APR-3ME – Russian Anti-Submarine Missile, Destroys Submarines In Deep And Shallow Seas

During our visit to the JSC Tactical Missile Corporation (TMC) pavilion at the Army 2022, Patriot Expo, near Moscow, there were a variety of the latest missiles, both air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, which were shown to the international media crew. 

The most recent is the X-69 cruise missile, but apart from that there are other types of missiles that we find interesting in profile. This is the APR-3ME aerial antisubmarine missile.

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Called interesting because the APR-3ME combines the role of an air-to-surface missile and the function of a torpedo. The TMC explained in his explanation that the APR-3ME was designed to destroy submarines while on the surface, the periscope depth to the condition of the submarine being far below the surface. The glide speed for chasing is also fantastic, which is more than 40 knots (equivalent to 74 km per hour).

The APR-3ME anti-submarine missile has a length of 3.25 meters and a diameter of 350 mm. It weighs 475 kg and is powered by a solid-fuel turbo-waterjet engine, producing a top speed of 36 meters per second and a cruising speed of 130 km per hour. In theory, this torpedo missile is capable of pursuing targets to a depth of 800 meters.

The torpedo-flavored missile is equipped with a 90 kg HE (High Explosive) warhead coupled with a three-mode fuse (contact/acoustic proximity/time delay).

The status of the APR-3ME is no longer a prototype, because this anti-submarine missile is already operated by the Russian Navy. The version used by the Russian Navy is the APR-3M “Oryol-M”), while the label “ME” is defined as the export version. 

APR-3ME

The missile launch vehicles are the Tupolev Tu-142ME and Ilyushin Il-38SD maritime patrol aircraft/bombers, as well as the Kamov Ka-28 anti-submarine helicopter. To reduce the rate of impact to the water surface, the APR-3ME is equipped with a parachute.

The APR-3M/ME is equipped with a hydroacoustic guidance system that uses information processing classification methods. Scanning underwater space in target search mode in silent conditions is carried out with the spiral motion of the rocket under the influence of gravity without turning on the propulsion system.

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The rocket propulsion system is activated upon target detection and allows it to reach the target in minimum time (1 to 2 minutes). The TMC claims that the APR-3 is also ideal for attacking targets in shallow seas with a depth of 60 – 150 meters. In the attached specification, TMC says the APR-3ME has a service life of 10 years.

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