Otvet

91R Otvet
Maquette of a submarine-launched Otvet displayed at MAKS-2009
The surface-launched variant displayed at MAKS-2009
TypeAnti-submarine missile
Acoustic torpedo
Place of originRussia
Service history
In service2022-present[1][2]
Used by Russian Navy
Production history
DesignerNPO Novator[3][4]
Gidropribor Group, part of Tactical Missiles Corporation[5][6]
Developed fromRPK-6 Vodopad[3](adapted for Kalibr family)[7]
VariantsDomestic:[7][1] 91R (submarine-launched), 91RT (surface-launched)
Export[a]:[7][3] 91RE1 (submarine), 91RE2 (surface)
Specifications
Mass91R/91RE1: 2,100 kg (4,600 lb)
91RT/91RE2: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb)[3]
Length91R/91RE1: 7.65 m (25.1 ft)
91RT/91RE2: 6.2 m (20 ft)[3]
Diameter533 mm (21.0 in)[3]
WarheadSeparating anti‑submarine torpedo: APR‑3M(domestic)/APR‑3ME (export) or MPT‑1UM (domestic)/MPT‑1UME (export)[3]
Warhead weight300 kg (660 lb)[3]
Blast yieldAPR‑3M(E): ~74–76 kg HE [3]
MPT‑1UM(E): ~60 kg HE[3]
EngineTwo-stage solid fuel rocket motor (booster + second stage)[3]
Operational
range
91R/91RE1: 5–50 km (3.1–31.1 mi) from 20–50 m (66–164 ft) launch depth
5–35 km (3.1–21.7 mi) from 150 m (490 ft) launch depth
91RT/91RE2: Up to 40 km (25 mi)[3][8]
Maximum depth150 m (490 ft)[3]
Maximum speed91R/91RE1:Mach 2.5 (3,060 km/h; 1,900 mph)
91RT/91RE2: Mach 2 (2,500 km/h; 1,500 mph)[3]
Guidance
system
During flight: Inertial navigation system Underwater: active/passive acoustic homing[3]
Launch
platform
91R/91RE1:Torpedo tube
91RT/91RE2: Vertical launching system[3]

The 91R/91RT Otvet (Russian: 91Р/91РТ Ответ, lit. '91R/91RT Answer') is a Russian anti-submarine missile system which entered service in 2022 with the Russian Navy. The missile is described as based on the RPK-6 Vodopad and adapted to function with the Kalibr system. It can be launched from surface ships via VLS, and from compatible submarines via torpedo tubes. The Otvet is available for export under the designations 91RE1 and 91RE2.

Design

The missile development was led by NPO Novator[3][b] as part of the Kalibr project,[7] while Gidropribor Group, which is part of the Tactical Missiles Corporation, developed the missile's torpedo warhead.[5][6]

The Otvet is based on the RPK-6 Vodopad, and has been adapted to function with the Kalibr system.[7]

Variants

A display of the 3S-14 in 2011, the missile farthest left is the Otvet.

The Otvet missile has two main variants, (which are then divided into domestic and export versions). The first variant is the submarine-launched 91R missile and its 91RE1 export designation. On submarines, it is fired from 533 mm torpedo tubes. However, to use an Otvet missile, a submarine must be equipped with the Kalibr-PL (or Club-S for export versions) system. The second variant, 91RT and export variant 91RE2, can be fired from the 3S-14 universal launchers (or other Kalibr family systems like the Club-N) on surface ships. [4][9][3]

Specifications

The missile is equipped with a separating torpedo warhead, either the APR-3M (APR-3ME for export), or the MPT-1UM (MPT-1UME for export).[3]

The missile uses a two-stage solid-fuel rocket motor and inertial guidance during its flight. It is launched and flies at a top speed of Mach 2.5 (3,060 km/h; 1,900 mph) (for submarine-launched), or Mach 2 (2,500 km/h; 1,500 mph) (for surface-launched) toward the designated target area, where it releases an anti-submarine acoustic torpedo by parachute. The torpedo then enters the water and searches for the target using acoustic homing.[3][7][1]

The submarine-launched variant can be launched from a maximum depth of 150 m (490 ft). From that depth, it has a range of 5–35 km (3.1–21.7 mi). However, the Otvet has a range of 5–50 km (3.1–31.1 mi) from 20–50 m (66–164 ft). The surface-launched variant has a range of up to 40 km (25 mi).[3] Rossiyskaya Gazeta stated in 2021 that the Otvet was being improved, and that the 40 kilometer range was expected to be doubled.[10] During the Otvet's entry into service, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that the work on range increase was continuing.[8]

History

In October of 2019, according to the Saint Petersburg government website, experimental serial production of the Otvet had begun with Gidropribor. Deputy Defence Minister Alexey Krivoruchko stated that the system would be equipped on corvettes, frigates, and cruisers, notably on the modernized Kirov-class battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov.[11][12]

On 30 December 2020, Naval News (carrying a TASS report) stated that trials of the Otvet had been held on the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate Admiral Kasatonov, and were successfully completed in November of 2020. It also was announced, in concurrence with the 2019 report, that the missile would be used on Admiral Gorshkov-class ships, the modernized Udaloy-class ASW destroyers/frigates,[c] Gremyashchiy-class corvettes, and the Admiral Nakhimov.[7]

