohio class (SSGN) Swiftsure class [128] (retired - not all fitted with missile) S-80 Plus class (option) Trafalgar class [128] (being retired) | [130] [131] Some missiles are launched horizontally (usually exported missiles and the early American ones) through the torpedo tube, some are launched vertically. |
Undersea Guided Weapon programme | ![]() | Anti-ship | — | Cancelled | Valiant class [132] | [134] |
YJ-82 | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE fragmentation warhead | In service | Type 035 | [135] [136] [137] Submarine-launched version of the YJ-8. |
YJ-18 | ![]() | Anti-ship / anti-radiation | HE fragmentation warhead | In service | Type 093 | [138] [139] |
3M54 Klub SS-N-27 Sizzler (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack | HE warhead | In service | Akula class Amur class (option) | [141] [142] Submarine-launched Version of the Kalibr missile. |
3SM Tryffing Super Sonic Strike Missile | ![]() | Land attack / | — | Potential submarine variant | Type 212CD class | [143] |
— | ![]() | Land attack / | — | Under development | Sōryū class | [144] [145] Developed by MHI, derived from the Type 12 SSM. Study to equip the Japanese submarines with VLS. [146] |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nirbhay NGSLCM Next generation submarine launched cruise missile | ![]() | Land attack / | Conventional (HE, submunitions) and nuclear (single warhead) | Under development | Project 75(I) (in selection) Project 77 (under development) Sindhughosh class (trials) | [147] |
P-6 Progress SS-N-3A Shaddock (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-ship | Conventional (4G48 shape charge warhead) and nuclear (single 20 kT warhead) | Retired | Echo II class | [148] Submarine variant of the P-35 missile. |
P-70 Ametist SS-N-7 Starbright (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-ship | Conventional and nuclear (single warhead) | Retired | Charlie I class | [149] [150] |
P-120 Malakhit SS-N-9 Siren (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-ship | Conventional and nuclear (single warhead) | Retired | Charlie II class | [151] [152] [153] Submarine launched variant retired. |
P-500 Bazalt SS-N-12 Sandbox (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-ship | Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead) | Retired | Echo II class | [154] [155] Submarine launched variant retired. |
P-1000 Vulkan SS-N-12 Sandbox (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-ship | Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead) | Retired | Echo II class | [156] [157] Submarine launched variant retired. |
P-700 Granit SS-N-19 Shipwreck (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-ship | Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead) | In service | Oscar I class | [158] [159] |
P-800 Bolid SS-N-26 Strobile (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack / Anti-ship | Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead) | In service | Yasen class | [160] [161] Submarine-launched Version of the P-800 Oniks. |
Popeye Turbo | ![]() | Land attack / | Conventional (HE, explosive penetrator) and nuclear (single warhead) | Speculated | Dakar class | [162] [163] [164] |
3M-14 Kalibr SS-N-30A (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack | Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead) | In service | Akula class Amur class (option) | [165] Improved variant of the 3M54 Klub. |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Babur III | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × warhead | In service | Hashmat class (Agosta 70A) Hangor class (future) | [166] [167] [168] |
Pulhwasal-3-31 | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × warhead (Hwasan-31) | In service | Romeo class | [169] [170] [171] |
P-5 Pyatyorka SS-N-3C Shaddock (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead | Retired | Echo II class | [172] |
P-750 Grom SS-NX-27 Scotpion (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack / Anti-ship | Nuclear (single warhead) | Cancelled | Echo II class | [173] Derived from the Kh-80 Meteorit-A. |
