Russian Bastion cruise missile launchers on the Franz Josef Land archipelago within the Arctic have launched P-800 missile strikes on simulated targets as a part of Zapad 2025 navy workouts. The methods have been used to create restricted entry and manoeuvre zones within the area, defending an Arctic shoreline over 600 kilometres lengthy. Bastion launchers have been deployed in firing positions inside minutes, and launched missiles at Mach 2.5 speeds with ranges of 800 kilometres. The Russian Navy depends closely on coastal missile launchers to asymmetrically counter the bigger navies of the nation’s Western Bloc adversaries, with the fast contraction of the Russian floor fleet after the disintegration of the Soviet Union which means that the present fleet is much from able to offering an ample defence with out counting on help from land based mostly property. Russia has maintained a big lead over its adversaries within the capabilities of its floor and ship-launched anti-ship cruise missiles, with the brand new P-800M benefitting from higher manoeuvrability and an prolonged vary in comparison with prior variants of the cruise missile.
The P-800 has been succeeded in service by the Navy’s latest class of anti-ship cruise missile, the Zircon, the primary of which have been delivered in December 2019. Though Zircon missiles have been deployed from floor ships and submarines, nonetheless, a ground-based cell launch system accommodating the missiles just like the Bastion does for the P-800 stays below growth. Not solely does the Zircon have an extended vary than the P-800, with a capability to succeed in targets 1000 kilometres away fairly than 800 kilometres, however it’s a number of instances as quick with a Mach 9 pace, and significantly extra manoeuvrable. The P-800 is nonetheless anticipated to stay in manufacturing, and will see funds proceed to be allotted to develop additional enhancements, as it’s estimated to be significantly more cost effective than its successor. Though an air-launched by-product of the P-800 has been developed, with this being produced for the Indian Air Power because the BrahMos missile, no such missiles have entered service domestically. An air launched by-product of the Zircon is at present below growth.
