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.
Guidance
The guidance systems of the missiles are varied. They can be guided by GPS, by terrain countour matching, by inertial guidance system, astral guidance systems and infrared guidance. Those systems can be combined for more reliability and precision.
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): these submarines launch ICBMs, usually they 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 ModelOriginRoleWarhead typeStatusUsed withNotesHyunmoo 4-4Land attackConventional HE warheadIn service Dosan Ahn Changho class (KSS-III)
Conventional and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles ModelOriginRoleWarhead typeStatusUsed withNotesK-15 Or B-05 SagarikaLand attackConventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)In service
Nuclear ballistic missiles ModelOriginRoleWarhead typeStatusUsed withNotesJL-1Land attackSingle warheadRetired Modified Golf class SSB Type 092 (retired)JL-2Land attack1 × 1 MT warhead 3-8 × 20/90/150 kT warheads (MIRV)In service Type 032 Type 094
Type 094AJL-3Land attack1-3 × warhead (MIRV)In service (Type 032) Type 094
Type 094A
Type 096K-4 Kalam-4Land attackSingle warheadIn service K-5Land attackMIRV warheadUnder development K-6Land attackMIRV warheadUnder development M1Land attack1 × MR 41Retired (ships Le Redoutable, )M2Land attack1 × MR 41Retired (ships Le Redoutable, )M20Land attack1 × TN 60 1 × TN 61 successor warheadRetired (ships Le Redoutable, , , , )AaaM4ALand attackTN-70 (6 × MIRV)Retired (ships , , , , L'Inflexible)M4BLand attackTN-71 (6 × MIRV)Retired (ships , , , , L'Inflexible)M45Land attackTN 75Retired (ships Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire, Le Vigilant)M51.1Land attackTN 75 (retired, 6 × MIRV)In service (ships Le Vigilant, Le Terrible)M51.2Land attackTNO ("Tête nucléaire océanique", 4 - 6 × MIRV)In service (ships Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire)M51.3Land attackTNO-2 ("Tête nucléaire océanique", 6 × MIRV)In serviceSNLE 3G (future)M51.4Land attackTNO-2 ("Tête nucléaire océanique", 6 × MIRV)Under developmentSNLE 3G (future)Pukguksong-1 KN-11 (US designation)Land attackSingle warheadIn service Pukguksong-3 KN-26 (US designation)Land attackSingle warheadIn service Sinpo-C classPukguksong-4Land attackMIRV (3 warheads)Under development Sinpo-C classPukguksong-5Land attackMIRV (3 warheads)Under development Sinpo-C classPukguksong-6Land attackMIRV (3 warheads)Under development Sinpo-C classHwasong-11SLand attackSingle Hwasan-31 tactical nuclear warheadIn service Sinpo classR-11M SS-N-1B (NATO designation)Land attack (tactical)Conventional (HE) and nuclear (single warhead)Retired Zulu IV class Zulu V class
Golf I classSubmarine variant of the Scud missile.R-13 SS-N-4 Sark (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)Single warheadRetired Golf I class Hotel I classR-21 SS-N-5 Sark (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)Single warheadRetired Golf II class Hotel II classR-27 Zyb SS-N-6 Mod1 Serb (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)Single warhead or MRV (3 × warheads)Retired Yankee I classR-27U SS-N-6 Mod II Serb (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)Single warhead or MRV (3 × warheads)Retired Yankee I classR-27U SS-N-6 Mod III Serb (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)MRV (3 × warheads)Retired Yankee III classR-27K SS-NX-13 (NATO designation)Anti-shipSingle manoeuvring warheadCancelled—R-29 Vysota SS-N-8 Mod 1 Sawfly (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)Single warheadRetired Delta I class Delta II classR-29R SS-N-18 Mod 1 Stingray (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)Single warheadRetired Delta III classR-29RK SS-N-18 Mod 2 Stingray (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)MIRV (3 × warheads)Retired Delta III classR-29RL SS-N-18 Mod 3 Stingray (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)MIRV (7 × warheads)Retired Delta III classR-29RM