A submarine-launched missile is a missile that can be launched from a submarine.
Missiles characteristics
Missile types
The types of submarine launched missiles that exist include ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, anti-submarine missiles, anti-air missiles.
Missile roles
These missiles can be used for the following missions, such as land attack, anti-ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-aircraft warfare.
Warheads
The warheads used by those missile are:
- HE (high explosive)
- Pre-fragmented HE (high-explosive )
- Penetrative warheads
- Warhead with submunitions
- Nuclear single warhead
- Nuclear missile with multiple warheads with a MIRV system (Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle)
- Nuclear torpedoes
Missile launching submarines
Submarine types launching missiles
- Ballistic missile submarine (SSBN): they launched ICBM, they usually are large nuclear powered submarines. But in some rare cases, diesel submarines can be adapted to launch such missiles, but few can be on the submarine.
- Cruise-missile submarine (SSGN): these submarines were developed or adapted with a primary role focused on land attack. They can send missiles with nuclear and conventional warheads, although conventional warheads are a standard.
- Nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) are multirole submarines that have the capability to launch several types of missiles, at the exception of ICBM. Most have used the torpedo tube to launch their missiles, although more and more, these submarines can be equipped with VLS sections. Most submarines become modular, and have the option for a section dedicated for a VLS system.
- Conventional attack submarines can launch the same type of weapons as the nuclear attack submarines, but the volume of weapons tend to be smaller. They can also be equipped with VLS systems, although a majority of the classes use the torpedo tube to launch missiles. Some small nuclear powers (North Korea, Israel, Pakistan, and in the past India) use such missiles to operate their submarine-launched nuclear cruise missiles. For these, a VLS in the sail can be used, or the torpedo tube can be used for the missile launch.
- Underwater unmanned vessels are being developed, and some might get the mission to carry and launch some missiles.
Submarine launching methods
The submarines can launch missiles in various ways:
- A torpedo tube can be used to launch cruise missiles, ballistic missiles or anti-air missiles, and anti-submarine missiles. This launching method doesn't enable to launch missiles from under the Arctic ice.
- The vertical launching system was initially developed for the launch of SLBM (Submarine-launched ballistic missile). This system has been also adapted to launch cruise missiles, and it was adapted to launch anti-air missiles. These missiles are usually launched underwater, but there is a possibility to surface, for example from under the ice to deploy the missiles.
- MANPADS can be launched from a deployed mast while the submarine is underwater.
- Small anti-air missiles can be launched from the deck once surfaced.
Submarine-launched ballistic missiles
Conventional ballistic missiles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; font-size: 92%;"
! style="text-align: left" |Model
! style="text-align: left" |Origin
! style="text-align: left" |Role
! style="text-align: left" |Warhead type
! style="text-align: left" |Status
! style="text-align: left" |Used with
! style="text-align: left" |Notes
|-
|Hyunmoo 4-4
|
|Land attack
|Conventional HE warhead
|In service
| Dosan Ahn Changho class (KSS-III)
|
|}
Conventional and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; font-size:92%;"
! style="text-align: left" |Model
! style="text-align: left" |Origin
! style="text-align: left" |Role
! style="text-align: left" |Warhead type
! style="text-align: left" |Status
! style="text-align: left" |Used with
! style="text-align: left" |Notes
|-
|K-15
Or B-05 Sagarika
|
|Land attack
|Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)
|In service
|
|
|}
Nuclear ballistic missiles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; font-size:92%;"
! style="text-align: left" |Model
! style="text-align: left" |Origin
! style="text-align: left" |Role
! style="text-align: left" |Warhead type
! style="text-align: left" |Status
! style="text-align: left" |Used with
! style="text-align: left" |Notes
|-
|JL-1
|
|Land attack
|Single warhead
