SS-N-22 Sunburn is the NATO reporting name for two unrelated Soviet anti-ship missiles. Although the missiles were very different, distinguishing between them is difficult because their ship-mounted launching containers were identical. Confusion was exacerbated by the Soviet practice of mixing missile types within a class of ships. It was therefore not confirmed that the "SS-N-22" actually referenced two different missiles until after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Chelomei rocket
One of the SS-N-22s was the P-80 Zubr, designed by a team led by Vladimir Chelomei. The Zubr was rocket-propelled and armed with a 250 kilogram warhead. It was carried by early-model Sovremenny-class destroyers and Tarantul-class corvettes. The submarine-launched version of this missile was also designated as an SS-N-22 Sunburn by NATO but was known to the Soviets as the P-100 Oniks.
The other, unrelated SS-N-22 was the RadugaP-270 Moskit. It was ramjet-propelled, and was carried by later-model Sovremenny class destroyers, Tarantul class corvettes, and several smaller warships. This weapon has a top speed of Mach 3. The high speed of the missile means a typical response time for the target of only 25 to 30 seconds, giving a target little time to react. Moskit can be armed with a warhead of 320 kg. Another version of this weapon is called the ASM-MMS; it is intended to be launched by a Su-33. The People's Republic of China acquired SS-N-22 launchers and missiles with a 1999-2000 purchase of two Sovremenny destroyers from Russia.According to Russia, the PRC funded the development of the SS-N-22 version for the People's Liberation Army Navy. It has the designation 3M-80MBE, and this version differs from earlier versions mainly in having increased range. These new missiles will be first installed on board the second pair of Sovremenny class destroyers. A total of 500 SS-N-22 AShM were ordered by the PRC for the four Russian-built Sovremenny class destroyers. With the exception of the first 20, these are the 3M-80MBE variant. The PRC has stockpiled roughly 15 SS-N-22 missiles per launch tube. It is speculated that the PLAN intends to use the missiles against carrier battle groups deployed by the United States Navy in the event of a confrontation with the Republic of China. Six SS-N-22 launchers were also present on the Soviet ekranoplanLun.