In December of 2021, the modernized Udaloy-class destroyer/frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov launched an Otvet anti-submarine missile at a submerged target as part of an exercise/trial in the Peter the Great Gulf. The exercise involved the Shaposhnikov searching and tracking a target simulating an enemy submarine, subsequently firing an Otvet missile. Two sources, citing information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, claimed that the launch was successful and the missile struck the target.[13][14]

Multiple sources reported, quoting an unnamed defense-industry source, that the Otvet was accepted for use with the Russian Navy in January 2022, and that the missiles had been supplied to Russian Navy ships for a year. TASS, however, stated that it had not received official confirmation of the service entry.[15][8]

According to TASS, which quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense, the corvette Gremyashchiy launched an Otvet missile at an underwater target in the Sea of Japan. The missile's warhead reportedly hit the target.[16]

During the Ocean-2024 naval excercise, a Northern Fleet anti-submarine group – reportedly including Admiral Levchenko, Admiral Kasatonov, the small anti-submarine vessel Snezhogorsk, a nuclear submarine and several aircraft, including Ka-27 ASW helicopters and Il-38 planes, carried out an electronic Otvet launch. The Admiral Kasatonov was the launch platform of the Otvet during the excercise. The event was reported by Interfax, quoting the Russian Ministry of Defense.[17]

During the 2025 July Storm excercise, multiple sources – citing the Russian Ministry of Defense – reported that the corvette Gremyashchiy launched an anti-submarine missile at an underwater training target in the Pacific Ocean.[18][19] The missile possibly may have been the Otvet, as the Gremyashchiy is equipped with the 3S-14 system necessary to launch Otvets.[20]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Russian designations, the addition of a letter E (Э) symbolizes an export (Экспорт) variant.
  2. ↑ The English version of the website can be found at
  3. ↑ As of 2026, only one Udaloy has been upgraded - the Marshal Shaposhnikov

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cutting-edge anti-submarine missile system accepted for service in Russian Navy". TASS. 11 January 2022.
  2. ↑ "Russia approves Otvet for naval duties". Shephard Press Limited. 19 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Противолодочные ракеты 91РЭ1 и 91РЭ2" [Antisubmarine missiles 91RE1 and 91RE2]. Missilery.info (in Russian). 19 July 2000.
  4. 1 2 "3M-54 Klub (SS-N-27 Sizzler)". Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. 14 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 Карпенко, А. В. (2019). "Противолодочный ракетный комплекс с ракетой 91РЭ1" [Anti-submarine missile complex with the 91RE1 missile]. Военно-технический сборник «Бастион» (in Russian).
  6. 1 2 "«Ответ» против вражеских подлодок пройдет испытания в 2020 году" [Otvet against enemy submarines will undergo trials in 2020]. Mil.Press FlotProm — Морской ВПК (in Russian). 10 September 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sutton (30 December 2020). "Russia Completes Trials Of New Otvet Anti-Submarine Missile". Naval News. TASS.
  8. 1 2 3 "Противолодочный комплекс "Ответ" принят на вооружение" [Otvet anti-submarine complex accepted into service]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian). 11 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Anti-Ship Missiles Thread – Page 18". Russia Defence Forum. 29 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "Противолодочный комплекс "Ответ" усовершенствуют" [Otvet anti-submarine complex to be improved]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian). 16 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Заместитель министра обороны побывал в Петербургском Концерне" [Deputy Defence Minister visited a St Petersburg concern]. Official Portal of the Administration of Saint Petersburg (in Russian). Government of Saint Petersburg. 21 October 2019.
  12. ↑ "В России поставят на вооружение ракетный противолодочный комплекс «Ответ»" [Russia will deploy the Otvet anti-submarine missile system.]. Регнум (in Russian). 12 September 2019.
  13. ↑ "Ракета новейшего противолодочного комплекса "Ответ" в Японском море успешно поразила цель" [Missile of newest Otvet anti-submarine complex successfully hit target in Sea of Japan]. TASS (in Russian). 15 December 2021.
  14. ↑ Степанов, Александр (15 December 2021). "Противолодочный комплекс "Ответ" успешно поразил мишень в Японском море" [Otvet anti-submarine complex successfully hit target in Sea of Japan]. Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian).
  15. ↑ "Источник: корабельный ракетный комплекс "Ответ" принят на вооружение ВМФ России" [Source: Otvet shipborne missile complex accepted into service with Russian Navy]. TASS (in Russian). 11 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "Корвет "Гремящий" в Японском море поразил подводную цель новейшим комплексом "Ответ"" [Corvette Gremyashchiy struck underwater target in Sea of Japan with newest Otvet complex]. TASS (in Russian). 6 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "Корабли СФ отработали в Баренцевом море электронные пуски ракет по подлодке" [Northern Fleet ships conducted electronic missile launches against a submarine in the Barents Sea]. Interfax (in Russian). 14 September 2024.
  18. ↑ "Корвет "Гремящий" на учениях ВМФ уничтожил ракетой подлодку условного противника" [Corvette Gremyashchiy destroyed simulated enemy submarine with missile during naval exercise]. TASS (in Russian). 24 July 2025.
  19. ↑ "Russian Pacific Fleet Stages Major 'July Storm' Defense Drills". The Moscow Times. 24 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "First-in-class Gremyashchiy corvette debuts during Russia's Navy Day". Janes. 1 August 2019.
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