|Retired
| Modified Golf class SSB
Type 092 (retired)
|
|-
|JL-2
|
|Land attack
|1 × 1 MT warhead
3-8 × 20/90/150 kT warheads (MIRV)
|In service
| Type 032
Type 094
Type 094A
|
|-
|JL-3
|
|Land attack
|1-3 × warhead (MIRV)
|In service
| (Type 032)
Type 094
Type 094A
Type 096
|
|-
|K-4
Kalam-4
|
|Land attack
|Single warhead
|In service
|
|
|-
|K-5
|
|Land attack
|MIRV warhead
|Under development
|
|
|-
|K-6
|
|Land attack
|MIRV warhead
|Under development
|
|
|-
|M2
|
|Land attack
|1 × MR 41
|Retired
| (ships Le Redoutable, ')
|
|-
|M20
|
|Land attack
|1 × TN 60
1 × TN 61 successor warhead
|Retired
| (ships Le Redoutable, ', ', ', ')
|
Aaa
|-
|M4A
|
|Land attack
|TN-70 (6 × MIRV)
|Retired
| (ships ', ', ', ', L'Inflexible)
|
|-
|M4B
|
|Land attack
|TN-71 (6 × MIRV)
|Retired
| (ships ', ', ', ', L'Inflexible)
|
|-
|M51.1
|
|Land attack
|TN 75 (retired, 6 × MIRV)
|In service
| (ships Le Vigilant, Le Terrible)
|
|-
|M51.2
|
|Land attack
|TNO ("Tête nucléaire océanique", 4 - 6 × MIRV)
|In service
| (ships Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire)
|
|-
|M51.4
|
|Land attack
|TNO-2 ("Tête nucléaire océanique", 6 × MIRV)
|Under development
|SNLE 3G (future)
|
|-
|Pukguksong-1
KN-11 (US designation)
|
|Land attack
|Single warhead
|In service
|
|
|-
|Pukguksong-3
KN-26 (US designation)
|
|Land attack
|Single warhead
|In service
| Sinpo-C class
|
|-
|Pukguksong-4
|
|Land attack
|MIRV (3 warheads)
|Under development
| Sinpo-C class
|
|-
|Pukguksong-5
|
|Land attack
|MIRV (3 warheads)
|Under development
| Sinpo-C class
|
|-
|Pukguksong-6
|
|Land attack
|MIRV (3 warheads)
|Under development
| Sinpo-C class
|
|-
|Hwasong-11S
|
|Land attack
|Single Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warhead
|In service
| Sinpo class
|
|-
|R-11M
SS-N-1B (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (tactical)
|Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)
|Retired
| Zulu IV class
Zulu V class
Golf I class
|
Submarine variant of the Scud missile.
|-
|R-13
SS-N-4 Sark (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|Single warhead
|Retired
| Golf I class
Hotel I class
|
|-
|R-21
SS-N-5 Sark (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|Single warhead
|Retired
| Golf II class
Hotel II class
|
|-
|R-27U
SS-N-6 Mod II Serb (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|Single warhead or MRV (3 × warheads)
|Retired
| Yankee I class
|
|-
|R-29 Vysota
SS-N-8 Mod 1 Sawfly (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|Single warhead
|Retired
| Delta I class
Delta II class
|
|-
|R-29R
SS-N-18 Mod 1 Stingray (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|Single warhead
|Retired
| Delta III class
|
|-
|R-29RK
SS-N-18 Mod 2 Stingray (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|MIRV (3 × warheads)
|Retired
| Delta III class
|
|-
|R-29RMU2 Sineva
SS-N-23A Skiff (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|MIRV (4 - 10 × warheads)
|In service
| Delta IV class
|
|-
|R-29RMU2.1 Layner
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|MIRV (4 - 10 × warheads)
|In service
| Delta IV class
|
|-
|R-30 Bulava
SS-N-32 (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|MIRV (10 × warheads)
|In service
| (for testing)
|
|-
|R-31
SS-N-17 Snipe (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|Single warhead
|Retired
| Yankee II class
|
|-
|R-39 Rif
SS-N-20 Sturgeon (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|MIRV (10 × warheads)
|Retired
|
|
|-
|R-39M Grom
SS-N-28 (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|MIRV (10 × warheads)
|Retired
|
|
|-
|UGM-27A Polaris (A1)
|
|Land attack
|1 × W47 Y1
|Retired
|
|
|-
|UGM-27B Polaris (A2)
|
|Land attack
|1 × W47 Y1, or
1 × W47 Y2
|Retired
|
|
|-
|UGM-27C Polaris (A3)
|
|Land attack
|W58 (3 × MIRV)
|Retired
|
|-
|UGM-27C Polaris A-3
(UK variant)
|
|Land attack
|ET.317 (3 × same target area)
|Retired
|
|
|-
|UGM-73A Poseidon (C3)
|
|Land attack
|W68 (10 × W68 warheads with Mk3 MIRV)
|Retired
|
|
|-
|UGM-96A Trident I (C4)
|
|Land attack
|W76-0 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4 MIRV)
|Retired
|
|
|-
|UGM-133A Trident II (D5)
(US variant)
|
|Land attack
|W76-0 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4 MIRV), or
W88 (up to 8 × W88 warheads with Mk5 MIRV)
|In service
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |UGM-133 Trident II (D5)
(UK variant)
| rowspan="2" |
| rowspan="2" |Land attack
| Currently: up to 8 × Holbrook warheads with Mk4/A MIRV.
