View source for Metel Anti-Ship Complex

{{Infobox weapon
|name= RPK-3 Metel <br /><small>([[NATO reporting name]]: SS-N-14 'Silex'</small>)
| image= Постоянная группировка ВМФ России в Средиземном море обеспечивает противовоздушную оборону над территории Сирии (15).jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption= Launcher with SS-N-14 missiles on an {{sclass|Udaloy|destroyer|1}}.
|origin= Soviet Union
|type= Anti-submarine/ship missile
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_missile= yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service= 1969&ndash;current
|used_by= Russia
|wars=
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=
|design_date= 1960s
|manufacturer=
|unit_cost=
|production_date=
|number=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|weight= {{convert|3930|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
|length= {{convert|7.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} (85R missile)
|part_length=
|width=
|height=
|diameter=
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=
|caliber=
|barrels=
|action=
|rate=
|speed=Mach 0.95, {{convert|290|m/s|mph|abbr=on}}
|vehicle_range=10 &ndash; 100 km for 85RU/URPK-5 Rastrub <ref name="kollektsiya.ru"/>(versus ship)<br /> 5 &ndash; 90 km (anti-sub )
|velocity=
|range=
|max_range=
|feed=
|sights=
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
|filling= Various ASW torpedoes or nuclear depth charge.  Later multi purpose torpedoes and 185 kg shaped charge warhead against ships.
|filling_weight=
|detonation=
|yield=
<!-- missiles only -->
|wingspan=
|propellant= solid fuel rocket
|ceiling=
|altitude=
|depth= 20&ndash;500 metres
|guidance= Radio command via helicopter or other external guidance plus an IR seeker.
|accuracy=
|launch_platform= [[Kresta II-class cruiser|Kresta II]], [[Kara-class cruiser|Kara]], [[Burevestnik-class frigate|''Krivak'']] 1 & 2, ''[[Udaloy-class destroyer|Udaloy]]'' I, ''[[Kirov-class battlecruiser|Kirov]]''
|transport=
}}

The '''''Metel'' Anti-Ship Complex''' ({{langx|ru|противолодочный комплекс «Метель»}} 'Snowstorm'; [[NATO reporting name]]: '''SS-N-14 Silex''') is a Soviet family of [[anti-submarine missile]]s. There are different anti-submarine variants ('Metel') for cruisers and frigates, and a later version with a shaped charge ('Rastrub') that can be used against shipping as well as submarines.

The missile carries an underslung anti-submarine torpedo which it drops immediately above the suspected position of a submarine. The torpedo then proceeds to search and then home in on the submarine. In the case of the 85RU/URPK-5, the UGMT-1 torpedo is a multi-purpose torpedo and can be used against submarines as well as surface ships.  The missile has been in operational service since 1968, but is no longer in production; it was superseded by the [[RPK-2 Viyuga]] (SS-N-15 'Starfish').

==Development==
In the early 1960s the Soviet Union introduced the [[RBU-6000]] and [[RBU-1000]] anti-submarine rocket launchers, which worked on a similar principle to the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] system of the [[Second World War]], propelling small depth charges up to {{convert|5800|m|yd}} from a ship. However this meant that a ship would still be in range of the submarine's torpedoes and missiles, and depth charges were less accurate than homing torpedoes. In 1963 the US Navy introduced [[ASROC]], a missile that flew to the estimated position of the target submarine, and then dropped a torpedo into the water to destroy it. The SS-N-14 was the Soviet response.

In 1993, an upgraded version, designated YP-85, with a range of {{convert|250|km|nmi|abbr=on}}, was proposed for export.<ref name="Janes">{{citation | url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Strategic-Weapon-Systems/URPK-345-SS-N14-Silex83R-and-84R-Metel-85RU-Rastrub-Russian-Federation.html | title=URPK-3/-4/-5 (SS-N-14 'Silex'/83R and 84R Metel, 85RU Rastrub) | journal = Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems | date=2008-09-10 | access-date=2009-01-28}}</ref>

==Design==
The missile is based on the [[P-120 Malakhit]] (NATO: SS-N-9 'Siren') anti-shipping missile. The missile itself is radio command guided and is powered by a solid fuel rocket motor. The later 'Rastrub' models of the weapon were "universal" carrying a UGMT-1 multi-purpose [[torpedo]] and in addition had {{cvt|185|kg}} shaped charge warhead for use against ships guided by radio command and infrared seeker.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://young.rzd.ru/dbmm/images/41/4080/6700137 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-12-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213235343/http://young.rzd.ru/dbmm/images/41/4080/6700137 |archive-date=2014-12-13 }}</ref> In anti-submarine mode the missile flew at approximately {{cvt|400|m|ft}} altitude, and when it was over the estimated position of the target submarine the missile was commanded to release the torpedo or depth charge. In anti-shipping mode the missile flies much lower, at {{cvt|15|m|ft}}.<ref name="kollektsiya.ru">{{cite web |url=http://kollektsiya.ru/raketi/320-urk-5-rastrub-b-universalnyj-raketnyj-kompleks.html |title=УРК-5 "Раструб-Б" - универсальный ракетный комплекс |website=kollektsiya.ru |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728014444/http://kollektsiya.ru/raketi/320-urk-5-rastrub-b-universalnyj-raketnyj-kompleks.html |archive-date=2014-07-28}}</ref>

