RPK-1 Vikhr
NATO: SUW-N-1 and FRAS-1
Overview
RPK-1 Vikhr
Two 82R missiles seen on a twin arm launcher of the RPK-1 Vikhr system.
Source: www.war-russia.info -
© Copyright lies with original owner
1964 - 1966 (Soviet state trials)
1967 (testing on Moskva)
Soviet Union - SKB-203 NPP Start
Soviet Union - KB-11 VNIIEF (nuclear depth charge)
FRAS-1 (NATO reporting name for 82R)
82R (GRAU index for missile)
Description
Introduction
The RPK-1 Vikhr is an early Cold War era naval ASW system of Soviet origin. This system uses nuclear depth charges to engage enemy attack submarines. It was developed by the Soviet Union as a response to the nuclear powered American submarines. The NATO reporting name is SUW-N-1 for the system and FRAS-1 for the 82R missile.
Design
The RPK-1 Vikhr system is a stand-off delivery system for nuclear depth charges. The goal is to protect a fleet from enemy attack submarines. The nuclear depth charges are delivery by missiles fired from a twin arm launcher with below deck rotary magazine. The twin arm launchers feature gyroscopic stabilization. Reloading is carried out at a 45 degree angle via loading hatches connecting the below deck magazine. A design project with a conventional torpedo payload was started but soon stopped with better alternatives such as the Metel system in development.
Firepower
The 82R missiles have a maximum range of 24 km. The minimum range is 10 km, possibly protect the host vessel from being too close to the detonation. The nuclear warhead is believed to be of a 10 kt yield. This has a destructive radius of 1.2 to 1.5 km and reaches out to a depth of 500 m below sea level. In theory this system can be used against surface targets.
Fire control
The RPK-1 Vikhr uses the Sprut fire control system which uses sonar inputs to determine a firing solution. These can be external inputs, such as sonobuoys dropped by ASW aircraft or helicopters. The missiles use inertial navigation to fly towards the target area and to release the depth charge. The depth charge explodes at the predetermined depth, which is between 0 and 500 meters. There are no mid course updates. These were not deemed necessary given the 15 to 40 second flight speed to target and large kill radius. Without nuclear depth charge the system was deemed totally ineffective.
Platforms
Only six RPK-1 systems were ever produced. One prototype system was fitted to a testbed. The five production systems were fitted to large capital ships with a strong fleet anti-submarine warfare focus. These are the two Project 1123 Kondor (NATO: Moskva) class helicopter cruiser with one MS-18 launcher each and three Project 1143 Krechyet (NATO: Kiev) class aircraft carriers and MS-32 launcher each.
Users
The RPK-1 Vikhr was adopted by the Soviet navy and entered active service around 1967 - 1968. Due to the nuclear nature of this system it was not exported to Soviet allies. The system was inherited by Russia and used for several years until 1994.
System compositions
82R missile
The 82R missile uses a dual pulse rocket motor and flies at a speed of Mach 1.8. The missile uses inertial navigation for course corrections and is spin stabilized in flight. The nuclear depth charge is released over the target area. This 10 kt warhead sinks to the predetermined depth, which includes the option to detonate at surface level.
MS-18 and MS-32 launchers
The MS-18 and MS-32 launchers are both twin arm launchers. These launcher can rotate and are gyrostabilized, allowing firing at speeds up to over 30 knots and in all but the worst weather conditions. The below deck magazines hold either 8 or 16 additional missiles. The magazines feature climate control, fire suppression systems and radiation monitoring systems. The missiles are stored vertically and a loaded via a single feed ramp.
Details
Media
RPK-1 Vikhr
MS-32 launcher with 82R missiles (red tip) seen on the bow of the Project 1143 Krechyet (NATO: Kiev) class museum ship as seen in 2025.
Source: Yiyuanju
Copyright: CC BY-SA 4.0
RPK-1 Vikhr
Test firing of a 82R missile from a MS-18 twin arm launcher on a Project 1123 Kondor (NATO: Mosvka) class helicopter cruiser.
Source: www.militaryrussia.ru
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
RPK-1 Vikhr
Two 82R missiles seen on a twin arm launcher of the RPK-1 Vikhr system.
Source: Lukacs
Copyright: CC BY 2.5
RPK-1 Vikhr
Experimental installation of the RPK-1 Vikhr system with MS-18 twin arm launcher on the OS-332 test vessel.
Source: www.atrinaflot.narod.ru
Copyright: Copyright lies with original owner
Platforms
Note: list verified and complete
Project 1123 Kondor class
Soviet class of helicopter cruiser. Two ships in class. NATO reporting name is Moskva class. These are armed with the RPK-1 Vikhr system. A single MS-18 launcher is located on the bow. This has an 8 missile below deck magazine. The RPK-1 system was tested on Moskva in 1967 and declared operational in 1968.
Project 1143 Krechyet class
Soviet class of aircraft carrier. Four ships in class. NATO reporting name Kiev class. The first three ships in class feature the RPK-1 Vikhr system. These have a single MS-32 launcher on the bow with 16 round magazine below deck.
OS-332 test vessel
A single Project 159 (NATO: Petya) class frigate was equipped with a MS-18 launcher as early as 1963 and was used for test firing the 82R missile.
Related articles
URPK-3 Metel
The URPK-3 Metel system (NATO: SS-N-14 Silex) was developed with conventional air launched torpedo as payload. This eliminated the need to rely on nuclear depth charges for stand-off anti-submarine capability.
RUR-5 ASROC
The RPK-1 Vikhr provides a similar capability as the nuclear depth charge version of American RUR-5 ASROC, albeit at a longer maximum range. However, a major advantage of the American system are the versions with conventional Mk 44 and Mk 46 torpedo payloads.