VIKHR MULTIPURPOSE GUIDED WEAPON FOR SMALL SHIPS

The Vikhr missile complex fully meets the requirements set for boat armament.  
The modular principle of the complex systems and their self-containment allow different versions of their arrangement on the patrol boat, depending on its class and assigned missions.

1. Project 14310 patrol boat Mirazh with Vikhr guided missiles

At present, foreign and domestic patrol boats employ automatic 20, 30, 40mm cannons and 7.62- and 12.7mm machine guns which do not meet the present-day requirements because their combat effectiveness is low at firing ranges exceeding 2,000 m. 

Analysis of the combat employment of patrol boats and the characteristics of the fire weapons of surface, shore-based and airborne combat objects indicates that the armament of patrol boats needs to be enhanced to more efficiently defend territorial waters and economic zones, conduct police patrolling and customs operations, provide effective self-defense and participate in combat operations. 

Missions that are to be solved by modern patrol boats, such as timely detection, identification and effective destruction of movable and stationary targets within the line-of-sight range, impose the following requirements upon their armament: 
– operating ranges of sighting means, guidance equipment and fire weapons within 8 to 10 km; 
– automatic target tracking; 
– high accuracy of guidance of fire weapons at small targets; 
– high rate of fire; 
– destruction of a wide range of surface, shore-based and airborne targets; 
– wide range of target engagement angles. 
 

2. AK-306 gun mount

 
It is imperative, therefore, to arm the patrol boats with a high-precision multipurpose missile weapon that considerably increases their combat effectiveness. The missile weapon for the patrol boat was selected by comparing the technical characteristics of existing missile complexes. The Vikhr missile complex occupies a particular place among them. It was designed for Russia's Ka-50 combat helicopter, which currently boasts the highest combat effectiveness among helicopters of this kind. 

The Vikhr missile complex fully meets the aforementioned requirements for boat armament. 

The modular principle of the complex systems and their self-containment allow different versions of their arrangement on the patrol boat, depending on its class and assigned missions. 

The complex version, intended for small patrol boats, consists of: 
– Vikhr multipurpose guided missile (GM); 
– fire control system (FCS); 
– AK-306 or AK-630 gun mount modified to accommodate the Vikhr missiles. 

The complex is shown in Figs 1 and 3. Structurally, the complex incorporates: 
– four transport/launch canisters with the Vikhr missiles installed on the AK-306 or AK-630 gun mount; 
– two launchers; 
– modified AK-306 or AK-630 missile-gun mount; 
– day/night automated fire control system; 
– firing conditions current data transducers; 
– power supply sources; 
– set of electrical wiring...