Sea Killer

Sea Killer is an Italian anti-ship missile. It has been built in several versions, with differing guidance systems, and suitable for launching from ships or aircraft (in which form the weapons system is known as Marte).

Development and design

Contraves Italiana, an Italian subsidiary of the Swiss armaments company Oerlikon Contraves began development of a short-ranged (10 kilometres (6.2 mi)) ship-based anti-ship missile system, named Nettuno in 1963. Guidance of Nettuno was by beam riding for course control, with altitude controlled automatically by an onboard radar altimeter, allowing the missile to carry out sea-skimming attacks. Command guidance was an alternative guidance method if jamming made the beam-riding method unusable. Contraves Italiana began work on an improved missile, Vulcano in 1965, this having the same guidance system, but with a two-stage (booster + sustainer) rocket motor to give a longer (25 kilometres (16 mi)) range. Both missiles could be fired from a five-round trainable launcher.^[2][3]

Testing of Nettuno began in 1966,^[4] with a trial installation being made on the Freccia-class patrol boat Saetta of the Italian navy, with the five-round launcher replacing a Bofors 40 mm gun.^[5] Testing of Vulcano began in 1969.^[1]

In 1967, the Italian company Sistel (Sistemi Elttronici) was set up as a joint venture by five Italian companies, including Contraves Italiana, and the missile division of Contraves Italina was transferred to Sistel, along with the Nettuno and Vulcano missiles in 1969.^[6] Nettuno and Vulcano were renamed Sea Killer Mark 1 and 2 respectively for export, and these names gradually replaced the older names.^[7]

The Iranian frigate Sabalan showing the five round launcher for Sea Killer missiles

Sea Killer Mark 2 was purchased by Iran to arm its Saam class of four frigates, each of which was fitted with a single 5-round launcher.^[8] No other sales of the ship-based version were made,^[9] but development of Sea Killer Mark 2 into an all-weather anti-ship missile to equip the Italian Navy's helicopters began in 1967,^[10] with the helicopter based weapon system being named Marte.^[11]

Marte entered service with the Italian Navy in 1977, with its SH-3 Sea Kings being fitted with two Sea Killer Mark 2 missiles.^[12] In 1983, a new version, Marte 2, was announced, with the beam-riding guidance replaced by an active radar homing seeker based on that used by the Otomat anti-ship missile.^[12][13] Testing of Marte 2 started in 1984,^[14] with the missile entering service with the Italian Navy in 1987.^[12]

The Marte-ER is an improvement on the missile family that replaces the rocket motor with turbojet propulsion and has a new ISO-caliber cylinder cell, which make it shorter while extending range to over 100 km (62 mi; 54 nmi). Fitting trials of the Marte-ER onto the NH90 helicopter, which can carry two missiles, occurred in June 2014; a larger anti-ship missile like the Exocet was rejected for integration as physically too long and heavy. In November 2015, a Eurofighter Typhoon was fit-tested for a fixed-wing version of the missile called the Marte-ERP, which does not feature folding fins and sheds the booster for a larger 120 kg (265 lb) warhead with penetrating and sector-blast properties; though smaller than other options like the Harpoon and RBS-15, a fighter can carry six Marte-ERPs (or four with fuel tanks) compared to two or three larger missiles.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Operational history

Iran's Sea Killer Mk 2 saw combat service during the Iran–Iraq War, being used to attack merchant shipping in the Persian Gulf, with at least six ships being hit.^[12][9]

Variants

Sea Killer Mark 1

Short-range beam riding ship-launched anti-ship missile. 10 km range, 35 kilograms (77 lb) warhead. (Also designated Nettuno).^[2][4]

Sea Killer Mark 2

Increased range beam-riding ship-launched anti-ship missile with improved two stage rocket. 25+ km range, 70 kilograms (150 lb) warhead. Also designated Vulcano.^[1][2]

Marte 1

Helicopter launched beam riding anti-ship missile, based on Sea Killer Mark 2.^[12]

Marte 2

Improved version of Marte, with active radar homing seeker in bulged nose.^[12]

• Marte 2S

"Short" version of Marte 2 enabling simpler on-board integration onto helicopters.^[16]

• Marte 2A

Modified version of Marte 2 for launch from fixed wing aircraft, with booster rocket omitted.^[12]

• Marte 2N

Version of Marte 2 as a surface-to-surface naval missile system for littoral operations.^[16]

Marte-ER

Turbojet engine extends range to over 100 km from helicopters.^[15]

Marte-ERP

Proposed Marte-ER for fixed-wing aircraft with a larger warhead in place of the rocket booster.^[15]

Operators

 Iran

• 160 Sea Killer/Marte Mk2 Vulcano, delivered between 1971-1972 for Saam frigates^[12][19]

 Italy

• Sea Killer Mk 1 Nettuno (evaluation).^[7]
• 450 Marte Mk 1 delivered since 1977 for use on SH-3D helicopters
• 180 Marte Mk 2, delivered since 1987 for use on SH-3D helicopters^[12][20]
• 39 Marte Mk 2/S delivered since 2007 for use on AW-101 & SH-90 helicopters

 Qatar

• Marte ER, MOU signed 30 march 2016 for coastal defence system^[21]

 Turkmenistan

• (25) Sea Killer/Marte Mk2/N at least 25 delivered^[22][23]

 United Arab Emirates

• 100 Sea Killer/Marte Mk2/N, February 2009 order, delivered in 2013 for 12 Ghannatha FAC
• ? new undefined order in February 2017, for 93,6 million dollars^[23]

 Venezuela

• 100 Sea Killer/Marte Mk1 delivered between 1980-1982 for AB-212ASW helicopters^[12]

See also

• Gabriel (missile)
• Sea Skua
• Exocet
• AS.34 Kormoran
• Penguin

References

• Friedman, Norman. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems 1997–98. Annapolis, Naval Institute Press, 1997. ISBN 1-55750-268-4.
• Gunston, Bill. An Illustrated Guide to Modern Airborne Missiles. London: Salamander Books, 1983. ISBN 0 86101 160 0.
• Moore, John . Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1979. ISBN 0 354 00587 1.
• Pretty, Ronald T. and D.H.R Archer. Jane's Weapon Systems 1972–73. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co, 1972. ISBN 0 354 00105 1.
• Pretty, Ronald T. Jane's Weapon Systems 1977. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1977. ISBN 0 354 00541 3.
• Richardson, Doug. "World Missile Directory". Flight International, 1 October 1988, pp. 33–71.
• "Weapons Notes: Sistel produces wide range of missiles". Flight International, 25 January 1973, pp. 135–137.