Kashtan CIWS
Encyclopedia
The Kashtan (Chestnut) Close-in weapon system
(CIWS) is a modern naval air defence gun-missile system deployed by the Russian Navy.
It is found on the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, Kirov class
battlecruisers, Neustrashimy class
, People's Liberation Army Navy
Sovremenny class destroyers and Indian Talwar class
frigates and other modern designs. Most typically deployed as a combined gun and missile system, it provides defence against anti-ship missile
s, anti-radar missiles
and guided bombs. The system can also be employed against fixed or rotary wing aircraft or even surface vessels such as fast attack boats or targets on shore.
. The command module detects and tracks threats, distributes targeting data to the combat modules, and interrogates IFF of approaching threats. The command module has a 3-D target detection radar, and an all weather multi-band integrated control system. Depending on the number of installed combat modules, the system can engage multiple targets simultaneously.
The combat modules automatically track using either radar, electro-optronic control system(such as FLIRs) or both, and then engages targets with missiles and guns. The combat modules are typically equipped with two GSh-30k
(AO-18K) six-barrelled 30 mm gatling gun
s, fed by a link-less feeding mechanism, and two 9M311 launchers equipped with 4 ready-to-fire missiles each and fed by a reloading system storing 32 missiles in ready-to-launch containers.
The guns used in the Kashtan are the GSh-30k six-barrelled 30 mm gatling gun. Individually, each GSh-30k has a higher rate of fire compared to other guns used by other CIWS such as the GAU-8 on the Goalkeeper and the M61 Vulcan
on the Phalanx
. Along with a high rate of fire, the fairly heavy round (390 g or 13.8 oz) used by the Kashtan is comparable to the DU
round of the GAU-8 Avenger (425 g or 15 oz).
The missiles used in the Kashtan are the 9M311 missiles, which is also used on the 9K22 Tunguska). The 9M311 is a SACLOS
guided missile, however, it is steered automatically by the command module. The warhead weighs 9 kilograms (19.8 lb) and is either laser or radio fuzed. The warhead is a continuous-rod warhead
with a steel cube fragmentation
layer. The detonation of the warhead will form a complete circle of fragmentation that is 5 meters in radius, and damage or destroy anything in that circle.
The combination of the missiles and guns, provides more comprehensive protection when compared to other CIWS utilizing either missiles or guns only. The effective range of the missiles is 1500 metre up to an altitude of 3,500 m. The engagement range of the guns is 500 metre up to an altitude of 3,000 m. The guns have a combined rate of fire around 10,000 rpm, and the reloading time for a group of approximately 4 missiles is 90 seconds.
guided missile such as the 9M311, infrared guided missile can also be used, such as the FIM-92 Stinger
, Igla, and Mistral missile
. Depending on the different types of missiles used, the system can be called either Palash, or Palma.
Vietnam's Gepard 3.9 uses one Palash CIWS.
Close-in weapon system
A close-in weapon system , often pronounced sea-whiz, is a naval shipboard point-defense weapon for detecting and destroying at short range incoming anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses....
(CIWS) is a modern naval air defence gun-missile system deployed by the Russian Navy.
It is found on the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, Kirov class
Kirov class battlecruiser
The Kirov-class battlecruiser is a class of nuclear-powered military ships of the Russian Navy, the largest and heaviest surface combatant warships currently in active operation in the world. The Russian designation is heavy nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser...
battlecruisers, Neustrashimy class
Neustrashimy Class frigate
Neustrashimy class frigates are the most modern large frigates in the Russian Navy. The Soviet designation is Project 1154 Yastreb .-Design:...
, People's Liberation Army Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then, it has undergone rapid modernisation...
Sovremenny class destroyers and Indian Talwar class
Talwar class frigate
The Talwar class is a new class of frigates designed and built by Russia for the Indian Navy. The Talwar class guided missile frigates, also known as the Type 1135.6, are modified Krivak III class frigates from Russia...
frigates and other modern designs. Most typically deployed as a combined gun and missile system, it provides defence against anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
s, anti-radar missiles
Anti-radiation missile
An anti-radiation missile is a missile which is designed to detect and home on an enemy radio emission source. Typically these are designed for use against an enemy radar, although jammers and even radios used for communication can also be targeted in this manner.- Air-to-Ground :Most ARM designs...
and guided bombs. The system can also be employed against fixed or rotary wing aircraft or even surface vessels such as fast attack boats or targets on shore.
Design
The weapon is a modular system comprising a command module and typically 2 combat modules, although the number can be as many as 8 in the case of Admiral Kuznetsov or the Indian VikramadityaINS Vikramaditya
INS Vikramaditya is the new name for the former Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been procured by India, and is estimated to enter service in the Indian Navy after 2012....