Shtil SS-N-23 Skiff (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)MIRV (4 - 10 × warheads)In service Delta III class Delta IV classR-29RMU2 Sineva SS-N-23A Skiff (NATO designation)Land attack (strategic)MIRV (4 - 10 × warheads)In service Delta IV classR-29RMU2.1 LaynerLand attack (strategic)MIRV (4 - 10 × warheads)In service Delta IV classR-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 warheadRetired Yankee II classR-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 attack1 × W47 Y1Retired UGM-27B Polaris (A2)Land attack1 × W47 Y1, or 1 × W47 Y2Retired UGM-27C Polaris (A3)Land attackW58 (3 × MIRV)Retired UGM-27C Polaris A-3 (UK variant)Land attackET.317 (3 × same target area)Retired UGM-73A Poseidon (C3)Land attackW68 (10 × W68 warheads with Mk3 MIRV)Retired UGM-96A Trident I (C4)Land attackW76-0 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4 MIRV)Retired UGM-133A Trident II (D5) (US variant)Land attackW76-0 (up to 8 × W76 warheads with Mk4 MIRV), or W88 (up to 8 × W88 warheads with Mk5 MIRV)In service UGM-133 Trident II (D5) (UK variant)Land attack Currently: up to 8 × Holbrook warheads with Mk4/A MIRV.In service 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 attackW76-1 (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 attackW93 (under development; up to 7 × W93 warheads with Mk7 MIRV)Under development
Submarine-launched cruise missiles
Conventional cruise missiles ModelOriginRoleWarhead typeStatusUsed withNotesAtmacaAnti-shipHE penetrating warheadUnder development (Type 214)HarbahAnti-shipFrag/Armour-piercingIn serviceAgosta-classBrahMosLand attack / Anti-shipConventional (HE, submunitions)In serviceProject 75(I) (in selection) Project 76 (under development)
Project 77 (under development)Exocet SM39Anti-shipHE fragmentation warheadIn service (Scorpène variant)
(retired)
(as an option)Exocet SM40Anti-shipHE fragmentation warheadUnder development Potentially on:
SNLE 3GFC/ASW Future Cruise/Anti-Ship WeaponLand attack / Anti-shipHE warheadPotential submarine variant Potentially on:
SNLE 3G
SSN-AUKUS class
U212A class
U212 NFS / NFS Evo classSuccessor of the Harpoon, Exocet, and MdCN.Gezgin Air, land, surface, and underwater attack—Under development (Type 214)Haeseong IIILand attackHE warheadIn service Dosan Ahn Changho class (KSS-III)Hyunmoo-3 CLand attackHE warheadIn service Son Won-il class (Type 214 / KSS II)Jask-2Anti-shipHE warheadIn service Small anti-ship missileJask-3Anti-shipHE warheadUnder development MdCN Missile de Croisière NavalLand attackHE warheadIn service NASM-MRAnti-shipHE warheadUnder developmentProject 75(I) (in selection)NSM-SL Naval Strike Missile - Submarine LaunchedLand attack / Anti-shipHE fragmentation warheadUnder development Type 212CD
Orka submarine programme PolandP-900 Alfa (3M51)Land attack / Anti-shipHE warheadIn service Type 12SM-ERAnti-shipHE warheadUnder developmentOyashio-classUGM-84 HarpoonAnti-shipHE warheadIn 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 TomahawkLand attack / Anti-shipHE warhead, or submunitions warheadIn service (some variants retired, some in development) (option)
(SSGN)
(retired - not all fitted with missile)
(option)
(being retired)
USS Narwhal (SSN-671)Some missiles are launched horizontally (usually exported missiles and the early American ones) through the torpedo tube, some are launched vertically.Undersea Guided Weapon programmeAnti-ship—Cancelled YJ-82Anti-shipHE fragmentation warheadIn service Type 035 Type 039
Type 091
Type 093Gromley et al.: page 101 Submarine-launched version of the YJ-8.YJ-18Anti-ship / anti-radiationHE fragmentation warheadIn service Type 093 Type 039
Type 039A
Type 041
Type 0953M54 Kalibr SS-N-27 Sizzler (NATO designation)Land attackHE warheadIn service (option)
Improved Kilo class
Oscar II classSubmarine-launched Version of the Kalibr missile.3SM Tryffing Super Sonic Strike MissileLand 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 ModelOriginRoleWarhead typeStatusUsed withNotesNirbhay NGSLCM