Russia used a rare 4-ton missile of the 60s against Ukraine: what are its peculiarities

For the first time, Russia has used a 4-ton P-35 (3M44 Progress) anti-ship missile, which is at least 60 years old, to strike Ukraine. A photo of the wreckage of the rare missile was posted online.

Defense Express writes about Moscow's use of such a "vintage" missile. The publication notes that the P-35 missile was adopted in 1962.

Experts identified the wreckage from the published photos. However, it is difficult to determine where exactly the wreckage of the Russian Progress was found. But given that this missile is an anti-ship missile, it can be assumed that it was shot down in the south of the country.

The P-35 missile (3M44 Progress) was recognized in the photo by its rather distinctive wings among the piles of metal.

"Defense Express has confirmation from its own sources that this is the missile in question," the publication noted.

This missile has quite impressive dimensions, with a length of 10 meters and a launch weight of 4 tons.

Soviet engineers worked on the P-35 in the mid-1950s, and the 3M44 Progress was adopted in 1962. At the time, this projectile was truly advanced.

The range of the P-35 missile is 350 km, the speed is 2,000 km/h, and the warhead weighs 1 ton.

Despite such a venerable age, the P-35 is still in service with the "second army of the world." In particular, it is a projectile for the Redut coastal missile system. As of 2021, their number was estimated at 8 launchers. It is unknown which of these Redut missiles was used to strike Ukraine.

The journalists also suggest that this missile could have been launched from the stationary complex "Utes", also known as "Object-100". It is located in the occupied Crimea near Balaklava.

It is an underground facility, with the missiles themselves hidden underground and raised only before launch.

Russia had two such complexes in total. The other was located on Kildin Island in the Barents Sea, but according to available information, it has been abandoned.

The publication notes that the use of such a "museum" missile may indicate an attempt to strike at least something. After all, the P-35, even in its latest version of modernization, adopted in 1982, was already considered archaic.

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