3M14 Kalibr
Subsonic land-attack cruise missile launched from ships and submarines
The workhorse of Russian long-range naval strike: a subsonic cruise missile that flies low and terrain-following and is fired from surface ships and submarines. First used in combat from the Caspian Sea against Syria (Oct 2015); since the 2022 invasion a fixed element of Russian missile-and-drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and cities, often combined with Kh-101s and Shaheds. Its low altitude and indirect routes make early detection difficult, but as a subsonic missile it can be intercepted by fighters, SAMs and even mobile fire groups. According to leaked contract data, Russia ordered 450 for 2025–2026, plus 56 nuclear-capable 3M-14S. In 2026 Ukraine is deliberately targeting the carriers: strikes on Novorossiysk (Aug and Sep 2026) hit the Kalibr frigates Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov and the Buyan-M corvette Sviyazhsk; according to the Ukrainian Navy, the Black Sea Fleet has only two cruise-missile ships plus two submarines left in service. UK Defence Intelligence assesses (Oct 2026) that the 8–9 Sep strike keeps a Grigorovich frigate and the Sviyazhsk out of Kalibr launches for the short to medium term — together about 40% of the Kalibr-capable surface fleet in the Black Sea (via Defense Express; not independently confirmed).
Learn more in the AirDefense Academy →Dimensionsfor imagery analysis
- Missile (L × Ø, span)
- 3M14: 6.2 m (submarine) to 8.9 m (with booster) × Ø 0.533 m; 1,300–1,780 kg
- Dimension source
- Wikipedia; WEG (ODIN)
General
- Type
- Subsonic land-attack cruise missile (3M14T ship / 3M14K submarine); the family also includes anti-ship versions
- Launch platforms
- Frigates (Admiral Grigorovich / Project 11356R), corvettes (Buyan-M, Karakurt), submarines (Kilo 636.3, Yasen-M)
- Use
- Syria since Oct 2015; Ukraine since Feb 2022, mainly from the Black Sea
- Orders
- 450 for 2025–2026 + 56 nuclear-capable 3M-14S by end-2026 (leaked contract data via Militarnyi, Oct 2025)
- Stockpile / production (HUR, Oct 2026)
- More than 450 in stock, production ≈ 29 a month; because Ukrainian air defence intercepts them effectively, most new Kalibrs go to the strategic reserve and the fleets — source: Euromaidan Press / NV, RU Mil Tracker e-20261023-02; Ukrainian estimate, cannot be independently verified
Performance
- Max range
- ≈ 810–1,350 NM (1,500–2,500 km), estimates vary
- Speed
- ≈ Mach 0.8 (subsonic)
- Flight altitude
- ≈ 160–490 ft (50–150 m) above ground, terrain-following
- Warhead
- ≈ 450 kg high-explosive fragmentation (nuclear also possible)
- Guidance
- Inertial + GLONASS, terrain matching; active radar in the terminal phase
Threat
- Effect
- Precision strike on energy infrastructure, industry and C2 deep in the rear
- Countermeasure
- Interception by fighters, SAMs and mobile fire groups; strikes on the carriers and their bases (Novorossiysk, Crimea)
- Threat level
- High — readily interceptable, but in salvos with drones and ballistic missiles it saturates air defence
News archive 9
Analysed reports from the RU Mil Tracker about this system, newest first. Archive since 2026-07-17.
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Zelensky sanctions Russian missile makers and military-industry suppliers, including RUSAL group companies
President Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted two decisions of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council. They impose sanctions on Russian companies and individuals involved in producing ballistic and cruise missiles, drones, military aircraft and other weapons, Ukrainska Pravda reports, citing the President's Office.
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HUR: Russia keeps missile stocks steady at up to 700 ballistic and several thousand cruise missiles, produces 200+ missiles a month, and has ordered over 100,000 Geran-type drones and decoys for 2026
According to figures Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) gave the Ukrainian outlet NV, published on 20 October 2026 and reported by Euromaidan Press, Russia holds up to 700 ballistic missiles and several thousand cruise missiles in reserve, roughly the same level HUR reported in July despite the autumn mass strikes. Russia can produce more than 200 missil…
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Russia strikes Ukraine overnight 16–17 October with Iskander-M/KN-23, Kh-22/32, Kalibr and 332 drones; no ballistic or Kh-22/32 missiles reported intercepted
On the night of 16–17 October Russia carried out a combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine, according to Ukraine's Air Force as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. It used Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, Kh-22/32 cruise missiles, four sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles and 332 Shahed (31 jet-powered) and Gerbera attack drones, plus S-8000 Banderol dron…
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«ПВО ВСУ в ночь на субботу не смогла перехватить ни одной ракеты ОТРК «Искандер»» (Topwar: 'Ukrainian air defence failed to intercept a single Iskander missile on Saturday night')
Topwar (author Yevgenia Chernova) describes the Russian combined strike on Ukraine in the night to 17 October. The figures come from the Ukrainian Air Force. Russia reportedly used Iskander-M ballistic missiles, plus KN-23 missiles according to the Ukrainian side, as well as Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles, four sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles and 332 strik…
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«Понад 52 тисячі цілей за місяць: Повітряні Сили оприлюднили результати роботи у вересні» (ArmyInform: More than 52,000 targets in a month: the Air Force publishes its September results)
ArmyInform, the news agency of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, reports the Ukrainian Air Force's results for September 2026, published on 10 October. According to the Air Force, Ukraine's Defence Forces destroyed more than 4,700 aerial targets during the month and also neutralised more than 48,000 tactical-level UAVs, giving the headline total of over 52…
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UK Defence Intelligence: Ukraine's Strike on Novorossiysk May Have Disabled 40% of russia's Kalibr-Capable Surface Fleet (Defense Express)
Ukrainian defence outlet Defense Express reports on an assessment by UK Defence Intelligence (UK DI) of the Ukrainian unmanned aerial attack on the Novorossiysk naval base and commercial port on 8–9 September 2026. According to the report, the strike damaged a Grigorovich-class frigate (a photo caption names the Admiral Essen) and the Buyan-M-class corvette…
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«Mesh-мережа стала відповіддю, на відсутність супутникової навігації»: як росіяни відволікають українську ППО (ArmyInform: "The mesh network became the answer to the lack of satellite navigation": how the Russians distract Ukrainian air defence)
Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Captain 2nd Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk said on the national 'United News' telethon that Russian forces are using mesh networks to plan and carry out drone attacks because satellite navigation over Ukrainian territory is denied. In his words, the mesh network has become Russia's answer to the lack of satellite navigation over Ukraine.…
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Ukraine strikes Novorossiysk naval base; Navy claims Neptune hit on Kalibr frigate Admiral Essen
On the night of 8–9 September 2026, Ukraine carried out a large combined deep-strike against Russia's naval base and commercial port at Novorossiysk (Krasnodar Krai) and against targets near Anapa and Gelendzhik. The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), Defence Intelligence (HUR/DIU), the Security Service (SSU) and the Navy were all involved. USF commander Robert…
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Russia hopes its 80-missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov will return to service after nearly 30 years of repairs
SINGLE SOURCE — Ukrainian defence media (Defense Express), not independently verified. The report says Russian state media are circulating claims that the heavy nuclear-powered battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov (Project 1144 Orlan, NATO reporting name Kirov-class) will return to the Russian Navy's combat composition after almost three decades under repair. The…