==Operational history==
The URPK-3 entered service in 1969 on the {{sclass2|Kresta II|cruiser|5}} and {{sclass2|Kara|cruiser|5}} classes of [[cruiser]]s.<ref name="Janes" /> The URPK-4 was introduced in 1973, and the anti-ship version URPK-5 Rastrub in 1976.<ref name="Janes" /> The URPK-4 has been used With the first batch of the {{sclass|Udaloy|destroyer}}s; the ''Udaloy'' II carries the SS-N-15 'Starfish'. The system was installed on the missilecruiser [[Soviet battlecruiser Kirov|''Admiral Ushakov'']] (ex-''Kirov'') but not on her [[sister ship]]s.<ref name="Janes" />

Of these the Krestas and Karas have been retired, along with most of the Krivaks and half the ''Udaloy''s; the ''Kirov'' appears to have been upgraded to the [[SS-N-16]] 'Stallion' at some point. 100 missiles are estimated to remain in service {{As of|2006|lc=on}}.

According to some unconfirmed reports, this missile has been used in combination with Tupolev Tu-143 Reys observation UAVs and Russian Tu-243 and Tu-300 derivatives, launched from BAZ-135MB truck launch platforms (originally planned for the Redoubt anti-ship missile complex to SS-N-3 Shaddock missile in coastal defense role, onboard infrastructure and general missile container inherited by the SS-N-9 Siren and the cited and Siren-derivate SS-N-14 Silex missiles) by pro-Russian separatist UAV units in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine since 2014, as a ground attack missile system.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The adaptation includes replacement of originally used UGMT-1 multi-purpose torpedo and PLAB-100 naval depth-charge (variant of Soviet-Russian FAB-100 general-purpose aerial bomb) to FAB-50 or FAB-100, ZAB-50, 
ZAB-100, OFAB-50 or OFAB-100 and AO-50, AO-100 (twin 50&nbsp;kg or single 100&nbsp;kg unguided bombs).

Due to the 100 missiles stock left behind after by the successive withdrawal of the last Soviet-origin Kara-class cruisers and Krivak-class frigates in the near Russian Black Sea Fleet depots in Crimea, also by current upgrade of the Udaloy-class destroyers in the Russian service.

==Variants==
[[File:85RU missile in Dubna museum of missiles history, Russia.jpg|thumb|200px|85RU missile in Dubna museum of missiles history, Russia]]
* 60R - Original version armed with 5&nbsp;kt nuclear depth charge
* 70R - Original version armed with AT-2U ASW torpedo
* 83R/URPK-3 ''Metel'' - Cruiser version of the missile using the guidance system from the [[SA-N-3]] missile and the KT-106 launcher. Uses AT-1 torpedo (EA-45-70A)
* 84R/URPK-4 ''Metel-U'', KT-106U launcher, used on ''Udaloy''-class destroyers. Entered service 1973. Uses AT-2 (AT-2UM) torpedo (E53-72), which has either 100&nbsp;kg HE warhead or possibly a 5&nbsp;kt nuclear warhead.
* 85RU/URPK-5 ''Rastrub'', KT-100U launcher. Entered service 1975. Carries UGMT-1 (AT-3 Orlan) anti- sub and anti-ship torpedo and is in addition anti-shipping missile with a warhead of 185&nbsp;kg.
** 85RUS/URPK-5 Nuclear tipped version of the missile.
* [[YP-85]] Proposed long-range version - see above.

==Operators==
;{{RUS}}
;{{USSR}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Vice_Admiral_Kulakov-5-Missiles.JPG|SS-N-14 Silex missiles aboard the ''Udaloy''-class destroyer ''Vice Admiral Kulakov'' departing [[Portsmouth Naval Base]], United Kingdom, August 2012.
File:Vice_Admiral_Kulakov-2.jpg|SS-N-14 Silex missile launchers aboard the ''Udaloy''-class destroyer ''Vice Admiral Kulakov'' arriving at [[Portsmouth Naval Base]], United Kingdom, August 2012.
</gallery>

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}
* ''Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems 1997 to 1998''
* ''Jane's Underwater Warfare Systems 2006-2007

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070718062613/http://www.wonderland.org.nz/ss-n-14.html Images of the missiles in the launch tubes at wonderland.org.nz]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051226062946/http://www.new-factoria.ru/missile/wobb/rastrub/rastrub.shtml Page about the SS-N-14 in Russian]
* [http://flot.sevastopol.info/arms/rbu/urk5.htm Manufacturer's page about the URK-5]

{{Russian and Soviet missiles|SSM}}

[[Category:Anti-submarine missiles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Cold War submarine-launched cruise missiles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Guided missiles of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Nuclear weapons]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1960s]]