| rowspan="2" |In service
|
| rowspan="2" |
American missile with British warheads.
|-
| Future: up to 12 × A21 Astraea warheads with Mk-7 MIRV.
| (future SSBN)
|-
|UGM-133 Trident II (D5LE)
(US variant)
|
|Land attack
|W76-1 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4A MIRV), or
W76-2 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4A MIRV), or
W88 (up to 8 × W88 warheads with Mk5 MIRV), or
W93 (under development; up to 7 × W93 warheads with Mk7 MIRV)
|In service
|
|
|-
|UGM-133 Trident II (D5LE2)
(US variant)
|
|Land attack
|W93 (under development; up to 7 × W93 warheads with Mk7 MIRV)
|Under development
|
|
|-
|Harbah
|
|Anti-ship
|Frag/Armour-piercing
|In service
|Agosta-class
|
|-
|BrahMos
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE, submunitions)
|In service
|Project 75(I) (in selection)
Project 76 (under development)
Project 77 (under development)
|
|-
|Exocet SM39
|
|Anti-ship
|HE fragmentation warhead
|In service
|
(Scorpène variant)
(retired)
(as an option)
|
|-
|Exocet SM40
|
|Anti-ship
|HE fragmentation warhead
|Under development
| Potentially on:
SNLE 3G
|
|-
|FC/ASW
Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|HE warhead
|Potential submarine variant
| Potentially on:
SNLE 3G
SSN-AUKUS class
U212A class
U212 NFS / NFS Evo class
|
Successor of the Harpoon, Exocet, and MdCN.
|-
|Gezgin
|
| Air, land, surface, and underwater attack
|—
|Under development
| (Type 214)
|
|-
|Haeseong III
|
|Land attack
|HE warhead
|In service
| Dosan Ahn Changho class (KSS-III)
|
|-
|Hyunmoo-3 C
|
|Land attack
|HE warhead
|In service
| Son Won-il class (Type 214 / KSS II)
|
|-
|Jask-2
|
|Anti-ship
|HE warhead
|In service
|
|
Small anti-ship missile
|-
|Jask-3
|
|Anti-ship
|HE warhead
|Under development
|
|
|-
|NASM-MR
|
|Anti-ship
|HE warhead
|Under development
|Project 75(I) (in selection)
|
|-
|NSM-SL
Naval Strike Missile - Submarine Launched
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|HE fragmentation warhead
|Under development
|
Type 212CD
Orka submarine programme Poland
|
|-
|P-900 Alfa (3M51)
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|HE warhead
|In service
|
|
|-
|Type 12SM-ER
|
|Anti-ship
|HE warhead
|Under development
|Oyashio-class
|
|-
|UGM-84 Harpoon
|
|Anti-ship
|HE warhead
|In service (some variants retire)
| (retired)
(variant of the )
(retired)
(Type 209 / KSS I)
Papanikolis class (Type 214)
'
(variant of the Type 209/1500)
Sohn Won-yil-class (Type 214)
'
(retired)
(Type 214)
Type 209
(capacity lost)
USS Narwhal (SSN-671)
(retired)
|
Exists in multiple variants, not all are used on all submarines, and some are already retired.
|-
|UGM-109 Tomahawk
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|HE warhead, or
submunitions warhead
|In service (some variants retired, some in development)
|
(option)
(SSGN)
'
'
Some missiles are launched horizontally (usually exported missiles and the early American ones) through the torpedo tube, some are launched vertically.
