Sometimes Defense Express encounters in media a thesis that the russian armed forces have air-launched cruise missiles labeled 3M-14AE Kalibr-A, i.e. a variant of the sea-launched 3M-14 Kalibr missile adapted to be fired by Su-35 and MiG-31 fighters.
There are also recent doubtful reports about at least an attempt by russians to shell the southern port city of Odesa with Kalibr missiles launched by Su-35. Those claims are mistaken, and here is why.
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Defense Express has already taken an in-depth look at how russians attempted to create an air-based variant of this missile, so this time we'll briefly remind the main points and add some details.
The Kalibr-A project was indeed developed in russia, starting in the 1990s. NPO Novator planned to create three modifications: the 3M-54AE three-stage anti-ship missile, with a detachable booster; the 3M-54AE-1, two-stage anti-ship; and the 3M-14AE, against ground targets. The specifications were almost the same as of the ship-launched original.
A significant difference was in the range though. While the sea-based variant was capable of reaching targets 1,600 to 2,500 km away depending on modification, the air-launched variant could fly only 220 to 275 km.
However, all these specifications remained solely on paper since the project of the air-launched missile wasn't brought to reality, remaining at the level of display mockups at various military exhibitions. The russians themselves haven't mentioned Kalibr-A publicly since 2010.
That is partly because Kalibr-A was initially supposed to become a product for export, a "bonus" which comes in pair with Su-35 on the world market. Defense industry of russia wasn't even planning to produce the missile for its own armed forces in the first place. Thus the project remained unfinished and covered in dust.
Consequently, there should be no air-launched variant of Kalibr missile in the russian arsenal as of 2023 to fire from any tactical aviation.
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