Northern Fleet gets Bastion mobile coastal missile systems

The Northern Fleet’s independent rocket-artillery brigade has begun reaming with the new coastal defense missile systems K-300P Bastion (NATO reporting name SSC-5 Stooge), Northern Fleet spokesman Vadim Serga said to RIA Novosti. The unit has received two batteries of the new system.

The new missile system will be used during exercises in the Barents Sea in the nearest future, the Armed Forces website reads.

Used in Russia since 2010, the Bastion mobile coastal missile systems have been designed to protect Russian warships from enemy squadrons and convoys. The system uses the anti-ship missile “Yakhont”, and has a maximum range of 300 km. It is designed to engage surface ships of different classes and types (convoys, surface combatants and aircraft carrier battle groups) under intense fire and electronic countermeasures. Its main objective is the protection of the coast stretching over 600 km from enemy amphibious operations.

The “Yakhont” missile can carry a 200-kilogram warhead and has the unique ability of being able to cruise a few meters above the water surface, making it difficult to detect and intercept.

The missile system is mounted on a mobile vehicle that can deploy its missiles in under five minutes and remain on active standby over a period of 3–5 days

Earlier in 2015, some Bastion mobile coastal missile systems from the Black Sea Fleet were positioned in Crimea to demonstrate Russia’s intention to fully protect the peninsula.