|-
|Undersea Guided Weapon programme
|
|Anti-ship
|—
|Cancelled
|
|
|-
|YJ-82
|
|Anti-ship
|HE fragmentation warhead
|In service
| Type 035
Type 039
Type 091
Type 093
|
Submarine-launched version of the YJ-8.
|-
|YJ-18
|
|Anti-ship / anti-radiation
|HE fragmentation warhead
|In service
| Type 093
Type 039
Type 039A
Type 041
Type 095
|
|-
|3M54 Klub
SS-N-27 Sizzler (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack
|HE warhead
|In service
|
(option)
Improved Kilo class
Oscar II class
|
Submarine-launched Version of the Kalibr missile.
|-
|3SM Tryffing
Super Sonic Strike Missile
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
| —
|Potential submarine variant
| Type 212CD class
|
|-
| —
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
| —
|Under development
|
|
Developed by MHI, derived from the Type 12 SSM. Study to equip the Japanese submarines with VLS.
|}
Conventional and nuclear-capable cruise missiles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; font-size:92%;"
! style="text-align: left" |Model
! style="text-align: left" |Origin
! style="text-align: left" |Role
! style="text-align: left" |Warhead type
! style="text-align: left" |Status
! style="text-align: left" |Used with
! style="text-align: left" |Notes
|-
|Nirbhay NGSLCM
Next generation submarine launched cruise missile
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE, submunitions) and nuclear (single warhead)
|Under development
|Project 75(I) (in selection)
Project 77 (under development)
(trials)
|
|-
|
SS-N-3A Shaddock (NATO designation)
|
|Anti-ship
|Conventional (4G48 shape charge warhead) and nuclear (single 20 kT warhead)
|Retired
| Echo II class
Juliett class
|
Submarine variant of the P-35 missile.
|-
|P-70 Ametist
SS-N-7 Starbright (NATO designation)
|
|Anti-ship
|Conventional and nuclear (single warhead)
|Retired
| Charlie I class
|
|-
|P-120 Malakhit
SS-N-9 Siren (NATO designation)
|
|Anti-ship
|Conventional and nuclear (single warhead)
|Retired
| Charlie II class
|
Submarine launched variant retired.
|-
|P-500 Bazalt
SS-N-12 Sandbox (NATO designation)
|
|Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)
|Retired
| Echo II class
Juliett class
|
Submarine launched variant retired.
|-
|P-1000 Vulkan
SS-N-12 Sandbox (NATO designation)
|
|Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)
|Retired
| Echo II class
|
Submarine launched variant retired.
|-
|P-700 Granit
SS-N-19 Shipwreck (NATO designation)
|
|Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)
|In service
| Oscar I class
Oscar II class
|
|-
|P-800 Bolid
SS-N-26 Strobile (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)
|In service
|
|
Submarine-launched Version of the P-800 Oniks.
|-
|Popeye Turbo
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE, explosive penetrator) and nuclear (single warhead)
|Speculated
|
Dolphin I class
Dolphin II class
|
|-
|3M-14 Kalibr
SS-N-30A (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack
|Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)
|In service
|
(option)
Improved Kilo class
Oscar II class
|
Improved variant of the 3M54 Klub.
|}
Nuclear cruise missiles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; font-size:92%;"
! style="text-align: left" |Model
! style="text-align: left" |Origin
! style="text-align: left" |Role
! style="text-align: left" |Warhead type
! style="text-align: left" |Status
! style="text-align: left" |Used with
! style="text-align: left" |Notes
|-
|Babur III
|
|Land attack
|1 × warhead
|In service
| Hashmat class (Agosta 70A)
Khalid class (Agosta 90B)
(future)
|
|-
|Pulhwasal-3-31
|
|Land attack
|1 × warhead (Hwasan-31)
|In service
|
|
|-
|P-5 Pyatyorka
SS-N-3C Shaddock (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|Single warhead
|Retired
| Echo II class
Juliett class
Whiskey conversion class
|
|-
|
SS-NX-27 Scotpion (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|Nuclear (single warhead)
|Cancelled
| Echo II class
|
Derived from the Kh-80 Meteorit-A.