S-10 Granat SS-N-21 Sampson (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack (strategic) | Single warhead | In service | Akula class Yankee Notch class [174] (retired) | [175] [176] Submarine variant of the RK-55 Relief. |
SLCM-N | ![]() | Land attack | — | Under development | Los Angeles class | [177] |
SSM-N-2 Triton | ![]() | Land attack | Single warhead (W27) | Cancelled | — | Submarine variant was redundant with Regulus, therefore cancelled.[ citation needed ] |
SSM-N-6 Rigel | ![]() | Land attack | Single warhead (W5) | Cancelled | — | [178] Submarine variant was redundant with Regulus, therefore cancelled. |
SSM-N-8 Regulus | ![]() | Land attack | Single warhead (W5 or W27) | Retired | Balao class (USS Barbero) | [179] [180] [181] |
SSM-N-9 Regulus II | ![]() | Land attack | Single warhead (W27) | Retired | Gato class (USS Tunny) | [182] |
Unknown Israel nuclear missile | ![]() | Land attack | 1 × warhead | In service | Dakar class | [183] [184] [185] [186] |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BrahMos-II | ![]() | Land attack / | Conventional (HE, submunitions) | Under development | Project 75(I) (in selection) Project 76 (under development) Project 77 (under development) | [187] |
Brahmastra (LRAShM) Long Range Anti-Ship Missile | ![]() | Anti-ship | HE warhead | Under development | Project 75(I) (potentially) Project 76 (under development) Project 77 (under development) | [188] |
3M22 Zircon SS-N-33 (NATO designation) | ![]() | Land attack / Anti-ship | Conventional (HE) | In service | Yasen-M class | [189] |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUM-125B Sea Lance | ![]() | Anti-submarine | Mark 50 homing torpedo | Cancelled | Los Angeles class | [190] |
91RE1 Otvet | ![]() | Anti-submarine | Homing torpedo | In service | — | [191] [192] [193] Part of the Kalibr missile family. |
91RE2 Otvet | ![]() | Anti-submarine | Homing torpedo | In service | — | [191] [192] [193] Part of the Kalibr missile family. |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RPK-2 Vyuga (533 mm) SS-N-15 Starfish (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-submarine | 82R torpedo, or 90R nuclear depth charge | In service | Akula class [194] | [195] [196] |
RPK-2 Vyuga (650 mm) SS-N-15 Starfish (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-submarine | 83R torpedo, or 86R nuclear depth charge | In service | Akula class [194] | [195] [196] |
RPK-6 Vodopad (533 mm) SS-N-16A Stallion (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-submarine / anti-ship | UMGT -1 torpedo, or 84R or 84RN nuclear depth charge | Akula, Sierra and Typhoon | Akula class [194] | [197] [198] [199] |
RPK-7 Veter (650 mm) SS-N-16B Stallion (NATO designation) | ![]() | Anti-submarine / anti-ship | UMGT -1 torpedo, or 88R nuclear depth charge | Akula, Sierra and Typhoon | Akula class [194] | [197] [199] |
Model | Origin | Role | Warhead type | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UUM-44 SUBROC | ![]() | Anti-submarine | W55 nuclear depth charge | Retired | Permit class | [200] [201] |
UUM-125A Sea Lance | ![]() | Anti-submarine | W89 nuclear depth charge | Cancelled | Los Angeles class | [202] |
This is a list of anti-aircraft warfare missiles that are, will or were used on submarines.
Not included are MANPADS (9K32 Strela-2, 9K34 Strela-3, 9K38 Igla) used by Russian/Soviet submariners, which requires exposing the conning tower and a dedicated submariner holding the launcher to launch. [203] [204]
Model | Origin | Role | Status | Used with | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IDAS Interactive Defence and Attack System for Submarines | ![]() | SHORAD Short-range air-defence | Under development | Type 212A [205] | [206] Underwater launch. |
MICA (A3SM) | ![]() | SHORAD Short-range air-defence | Under development | Potentially on: | [207] [208] Underwater launch. |
Mistral (A3SM) | V/SHORAD Very short-range air-defence | [207] [208] Low depth launch with a deployed mast above water. | |||
Blowfish | ![]() | V/SHORAD Very short-range air-defence | Retired | Gal class (temporarily) | [209] Low depth launch, 6 missiles on a mast that could be raised from the submarine's conning tower. |
In Russian service a MANPADS system is carried.