Kortik CIWS
The Kortik close-in weapon system (CIWS), known in its export variant as the Kashtan, is a Russian-developed naval air defense system designed to provide self-defense for surface ships and ground facilities against air-launched precision-guided munitions such as sea-skimming anti-ship missiles, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and small surface targets.[1] It combines short-range surface-to-air missiles with rapid-fire autocannons in a single integrated module, enabling simultaneous engagement of multiple threats at close range, with a kill probability of 0.96 to 0.99 per target.[1] Developed by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau during the late 1970s to late 1980s and produced by Tulamashzavod, the system entered service with the Russian Navy in 1989 as a significant upgrade over earlier gun-only CIWS like the AK-630, offering enhanced detection, tracking, and layered defense capabilities.[2] The Kortik/Kashtan features two 30 mm AO-18K (GSh-6-30K) six-barrel rotary autocannons with a combined rate of fire up to 10,000 rounds per minute and a practical engagement range of 500 to 4,000 meters (extendable to 5,000 meters in upgraded variants), complemented by 9M311-1 missiles with a fragmentation rod warhead, effective from 1,500 to 8,000 meters (up to 10,000 meters in Kashtan-M).[1][2] Its sensor suite includes a 3D surveillance radar and low-altitude tracking radar for target acquisition, electro-optical/TV channels for all-weather operation, allowing it to engage up to six targets simultaneously with a reaction time of approximately 6.8 seconds.[1] The system weighs 15.5 tons including below-deck components, measures about 2.9 m long by 4.1 m wide by 2.6 m high, and carries 500 rounds per cannon plus 32 missiles in ready storage.[2] Deployed on prominent Russian vessels such as the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, Kirov-class battlecruisers, and Project 956 destroyers, the Kortik has seen over 40 units produced and exported to nations including India, China, and Vietnam under NATO designations CADS-N-1 and SA-N-11.[2] Upgraded versions like the Kashtan-M incorporate improved fire control for salvo launches and better performance against low-flying threats, while related systems such as Palma adapt the design for lighter vessels or land use.[1]Development
Origins
The development of the Kortik close-in weapon system (CIWS) was initiated in the late 1970s by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau in Tula, Russia, under the leadership of Arkady Georgievich Shipunov, to provide enhanced naval air defense against evolving threats from advanced anti-ship missiles.[3] This effort responded to the proliferation of NATO sea-skimming missiles, including the U.S. Harpoon and French Exocet, which posed significant risks to Soviet surface combatants during the late Cold War period.[4] Shipunov, an academician and general designer at KBP since 1962, directed the bureau's shift toward high-precision guided weapon systems, leveraging its expertise in autocannons and missiles to create a layered defense solution.[5] Prototype development and testing occurred through the early to mid-1980s, culminating in state trials by 1986, after which the system achieved official acceptance into service with the Soviet Navy in 1989.[6] The Kortik represented a significant advancement over existing Soviet CIWS like the AK-630, adopting a hybrid gun-missile architecture to boost interception reliability and engagement range in the terminal phase of missile attacks.[3] Initial production prioritized compatibility with legacy Soviet warships, such as cruisers and destroyers, enabling rapid deployment to bolster fleet self-defense capabilities amid heightened tensions.[3] For international markets, the system received the export designation Kashtan, facilitating sales abroad starting with contracts in the late 1990s, including to China for integration on Project 956EM (Sovremenny-class) destroyers under a 1996 agreement.[7] This marked the beginning of broader export efforts by KBP, aligning with post-Soviet Russia's push to commercialize advanced armaments. The Kashtan designation persists today, though emerging systems like the Pantsir-M are positioned as potential successors for future naval platforms.[3]Variants and Upgrades
The Kashtan serves as the primary export variant of the Kortik CIWS, designated by NATO as CADS-N-1, which maintains the core design of combined gun and missile armament but incorporates adapted electronics for compatibility with non-Russian naval platforms. This version was first exported to China in the late 1990s, equipping Sovremenny-class destroyers such as the Hangzhou, acquired in 1999, to enhance short-range air defense capabilities.[8] The Kashtan-M upgrade, introduced in the 2000s, represents a significant evolution for Russian Navy applications, reducing the weight of the above-deck module by 2 tons (from 9.5 tons to 7.5 tons) through modular sensor configurations, such as radar-plus-optics or optics-only options, while extending missile engagement range to 10 km from 8 km and maximum altitude to 6 km from 3.5 km. Reaction time was improved to 5-7 seconds via enhanced radar processing and a dedicated targeting station enabling salvo launches against multiple threats. Key enhancements include the use of refined 9M311 missiles for greater precision and the GSh-6-30KD guns, which offer a 5 km effective range compared to 4 km in the original, along with improved reliability in sustained fire scenarios.[9] Further adaptations of the system include the Palma CIWS, a lighter variant using Sosna-R missiles and AO-18KD guns for smaller vessels and potential land-based use, as well as rare modular configurations of the Kashtan for land-based defense of facilities, leveraging the same automated fire control for ground protection against low-flying threats, though these remain limited in deployment. Integration efforts have extended to newer Russian vessels, such as the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, where related adaptations like the Palma support layered air defense architectures. As of 2025, production emphasizes limited upgrades to existing Kashtan-M installations on active ships, amid a strategic shift toward the Pantsir-M successor system for future naval platforms, which promises further advancements in missile guidance and sensor fusion.[9][10][11]Design and Components
Fire Control System