. The command module detects and tracks threats, distributes targeting data to the combat modules, and interrogates IFF of approaching threats. The command module has a 3-D target detection radar, and an all weather multi-band integrated control system. Depending on the number of installed combat modules, the system can engage multiple targets simultaneously.
Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30
The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-30 is a Russian 30 mm cannon used by Soviet and later CIS military aircraft.The GSh-6-30, designed in the early 1970s and entering service in 1975, is a six-barreled Gatling gun similar in design to the Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23. It was based on the naval AO-18 used in...
(AO-18K) six-barrelled 30 mm gatling gun
Gatling gun
The Gatling gun is one of the best known early rapid-fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun. It is well known for its use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, which was the first time it was employed in combat...
s, fed by a link-less feeding mechanism, and two 9M311 launchers equipped with 4 ready-to-fire missiles each and fed by a reloading system storing 32 missiles in ready-to-launch containers.
The guns used in the Kashtan are the GSh-30k six-barrelled 30 mm gatling gun. Individually, each GSh-30k has a higher rate of fire compared to other guns used by other CIWS such as the GAU-8 on the Goalkeeper and the M61 Vulcan
M61 Vulcan
The M61 Vulcan is a hydraulically or pneumatically driven, six-barreled, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style rotary cannon which fires 20 mm rounds at an extremely high rate. The M61 and its derivatives have been the principal cannon armament of United States military fixed-wing aircraft...
on the Phalanx
Phalanx CIWS
The Phalanx CIWS is an anti-ship missile defense system. It is a close-in weapon system and was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division...
. Along with a high rate of fire, the fairly heavy round (390 g or 13.8 oz) used by the Kashtan is comparable to the DU
Depleted uranium
Depleted uranium is uranium with a lower content of the fissile isotope U-235 than natural uranium . Uses of DU take advantage of its very high density of 19.1 g/cm3...
round of the GAU-8 Avenger (425 g or 15 oz).
The missiles used in the Kashtan are the 9M311 missiles, which is also used on the 9K22 Tunguska). The 9M311 is a SACLOS
SACLOS
SACLOS is an acronym for Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight, a second-generation method of missile guidance. In SACLOS, the operator has to continually point a sighting device at the target while the missile is in flight...
guided missile, however, it is steered automatically by the command module. The warhead weighs 9 kilograms (19.8 lb) and is either laser or radio fuzed. The warhead is a continuous-rod warhead
Continuous-rod warhead
A continuous-rod warhead is a specialized munition that exhibits an annular blast fragmentation pattern. It is used in anti-aircraft and anti-missile missiles.-Early anti-aircraft munitions:...
with a steel cube fragmentation
Fragmentation (weaponry)
Fragmentation is the process by which the casing of an artillery shell, bomb, grenade, etc. is shattered by the detonating high explosive filling. The correct technical terminology for these casing pieces is fragments , although shards or splinters can be used for non-preformed fragments...
layer. The detonation of the warhead will form a complete circle of fragmentation that is 5 meters in radius, and damage or destroy anything in that circle.
The combination of the missiles and guns, provides more comprehensive protection when compared to other CIWS utilizing either missiles or guns only. The effective range of the missiles is 1500 metre up to an altitude of 3,500 m. The engagement range of the guns is 500 metre up to an altitude of 3,000 m. The guns have a combined rate of fire around 10,000 rpm, and the reloading time for a group of approximately 4 missiles is 90 seconds.
Statistics
- Target range from 500 metre
- Target altitude from 500 metre
- Maximum speed - rocket: 600 metre per second
- Number of targets engaged simultaneously: up to 6
- Reaction Time: 6-8 Seconds
- Rate of fire: 10,000–12,000 rds/min
- Cartridge types: 30 mm with HE-Frag, Frag-T, HEI, APT, AP, and CC (Cargo Carrying)
- Weight: (turret only, naval versions)
- Kashtan: 15,500 kg with ammunition and control systems
- Palash/Palma: 6,900 kg with ammunition and control systems
Palash/Palma
In the 1990s, a modified version of Kashtan was developed for the export market. This system is similar to Kashtan except that it is lighter and in addition to the SACLOSSACLOS
SACLOS is an acronym for Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight, a second-generation method of missile guidance. In SACLOS, the operator has to continually point a sighting device at the target while the missile is in flight...
guided missile such as the 9M311, infrared guided missile can also be used, such as the FIM-92 Stinger
FIM-92 Stinger
The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable infrared homing surface-to-air missile , which can be adapted to fire from ground vehicles and helicopters , developed in the United States and entered into service in 1981. Used by the militaries of the U.S...
, Igla, and Mistral missile
Mistral missile
Mistral is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile manufactured by the European multinational company MBDA missile systems . Based on the French SATCP , the portable missile later to become the Mistral began development in 1974...
. Depending on the different types of missiles used, the system can be called either Palash, or Palma.
Vietnam's Gepard 3.9 uses one Palash CIWS.