|-
|S-10 Granat
SS-N-21 Sampson (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack (strategic)
|Single warhead
|In service
|
Sierra I class
Sierra II class
Victor III class
Yankee Notch class (retired)
|
Submarine variant of the RK-55 Relief.
|-
|SLCM-N
|
|Land attack
|—
|Under development
|
|
|-
|SSM-N-2 Triton
|
|Land attack
|Single warhead (W27)
|Cancelled
|—
|Submarine variant was redundant with Regulus, therefore cancelled.
|-
|SSM-N-6 Rigel
|
|Land attack
|Single warhead (W5)
|Cancelled
|—
|
Submarine variant was redundant with Regulus, therefore cancelled.
|-
|SSM-N-8 Regulus
|
|Land attack
|Single warhead (W5 or W27)
|Retired
| (USS Barbero)
(USS Tunny)
USS Halibut (SSGN 587)
|
|-
|SSM-N-9 Regulus II
|
|Land attack
|Single warhead (W27)
|Retired
| (USS Tunny)
USS Halibut (SSGN 587)
|
|-
|Unknown Israel nuclear missile
|
|Land attack
|1 × warhead
|In service
|
Dolphin II class
|
|}
Submarine launched hypersonic missiles
Conventional hypersonic missiles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; font-size:92%;"
! style="text-align: left" |Model
! style="text-align: left" |Origin
! style="text-align: left" |Role
! style="text-align: left" |Warhead type
! style="text-align: left" |Status
! style="text-align: left" |Used with
! style="text-align: left" |Notes
|-
|BrahMos-II
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE, submunitions)
|Under development
|Project 75(I) (in selection)
Project 76 (under development)
Project 77 (under development)
|
|-
|3M22 Zircon
SS-N-33 (NATO designation)
|
|Land attack /
Anti-ship
|Conventional (HE)
|In service
| Yasen-M class
|
|}
Submarine launched anti-submarine missiles
Conventional anti-submarine missiles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; font-size:92%;"
! style="text-align: left" |Model
! style="text-align: left" |Origin
! style="text-align: left" |Role
! style="text-align: left" |Warhead type
! style="text-align: left" |Status
! style="text-align: left" |Used with
! style="text-align: left" |Notes
|-
|UUM-125B Sea Lance
|
|Anti-submarine
|Mark 50 homing torpedo
|Cancelled
|
'
|
|-
|91RE1 Otvet
|
|Anti-submarine
|Homing torpedo
|In service
|—
|
Part of the Kalibr missile family.
|-
|91RE2 Otvet
|
|Anti-submarine
|Homing torpedo
|In service
|—
|
|
|-
|RPK-2 Vyuga (650 mm)
SS-N-15 Starfish (NATO designation)
|
|Anti-submarine
|83R torpedo, or
86R nuclear depth charge
|In service
|
|-
|RPK-7 Veter (650 mm)
SS-N-16B Stallion (NATO designation)
|
|Anti-submarine
/ anti-ship
|UMGT -1 torpedo, or
88R nuclear depth charge
|Akula, Sierra and Typhoon
|
|-
|UUM-125A Sea Lance
|
|Anti-submarine
|W89 nuclear depth charge
|Cancelled
|
'
|
|}
Submarine launched anti-air missiles
This is a list of anti-aircraft warfare missiles that are, will or were used on submarines.
Not included are MANPADS (9K32 Strela-2, 9K34 Strela-3, 9K38 Igla) used by Russian/Soviet submariners, which requires exposing the conning tower and a dedicated submariner holding the launcher to launch.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; font-size:92%;"
! style="text-align: left" |Model
! style="text-align: left" |Origin
! style="text-align: left" |Role
! style="text-align: left" |Status
! style="text-align: left" |Used with
! style="text-align: left" |Notes
|-
|IDAS
Interactive Defence and Attack System for Submarines
|
|SHORAD
Short-range air-defence
|Under development
| Type 212A
Type 212CD
|
Underwater launch.
|-
|
| rowspan="2" |
|SHORAD
Short-range air-defence
| rowspan="2" |Under development
| rowspan="2" | Potentially on:
SNLE 3G
|
Underwater launch.
|-
|
|V/SHORAD
Very short-range air-defence
|
Low depth launch, 6 missiles on a mast that could be raised from the submarine's conning tower.
|}