The fire control system of the Kortik CIWS (export designation Kashtan) relies on a dedicated command module equipped with the 3P87 fire control radar for initial target detection and acquisition. This 3D surveillance radar provides a detection range of up to 25 km, with tracking up to 9 km for small targets (0.1 m² RCS at low altitude).[2] The radar supports simultaneous tracking of multiple threats, including low-flying anti-ship missiles and aircraft, and features high resistance to electronic jamming. Complementing the radar are electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors and a TV-optical sighting system, which serve as backups in low-visibility or radar-denied environments and enable passive target acquisition. The EO/IR suite includes a thermal imager and laser rangefinder, allowing detection and tracking in day or night conditions. These optical channels integrate seamlessly with the radar data for all-weather operation, providing redundant targeting cues and reducing reliance on active emissions during engagements. The command module coordinates with up to two combat modules per installation for redundancy, distributing targets and directing fire across the system. Automated engagement modes select gun-only for threats beyond missile range, missile-only for medium-range intercepts, or combined fire for optimal layered defense based on assessed threat parameters. Missile guidance employs radio command line-of-sight from the combat module's radar or optical trackers, while gun fire at close ranges under 4 km utilizes electro-optical tracking for precision.[6] This configuration achieves a single-shot kill probability of 0.96 to 0.99 against sea-skimming anti-ship missiles. The system operates in fully autonomous mode for rapid response or can integrate with broader shipboard command-and-control networks, enabling coordinated layered air defense with long-range systems. The missiles employed, such as the 9M311, are launched vertically before tilting toward the target under guidance control.[12]Armament
The Kortik CIWS, also known as Kashtan, features twin GSh-6-30K 30 mm rotary cannons mounted on a single turret, with each cannon consisting of six barrels designed for high-volume fire against incoming threats. These guns are capable of firing armor-piercing discarding sabot (APDS) or high-explosive incendiary (HEI) projectiles at a rate of 5,000 rounds per minute per gun, providing a combined output of up to 10,000 rounds per minute. The effective engagement range is 4 km against anti-ship missiles and 3.5 km against aircraft, enabling rapid saturation of close-range targets.[9] Complementing the guns, the system incorporates eight ready-to-fire 9M311 (NATO designation SA-N-11) vertical-launch missiles per combat module, arranged in two quad launchers for quick salvo deployment. These missiles achieve supersonic speeds up to Mach 2.5 in the boost phase, with a sustained speed of approximately Mach 1.8, and are equipped with a 9 kg warhead optimized for both kinetic impact and fragmentation effects to neutralize airborne threats. The missile design supports vertical launch from the turret, allowing for all-aspect engagement without repositioning the mount.[9] Each gun holds an ammunition capacity of 500 rounds in ready storage, with additional rounds in below-deck magazines that permit reloading at sea during operations to sustain prolonged engagements. The hybrid armament operates in a layered defense mode, where the system prioritizes missile launches against threats in the 1.5–8 km envelope (up to 10 km in Kashtan-M) for early interception, transitioning to gun fire for targets within 1.5 km to conserve missiles and maximize close-in lethality. This seamless switching ensures missiles handle standoff kills while the guns provide a final protective barrier, enhancing overall defensive efficiency.[9]Specifications
Kashtan System
The Kashtan system represents the baseline configuration of the Kortik close-in weapon system, integrating radar-guided guns and missiles for point defense against air and surface threats. Its design emphasizes modular integration on naval platforms, with key performance parameters optimized for rapid response in maritime environments.General Characteristics
Performance
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Detection range (radar) | 25 km[1] |
| Engagement range (missile/gun) | 8 km / 4 km[14][9] |
| Reaction time | 6.8 seconds[2] |
| Simultaneous targets | 6[1] |
Armament
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Guns | 2 × GSh-6-30K, 4,500 rpm per gun (9,000 rpm combined)[2], 500 rounds per gun |
| Missiles | 8 ready × 9M311 (total 32 in storage), range 1.5–8 km, altitude 3.5 km[14][2] |
Environmental and Mounting
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Mounting | Modular on ships >4,000 tons[13] |
Kashtan-M System
The Kashtan-M is an upgraded variant of the Kashtan CIWS, designed to provide enhanced close-in protection for naval vessels against anti-ship missiles, aircraft, and small surface targets through improved modularity, reduced weight, and extended engagement capabilities.[1] Compared to the baseline Kashtan, the Kashtan-M features a lighter combat module for easier ship integration and upgraded components for better performance in diverse conditions.[2] Key specifications of the Kashtan-M system are summarized below, highlighting its general characteristics, performance metrics, armament, and environmental adaptability.| Category | Specification | Details/Improvements |
|---|---|---|
| General | Mass: 12,000 kg (combat module) Length: 2.9 m Power: 100 kW | Reduced mass compared to baseline (15,500 kg) for improved modularity and ship integration; combat module weighs approximately 12 tons including ammunition.[2] |
| Performance | Detection range: 25 km Engagement range: 10 km (missile), 5 km (gun) Reaction time: 5–7 seconds Simultaneous targets: 6 | Enhanced detection via integration with ship radars; upgraded engagement ranges and reduced reaction time from 6.8 seconds in baseline; capable of engaging up to 6 targets simultaneously.[1][2] |
| Armament | Guns: 2 × GSh-6-30K/AO (enhanced cooling for sustained fire) Missiles: 8 ready × 9M311-1E (total 32 in storage, range 1.5–10 km, altitude up to 6 km, improved seeker) | Upgraded GSh-6-30K/AO guns with longer barrels and higher muzzle velocity for extended gun range; 9M311-1E missiles offer improved guidance and salvo capability (1–2 missiles every 3–4 seconds), 500 rounds per gun.[1][10][15] |
| Environmental | Network compatibility: Digital ship networks | All-weather operation with thermal imaging for adverse conditions; modular sensors compatible with modern digital command systems.[1][10] |